With the approach of the French presidency of the European Union, the National Assembly on Monday adopted the country's contribution to the EU budget for 2022, stable at 26.4 billion euros, a very high level since the health crisis and Brexit.
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This contribution jumped 25% last year, as recalled by Marie-Christine Dalloz (LR), who however recognized the “
useful
”
support
of the EU during the crisis and then for the recovery.
"
The Stability Pact
"
“
For the past year, the choice of a common and ambitious budgetary response led by France has been validated and implemented,
” said Secretary of State for European Affairs Clément Beaune, referring to the plan. European post-Covid stimulus package of 750 billion euros, of which France, with 40 billion of which 5.1 has already been disbursed, is the third beneficiary after Italy and Spain.
General rapporteur Laurent Saint-Martin (LREM) worried about the future of common budgetary rules.
"
The stability pact has shown its limits
" even before the crisis, he stressed, pleading for rules to "
encourage investment
".
Socialist deputies, through the voice of Lamia El Aaraje, also supported a “
lasting
”
relaxation
of European rules.
This will be one of the challenges of the French presidency of the EU, in the first half of 2022, while the debate is open in Germany as part of the formation of the future government.
To avoid an economic collapse in the context of the pandemic, the European Union had temporarily put aside the “
stability pact
”, which limits public deficits to 3% and debt to 60% of gross domestic product (GDP).
With the return of growth, the question arises of its reinstatement.
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Only elected Communists and LFI did not vote in favor of the levy for the benefit of the EU, denouncing "
a liberal Europe
" synonymous with "
rigor
".
"
To say that we are still today in a Europe of austerity is not serious,
" replied Mr. Beaune.