Ahead of this week's special EU summit on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the EU's long-term budget for 2014-2020, GUE/NGL President Gabi Zimmer urged member state governments "to realise that they were responsible for the future survival of Europe and to come together to decide on a budget for this future."

She criticised Member States governments for focusing on further cutbacks saying that the Commission's calls for funding were a mere reflection of the increased tasking being asked of the EU. "It is wrong to ask for further savings and better spending if we don't have the resources there that can be used better."

"How can the EU continue to combat social exclusion and poverty  if there are going to be cuts to funding for the poorest of the poor?" MEP Zimmer asked. "Surely you can not remain indifferent to the impact of the crisis that is resulting in more and more people falling into poverty and finding it difficult to keep their heads above water?"

She urged those British MEPs bad mouthing the EU in the chamber this morning to give up blocking progress and " to move away from their narrow-minded nationalist and parochial interests."