The plenary of the EU Parliament has voted in favour of the report on the guidelines for the 2020 Budget - Section III. It sets out the main political priorities of the European Parliament for the EU Budget 2020, and provides a rather comprehensive overview.
S&D budget coordinator, Eider Gardiazabal Rubial, stated:
"There is only one concrete way to ensure the EU lives up to European citizens’ expectations: provide the EU with a strong and progressive EU budget with all the necessary financial means to tackle the global challenges and to reach the Sustainable Development Goals. It is not just a matter of numbers or figures. An adequate EU budget is crucial to translate into practice our political priorities, to invest on a sustainable and inclusive development.”
S&D shadow rapporteur, Karine Gloanec Maurin, commented:
“This is what the S&D Group is fighting and thanks to our commitment, we managed to secure our major priorities, such as the fight against climate change, investment for sustainable and inclusive growth, jobs creation and youth oriented policies. We advocated for a strong reinforcement of the gender equality priority and for the introduction of a call to evaluate potential suspension of trade agreements with countries not ratifying or implementing Paris climate change agreement.
“In order to eradicate the root causes of the migration flows there is no wall to raise but instead we must ensure an adequate financial support to developing countries. This is also valid for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East that must receive sufficient assistance following the shameful US decision to withdraw its annual contribution to the agency.
"Lastly, supporting the renewed EU agenda for the development of the defence industrial sector is a key step for the Union to play a major strategic role in the geopolitical arena."
