Tough negotiations between MEPs and the German EU presidency over the next EU budget were approaching a deal on Tuesday, according to members of the main group in parliament.
Begun more than two months ago, these difficult talks have entered a phase deemed crucial, given the risk of delay or paralysis of the implementation of the 2021-2027 budget of the EU and of the European economic recovery plan which backs onto it.
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The multiannual budget must imperatively receive the green light from the MEPs as well as from the Twenty-Seven unanimously.
An 11th session of budget negotiations opened on Monday between parliamentarians, Germany (which holds the rotating EU presidency and negotiates on behalf of states) and the European Commission (the EU executive), and after a suspension, the debates were to resume this Tuesday around 2 p.m.
"
We are extremely close to an agreement on the multiannual financial framework
", assured Tuesday Manfred Weber, president of the group of EPP MEPs (pro-European right) in a statement sent to AFP.
The European Parliament has already announced a press conference on budget negotiations for 3:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. GMT).
At a summit in July, the Twenty-Seven agreed on a post-Covid recovery plan of 750 billion euros backed by a 2021-2027 European budget of 1.074 billion euros - an amount deemed insufficient by MEPs.
The current discussions concern the modalities of this multiannual financial framework, the MEPs demanding additional funds to strengthen programs in health, education or research, cut by the States in their project.
In separate negotiations, MEPs have already reached an agreement last week with the German presidency to include in the budget a mechanism to deprive countries that do not respect the rule of law of European funds, in the event that these violations have consequences. budgetary consequences.
The European Parliament had made it a red line to approve the budget.
After this agreement, "
we are in an extremely positive dynamic to finalize this important package of measures
" concerning the budget and the recovery plan, assured Mr. Weber.
The agreement on the rule of law on the other hand provoked the fury of Poland and Hungary, in the crosshairs of Brussels for reforms accused of undermining the independence of the judiciary.
Budapest is now threatening to oppose its veto to block the European budget and the recovery plan.
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