On a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world

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AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Constitutional Affairs submits the following to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible :

Amendment 1

Motion for a resolution

Recital A

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

A. whereas, under Article 311 TFEU, the Union is required to provide itself with the means necessary to attain its objectives and carry through its policies;

A. whereas, under Article 311 TFEU, the Union is required to provide itself with the means necessary to attain its objectives and carry through its policies; whereas, in accordance with the same article, the Union budget must be financed wholly from own resources; whereas it is therefore important to have a suitable EU budget that serves Union citizens, while strengthening budgetary transparency and accountability;

Amendment 2

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives, tackle the growing challenges it faces, manage and repay its debt sustainably, respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs;

1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives, tackle the growing challenges it faces, including Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and future EU enlargements, manage and repay its debt sustainably, respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs;

Amendment 3

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

4. Underlines that a simpler, more flexible MFF requires more robust parliamentary accountability;

4. Underlines that a simpler, more flexible MFF requires more robust parliamentary scrutiny and accountability; stresses that closer involvement of Parliament in the preparation, adoption and scrutiny of the MFF Regulation and the Own Resources Decision is imperative to enhance the democratic oversight of both the revenue and the expenditure sides of the EU budget; underlines the important and valuable role of the European Court of Auditors in this regard; points out that all elements of the MFF must be implemented in accordance with the principle of mutual sincere cooperation as laid down in Article 13 TEU;

Amendment 4

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

8. Points out that Draghi puts the annual investment gap with respect to innovation and infrastructure at EUR 750-800 billion per year between 2025 and 2030; underlines that, while the Union budget cannot cover that shortfall alone, it must play a vital role;

8. Points out that Draghi puts the annual investment gap with respect to innovation and infrastructure at EUR 750-800 billion per year between 2025 and 2030; underlines that, while the Union budget cannot cover that shortfall alone, it must play a vital role; agrees with the recommendations of the Draghi report, according to which the Union cannot meet its competitiveness goals without a major overhaul of its governance, policies and institutions;

Amendment 5

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 27 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

27 a. Stresses, in this context, the need for reflection on a dedicated budget, falling under the scrutiny of Parliament, that would help enhance European defence readiness and capacity development, in particular by financing joint procurements and the development of armaments in the EU;

Amendment 6

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 28 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

28 a. Highlights the need for the immediate upscaling and much better coordination of defence spending by the Member States, which clearly cannot wait until the next MFF enters into force;

Amendment 7

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 41

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

41. Considers that the next MFF is pivotal for preparing the Union for enlargement and the candidate countries for accession; recalls that the stability, security and democratic resilience of the candidate countries are inextricably linked to those of the EU and require sustained strategic investment to support their convergence with Union standards;

41. Believes that EU enlargement presents an opportunity to strengthen the EU and further unlock its global potential; considers that the next MFF is pivotal for preparing the Union for enlargement and the candidate countries for accession; underlines the important roles that citizens and civil society organisations play in the process of enlargement; points out that substantial future EU enlargements cannot be achieved without a larger EU budget and sufficient new own resources; calls for the necessary budgetary and institutional reforms to be agreed as soon as possible; recalls that the stability, security and democratic resilience of the candidate countries are inextricably linked to those of the EU and require sustained strategic investment to support their convergence with Union standards; highlights the fact that the gradual integration of candidate countries into the Union’s programmes, and more broadly into the single market, would facilitate a harmonious and successful enlargement process;

Amendment 8

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 57

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

57. Insists that, post-2027, sufficient financial and staff resources be allocated from the outset so that Union institutions, bodies and decentralised agencies can ensure effective and efficient policy design, delivery and enforcement, continue to attract the best people from all Member States, thus ensuring geographical balance, and have leeway to adjust to changing circumstances;

57. Underlines the importance of the effective functioning of the EU’s institutions; insists that, post-2027, sufficient financial and staff resources be allocated from the outset so that Union institutions, bodies and decentralised agencies can ensure effective and efficient policy design, delivery and enforcement, continue to attract the best people from all Member States, thus ensuring geographical balance, and have leeway to adjust to changing circumstances;

