Getting budgetary affairs in order after Brexit

Fewer members in the club means fewer membership fees to work with. That’s the opinion of MEP Sander Loones on the deficit that Brexit will cause in the European budget. The Budget Commission of the European Parliament wants to make up that deficit with a higher contribution from the remaining Member States. “Once again the euro-traditional groups are choosing to squeeze extra money out of the citizen instead of resolutely opting for efficiency,” says Sander Loones, who advocates a smaller European budget after Brexit.

Reassessing priorities

It’s not only the budget that needs reworking, the priorities for which the money is earmarked need to be reassessed as well. The Budget Commission of the EU wants to retain the current expenditure. However, as far as MEP Sander Loones is concerned, the European budget system is out of date. “They still don’t understand that we have to set different priorities. They can only see a single solution, and that solution is more Europe and more taxation,” he explains.

European border control

Sander Loones is asking Europe to put all its expenditure firmly under the microscope. The policy must meet the needs of today and the expectations of tomorrow. “This will release the desperately-needed resources to guarantee the security of our citizens and ensure a resolute but just migration policy. The further expansion of European border control is a key element of this,” Sander Loones concludes.