The European Parliament’s negotiating position on the EU budget for 2024 was adopted by a large majority of 424 votes “for”, 101 “against” and 102 abstentions.

The Parliament supports increased allocations to those areas that need more European funding, such as tackling the fallout from Russia’s war against Ukraine, migration, research, Erasmus+ scholarships, young farmers, bolstering the EU’s strategic autonomy, but also external action, mainly regarding the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and the EU’s Eastern and Southern Neighbourhood.

Victor Negrescu, the Social Democrat (S&D) group’s rapporteur on the European budget, warned during the plenary session that the current budget makes the European Union irrelevant and fragile against its competitors in the context of the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East.

Aligning his position on the 2024 budget with the EP’s stance on the proposed mid-term revision of the EU’s long-term budget (MFF, multiannual financial framework), which is expected to inject up to €75.8 billion into the EU budget over the period 2024-2027, Victor Negrescu called for negotiations to be speeded up so that, from next year, additional European funds can be allocated to the current challenges.

“With only 1% of our combined national budgets, the European Union, including our Member States, will become irrelevant, fragile facing the Russian Federation, unable to cope with the impact of inflation and war, to achieve a fair digital and green transition or to raise the living standards of our citizens,” said the Social Democrat MEP.

Romania’s representative in the European legislative stressed that the European Parliament’s proposal on the EU budget included several proposals made by the Social Democrats, among which, of interest to Romania, are the allocation of funds for border protection and accession to the Schengen area, the development of the Civil Protection Mechanism, essential for disaster management, support for young farmers and vulnerable groups, support for the Republic of Moldova and assistance for funding programmes for Romania related to the transport sector on the Danube or in the border regions with Ukraine.

The European Social Democrats also insisted on reducing the impact of inflation on EU programmes, in particular Erasmus projects for youth and education. “Unfortunately, Europe pays more in bank interest rates than for our flagship programme”, said Victor Negrescu.

He added that, despite what populists would argue, “Parliament is not asking for more money, but for enough funds for what the Member States and the Commission have already promised, without even consulting us”. “Member States have already received a 22% cut in their contribution to the EU budget thanks to the success of the European own resources”.

Parliament also reversed the cuts made by the Council in its negotiating stance (€772 million) to the level of the original draft budget proposed by the Commission. They have also increased funding for programmes and policies, which they see as vital for addressing the consequences of the war in Ukraine and high energy prices. This will further aid post-pandemic recovery and fortify the green transition, and support young people with a boost for Erasmus+, to account for higher inflation and higher living costs and make the programme accessible to all.

Therefore, the European Parliament and the Social Democrat Group support a budget for 2024 ” that brings hope to Europe and convinces our citizens that European elections can give them the opportunity to build a united and better European Union!”.

The plenary vote kicks off three weeks of “conciliation” talks with the Council, with the aim of reaching a deal between the two institutions in time for next year’s budget, to be voted on by Parliament and signed by its President before the end of the year.

In this sense, MEP Victor Negrescu warned that ”Social democrats in the European Parliament are not going to accept peanuts from the Council and will use all available means to push for a citizen-oriented budget”.