European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for a staggering 75% increase in the EU’s investment budget under the Global Europe framework, pledging to strengthen energy security, expand partnerships, and accelerate Ukraine and Moldova’s EU paths. The proposal, part of the next €2 trillion MFF plan, has already sparked talk of a long and heated budget battle in Brussels.
00:00We want a budget, Europe's agency for international development, a changing world budget, and something more ambitious, simpler, and more flexible.
00:11A strong budget for Europe's independence movement, and we all know, as you said Minister BRM, that the status quo is not an option.
00:22Because we all remember the last five years. We all remember what happened whenever a crisis hit.
00:29The European Council, trying to scratch the bottom of the barrel.
00:38We remember very well how difficult this level of uncertainty and improvisation is.
00:45Simply not sustainable each time the parliament rightly asked for more ambition, mores, and more flexibility.
00:53You are absolutely right.
00:57We cannot face this dangerous world with one hand tied on our backs, and the proposal on the table today is the answer to this call.
01:09First of all, on the size of the budget, some say the proposal is not enough and yet it is the largest budget proposed today, close to 2 trillion.
01:25Some say it is too ambitious and yet it is a responsible proposal that starts repairing our low borrowing for the next generation and in resources matching final financial firepower with resiliency, we are proposing a 75%.
01:44Increase and the reason is clear.
01:48This is for investing in energy security and raw materials through global gateways.
01:53It is for the rising humanitarian needs across the world.
02:00It is to strengthen our partnership with countries through new agreements that advance, for example, our energy security, our access to critical raw materials, migration management,
02:10our global competitiveness, our global competitiveness, and crucially, is to support Ukraine in the West on their pass to membership in the European Union.
02:24All of this and more as global Europe is simply, honorable members, we need to change the way we spend, and this is what the new proposal is all about.
02:36So honorable members, this is just the start of the process.
02:41The MFF negotiations will be long and they will be difficult.
02:45The European Commission and the European Parliament will work closely together.
02:50We need all hands on deck.
02:53My commissioners are at your disposal for regular talks and dialogue.
02:58In the meantime, the new budget is an opportunity to transform our union for the better and for good.
03:06We can make it stronger, faster, more strategic, more responsive, more independent, and more democratic.
Be the first to comment