EU leaders must provide clarity next week at a summit in Brussels about the European multiannual financial framework (MFF) for the period 2021-2027. Budget Commissioner Günther Oettinger is increasing the pressure. The German pointed out that member states want more money for areas including climate, Africa, defense, research, the Erasmus program, migration, digital policy, and external border protection. If the budget does not grow, this will not be possible, he said. "Delay is simply unacceptable."
A procedural issue is that the current commission will step down at the end of this month, that on November 1 the new Von Leyen Commission will take office, that the new European Parliament demands a new, more active policy (which will also require funding), and that heads of state and government at their summit on October 17 and 18 – therefore – cannot yet give a final judgment.
Brussels proposed a budget last year of nearly 1,300 billion euros, about 300 billion more than in the 2014-2020 budget despite an annual gap of 12 billion euros caused by a possible British exit from the EU. This amounts to 1.11 percent of European income. Countries like Germany and the Netherlands are unwilling to go beyond 1 percent.
Promotion
The leaders said in the summer that negotiations must be concluded by the end of this year, but the positions of the member states still differ widely, partly because some countries oppose the proposed cuts to budgets for agriculture and regional development. Unanimity is required for a decision. The European Parliament, by the way, wants to increase the budget to 1.3 percent of the European GDP.