European ministers call for a larger EU budget for climate, peace and enlargement

The EU’s overall budget framework is subject to tough negotiations between member states every seven years. The current multiyear budget applies between 2021 and 2027. In that compromise, EU leaders agreed to conduct a mid-term review while addressing the recurring issue of creating so-called new private funds for the International Monetary Fund. European Union budget. Private funds are taxes or fees that go directly to the EU budget, unlike membership fees levied by member states, which are by far the biggest source of income for the common budget.

in Discussion article in Euractive European ministers from France, Germany and Portugal write on Thursday that the current EU budget is not enough to meet the challenges the union faces.

“The EU must be able to make the necessary, strategic and much-needed investments in the future. Therefore, we must focus on our political priorities and we will need additional, well-targeted European funds,” wrote Ministers Anna Luhrmann (Green) and Lawrence Boone (Independent), and Thiago Antunes (Social Democrat).

According to them, a larger EU budget is needed for joint investments in cross-border infrastructure, securing food supplies, research, competitiveness, defense and climate change, among others. More full EU coffers are also needed to welcome new members such as Ukraine, Moldova, Albania and other countries in the Western Balkans.

Marshall aid to Ukraine

The three ministers also believe that Ukraine’s reconstruction and integration into the European Union is a cornerstone of security on the continent and they want to see significant investment in the country.

“Just as the United States wrote history with the Marshall Plan, the European Union must write history with Ukraine,” they wrote, thus backing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s earlier call for this to happen.

Proposals are negotiated

in June The European Commission submitted its proposal In the mid-term review with calls for additional money for the EU budget and new special funds such as a tax on financial transactions. The Commission’s proposal is due to be negotiated by EU countries this fall – with a possible final settlement at the December summit in Brussels.

The Swedish government supports more spending for Ukraine, but otherwise opposes pushing more money into the budget. In decisions about the EU budget, all member states must give their consent.

Phased expansion

in separate Interview with Politico The three European ministers are simultaneously calling for an enlargement process whereby future member states can gradually join some forms of cooperation when they meet the corresponding requirements. This contrasts with the situation today, when all requirements must be met in order to receive the benefits of EU membership.

The three of us look a lot at certain proposals for gradual joining. It used to be that you met all the criteria and even then not much will change for you, but with this new way of gradually joining the EU [kan ett land som gör framsteg] “Get rewarded immediately,” said French Europe Minister Lawrence Bonne.

Her German counterpart, Anna Luhrmann, also expressed her belief that the EU should help the candidate countries more effectively meet the requirements for accession.

In fact, it is in our primary security interest that they join. We will help them meet the necessary standards. It’s a different mentality. “I think this way of thinking has already reached all EU capitals, including Brussels,” Luhrmann said.