About: MFF
Von der Leyen criticises Finnish presidency’s EU budget proposal
The new European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, did not mince her words at her first press conference on Wednesday (4 December), criticising a recent proposal of the Finnish EU Presidency for the bloc’s 2021-2027 budget and voicing concern "about the severe cuts in the proposal".
MEPs ready to fight against member states on EU budget
The European Parliament will not accept a "take it or leave it" agreement on the EU's next long term budget (2021-2027), co-rapporteurs Jan Olbrytch and Margarida Marques have told EURACTIV.
EU finance and education ministers hold ‘historic’ meeting to boost skills investment
Ministers for Finance and Education of the EU member states met on Friday (7 November) for the first-ever joint Council with the aim of discussing the importance of education for a strong economy.
EU faces budget deadlock as national positions drift further away
The Commission's proposal for the EU's new long-term budget has been caught in the crossfire as net contributors criticise the idea of having to pay more while a number of southern and eastern member states have joined forces to oppose planned cuts in traditional policies.
Visegrad countries slam Finnish presidency MFF paper
Ahead of an EU summit starting on Thursday (17 October), diplomats from the four Visegrad countries harshly criticised the Finnish presidency of the Council of the EU for a paper it prepared to help the leaders’ discussion on the bloc’s...
Timmermans clashes with Polish MEPs on rule of law
If we do not step up efforts to defend the rule of law, the EU will be at risk, outgoing Rule of Law Commissioner Frans Timmermans told EU lawmakers on Thursday (5 September), followed by a confrontation between the Dutchman and Polish MEPs from the country's governing Law and Justice (PiS) party.
Youth should be a mainstream priority for the EU, business expert says
Europe’s future lies in young peoples' hands. And if the EU wants to see economic growth, leaders should better put youth and education at the core of the bloc’s policymaking, JA Europe CEO Caroline Jenner told EURACTIV in an interview.
European Defence Fund agreed amid ethics concerns
EU institutions reached a partial political agreement on the European Defence Fund (EDF) this week but decisions on the two major issues - budget and funding eligibility - had to be postponed as the file remains plagued by controversy.
European Defence Fund talks reveal rift over EU’s defence future
EU lawmakers failed to seal an agreement on the future of the European Defence Fund (EDF) despite a nine hour negotiation session last week.
Young farmers call for strong CAP budget to ensure generational renewal
EU member states will have to deal with the generational renewal of the EU farming sector “whether they like it or not,” young farmers say. And to do so, they first need to support a strong budget for the post-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), they argue.
Implementation key for regaining trust, Finland’s PM tells EU lawmakers
Democratic forces of Europe will win back the trust of the people by making decisions and by implementing them, at home and here in Brussels, Finland’s Juha Sipilä on Thursday (31 January) told EU lawmakers in Brussels.
The skills gap – an economic burden for the EU
Digitalisation, the transition towards a greener economy, demographic changes… have increased the skills gap. As workers and companies struggle to deal with it, the European economy suffers. The EU is working to reduce it.
MEPs agree to fund ‘chimera’ nuclear fusion project
The European Parliament voted on Tuesday (15 January) to extend the funding of an experimental fusion power reactor through to 2027, although some MEPs are still concerned about the multi-billion euro moon-shot that could revolutionise the way power is generated.
Tsipras says CAP and regional policy cuts a ‘gift’ to anti-Europeans
Athens will oppose proposed cuts in the post-2020 agricultural and regional policy as this will be a “gift” to anti-EU populist forces, Greek premier Alexis Tsipras said on 13 December at the EU Council.
Europe speeds up plans for no-deal scenario as Brexit chaos grows
EU leaders will discuss late on Thursday (13 December) how to address the UK's concerns about its withdrawal agreement from the EU, but discussions on contingency plans are gathering pace as the chances of an orderly divorce continue to wane.
Parliament urges Council to start negotiating on next EU long-term budget
The European Parliament laid down funding priorities for the next long-term EU budget on Tuesday (13 November) and urged the Council to agree on a common position so that talks be completed before next May. But differences still remain about the level of member states' contributions.
Juncker hits out at ‘stupid populists’
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker called on Europe to "stand up" to the far-right during a speech at the opening session of the European Week of Regions and Cities on Monday (8 September).
Better regional cooperation for higher EU absorption rate: the Bulgaria-Romania case
When it comes to European structural funds, one of the main concerns is the capacity of the member states to attract them. Cooperation between public authorities has proven to be a driving factor.
Regions’ representative: We don’t want money just for the sake of it
Local and regional authorities met with EU Budget Commissioner Günther Oettinger on Tuesday (25 September) to express their concern that the funding for Cohesion is likely to be reduced in the next long-term EU budget due to Brexit and new priorities.
Oettinger names and shames member states on long-term EU budget cuts
Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Finland…. The EU's Budget Commissioner Günter Oettinger did not hesitate to point the finger at countries reluctant to increase their contributions to the EU's next seven-year budget during a speech on Wednesday (19 September).
French foreign minister: We no longer want to pay for Poland and Hungary
France does not want to finance a populist Europe, the country's foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has indicated, just as the fight over the EU's new long-term budget begins in earnest. EURACTIV Poland's media partner Gazeta Wyborcza reports.
Commission sheds some light on cohesion policy reform
The European Commission cleared up some of the details of its proposal to reform cohesion policy in the next EU long-term budget during a second round of discussion with MEPs on Wednesday (21 June).
Unravelling the Macron-Merkel agreement
A meeting between Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron was meant to foster a breakthrough on possible eurozone reforms. But the declaration brokered on Tuesday (19 June) is full of language that leaves a lot of room for interpretation. EURACTIV Germany reports.