More taxpayers’ money to Europe between 2021 and 2027

“It’s always the same: asking our citizens for more taxpayers’ money. There’s just no end to that refrain in the European Parliament.” MEP Anneleen Van Bossuyt summarises the frustration of the N-VA group about the European multi-annual budget for 2021-2027. The European Parliament wants to spend over 1,300 billion euros in that period, which is almost 200 billion more than the European Commission is proposing. “We find it incomprehensible that in times of Brexit the Parliament is not taking the responsibility also to examine where Europe can make savings,” her colleague Mark Demesmaeker agrees. Helga Stevens is of the same opinion: “The EU must close the money floodgates in areas in which it appears to be superfluous and programmes are outdated.”

Follies

Anneleen Van Bossuyt does not temper her criticism of the multi-annual budget. “It is a good thing that Europe wants to grant additional resources to projects such as Erasmus+ and the European research programme Horizon Europe. The added value of those programmes is not up for discussion. But at the same time Europe needs to get rid of follies like the free Interrail train tickets and the monthly move to Strasbourg, and dare to ask questions about the old expense programmes. The fact that there is no sign anywhere of efforts to make savings while the United Kingdom, one of the largest net contributors, is leaving the EU, just goes to show how detached from reality these European politicians are. The N-VA is therefore voting against this proposal.”

Strong external borders

MEP Helga Stevens does however see one positive note. “I am pleased that Europe wants to expand Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard. The expansion from 1,200 Frontex employees to 10,000 agents represents an important step forwards towards strong external borders. However, Europe will have to support them with a strict but fair migration framework: the introduction of pushbacks, the setting of a strict maximum limit, and more and better relief in the regions of origin.”

Stimulating innovation

Mark Demesmaeker, to conclude, looks at a few traditional expenses. “The European Parliament wants to keep in place the traditional expenses on the Common Agricultural Policy and the Cohesion Policy. This despite the fact that both areas were trimmed back quite a bit in the Commission’s proposal. Our N-VA delegation welcomes all efforts to limit uncontrolled migration, strengthen our security and stimulate research and innovation,” MEP Mark Demesmaeker concludes.