EU Parliament chief pushes for ambitious long-term budget

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Parliament president warned EU member states Wednesday that they won't have the support of lawmakers if they fail to back anambitious long-term budget for the bloc.

European leaders will gather in Brussels on Feb. 20 for a special summit to find a compromise on the bloc's budget for the years 2021 to 2027. The money will be used for a variety of purposes including subsidies for farmers and helping out poorer regions around the world.

The budget discussions at the EU summit around the Multiannual Financial Framework take place in the wake of Britain's departure from the EU. Britain was one of the biggest contributors into the EU budget, which means an increase in contributions is needed to plug the gap.

The European Commission has proposed that member states should contribute 1.11% of their gross national income, that will generate an overall budget of 1.135 trillion euros ($1.25 trillion) for the seven-year period. The European Parliament thinks member states should pay more into the EU coffers and is suggesting the contributions are more in the 1.3% region. Some member states want to go as low as 1 percent.

The EU Parliament's role matters as one of the major powers that European lawmakers have is the ability to vote down a budget.

“We want to reach an agreement with the Council, however if they refuse to move and accept Parliament’s positions then we will go all the way and reject the new long-term EU budget," EU Parliament president David Sassoli said on Wednesday. “These are not just abstract figures but have real consequences for the lives of all Europeans."

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