Amendment 9

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 63

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

63. Reiterates its long-standing position that all EU-level spending should be brought within the purview of the budgetary authority; calls, therefore, for the full budgetisation of (partially) off-budget instruments such as the Social Climate Fund, the Innovation Fund and the Modernisation Fund, or their successors;

63. Reiterates its long-standing position that all EU-level spending should be brought within the purview of the budgetary authority, thereby ensuring transparency, full democratic control and the protection of the EU’s public finances and financial interests; calls, therefore, for the full budgetisation of (partially) off-budget instruments such as the Social Climate Fund, the Innovation Fund and the Modernisation Fund, or their successors;

Amendment 10

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 87

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

87. Recalls that the requirement for close interinstitutional cooperation between the Commission, the Council and Parliament from the early design stages to the final adoption of the MFF is enshrined in the Treaties and further detailed in the IIA;

87. Intends to fully exercise its role as legislator and budgetary and discharge authority, in line with the Treaties, and expects the Commission and the Council to fully respect the prerogatives of Parliament under the Treaties; recalls that the requirement for close interinstitutional cooperation between the Commission, the Council and Parliament from the early design stages to the final adoption of the MFF is enshrined in the Treaties and further detailed in the IIA;

Amendment 11

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 88

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

88. Emphasises Parliament’s commitment to play its role fully throughout the process; believes that the design of the MFF should be bottom-up and based on the extensive involvement of stakeholders; underlines, furthermore, the need for a strategic dialogue among the three institutions in the run-up to the MFF proposals;

88. Emphasises Parliament’s commitment to play its role fully throughout the process and be involved as an equal arm of the budgetary authority; believes that the design of the MFF should be bottom-up and based on the appropriate and transparent involvement of stakeholders; underlines, furthermore, the need for a strategic dialogue among the three institutions in the run-up to the MFF proposals;

Amendment 12

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 91 a (new)

Motion for a resolution

Amendment

91 a. Recalls its proposals that the ordinary legislative procedure be applied for the adoption of the MFF Regulation so that Parliament acquires full budgetary prerogatives; highlights the fact that Article 312(2), second subparagraph, TFEU provides for a passerelle clause in this regard;

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR OPINION HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted

19.3.2025

Result of final vote

+ : 20

- : 6

0 : 0

Members present for the final vote

Gerolf Annemans, Gabriele Bischoff, Salvatore De Meo, Vasile Dîncu, Klára Dobrev, Nikolas Farantouris, Daniel Freund, Jean-Paul Garraud, Charles Goerens, Sandro Gozi, Emmanouil Kefalogiannis, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Thijs Reuten, Ernő Schaller-Baross, Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz, Sven Simon, Reinier Van Lanschot, Adrián Vázquez Lázara, Loránt Vincze, Charlie Weimers

Substitutes present for the final vote

Tom Berendsen, Marieke Ehlers, Branko Grims, Idoia Mendia, Ana Miguel Pedro, Gheorghe Piperea

Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote

Michal Wiezik

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

20

+

PPE

Berendsen Tom, De Meo Salvatore, Grims Branko, Kefalogiannis Emmanouil, Pedro Ana Miguel, Simon Sven, Vincze Loránt, Vázquez Lázara Adrián

Renew

Goerens Charles, Gozi Sandro, Wiezik Michal

S&D

Bischoff Gabriele, Dîncu Vasile, Dobrev Klára, López Aguilar Juan Fernando, Mendia Idoia, Reuten Thijs

The Left

Farantouris Nikolas

Verts/ALE

Freund Daniel, Van Lanschot Reinier

6

-

ECR

Piperea Gheorghe, Weimers Charlie

PfE

Annemans Gerolf, Ehlers Marieke, Garraud Jean-Paul, Schaller-Baross Erno

0

0

Key:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstentions