The European Parliament approved the EU budget for 2017. Following pressure from the S&D Group the budget contains an extra €500 million to help tackle youth unemployment in Europe.

S&D MEP Jens Geier, the Parliament’s chief negotiator for the 2017 budget, said:

“Europe is facing an unprecedented number of different challenges. If we are serious about tackling the refugee crisis, boosting growth and tackling the still unacceptable high levels of youth unemployment, then we need a well-funded and flexible EU budget.

“The budget we have backed today is not perfect but it is a step in the right direction. We have managed to secure an extra €500 million for the Youth Employment Initiative, a priority for our group. This will ensure that millions of young Europeans have the chance to continue studying, training or getting their first job.

“We have also managed to secure an extra €150 million for programmes designed to boost research and innovation (Horizon 2020), support small and medium sized businesses (COSME) and help boost cross-border infrastructure projects (Connecting Europe Facility).”

Eider Gardiazábal Rubial, S&D spokesperson for the budget committee, said:

“Alongside money to tackle youth unemployment we have also managed to increase funding for programmes to boost development and tackle the root causes of the refugee crisis. It has been agreed to add €700 million for the Global Europe heading to the first Commission´s proposal for a draft budget 2017, which includes money to boost support for neighbouring and developing countries. In addition, we have secured an increase of funds for supporting Palestinian refugees reaching a total of €310 million.

“Helping boost European culture and exchange is also a priority for our group. We have managed to secure an extra €50 million Euros for the Erasmus+ scheme that helps students to study and work in different EU member states.”