On the MFF, Rule of Law Conditionality and Own Resources package
B-9-2020-0429
on behalf of the ECR Group · Rapporteur: Ryszard Antoni Legutko, Bogdan Rzońca, Roberts Zīle, Ryszard Czarnecki, Zbigniew Kuźmiuk, Elżbieta Rafalska, Zdzisław Krasnodębski, Beata Mazurek, Witold Jan Waszczykowski, Anna Fotyga, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Kosma Złotowski, IzabelaHelena Kloc, Elżbieta Kruk, Andżelika Anna Możdżanowska, Valdemar Tomaševski, Krzysztof Jurgiel, Cristian Terheş, Tomasz Piotr Poręba
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A resolution tabled by the ECR Group welcomes the political agreements on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, the Interinstitutional Agreement (IIA) and the EU Recovery Instrument (EURI), but rejects the draft rule of law conditionality regulation.¶¶ It highlights the EUR 1.8 trillion package including a EUR 750 bn Recovery Plan, a EUR 16 bn top-up to flagship programmes, a roadmap for new own resources from 2021 and a stronger budgetary role for Parliament.¶¶¶ It calls on the Commission to respect the Council conclusions of 10 and 11 December 2020 on how the conditionality regulation will be applied, and asks the Court of Justice to rule on its compatibility with EU law.¶¶ It says the Recovery Plan should support economies, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), jobs and skills, and address inequalities, while warning that the MFF's long-term viability must not be sacrificed to short-term political compromise.¶¶
Key points
- Welcomes the political agreements of 10 November 2020 on the MFF, the IIA and the EURI, including their joint and unilateral declarations.¶
- Notes the package totals EUR 1.8 trillion and includes a Recovery Plan of EUR 750 bn.¶
- Notes a EUR 16 bn top-up to the MFF 2021-2027 for flagship programmes identified by Parliament, including EU4Health, Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Frontex, InvestEU and others.¶
- Notes an indicative roadmap to introduce new own resources starting in 2021.¶
- Notes an enhanced role for Parliament as budgetary authority, especially if a new instrument based on Article 122 TFEU is created.¶
- Negatively assesses the draft regulation on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget, saying spending conditions must be objective, specific, measurable and adequate and not open to political instrumentalisation.¶
- Questions the regulation's compatibility with the Treaties and says the European Court of Justice must determine whether it is compatible with EU law.
- Strongly urges the Commission to respect the Council conclusions of 10 and 11 December 2020, including their clarifications and interpretative assurances on how the regulation will be applied in practice.¶
- Believes the Recovery Plan provides an investment impulse to help member states counter the crisis, transform economies, support SMEs and European industry, and increase jobs and skills.¶
- Finds it important that the plan addresses social and economic inequalities and the needs of those hit hardest by the crisis.
- Expresses concern that the long-term viability of the MFF and its programmes should not be compromised by a short-term approach centred on political compromise for financing recovery actions.¶
Who is affected
- Member states: the Recovery Plan is meant to help them counter the crisis and transform their economies.¶
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and European industry: the plan is meant to support them.
- Workers, consumers and families: the plan should increase job opportunities and skills and address inequalities.
- The European Commission: urged to respect the Council conclusions on applying the conditionality regulation.¶
- The European Court of Justice: asked to determine the regulation's compatibility with EU law.¶
Figures and deadlines
Legal basis: Articles 2, 14, 15, 16 and 17 TEU and Articles 295, 310, 311, 312 and 322 TFEU.¶