Parliament sends clear signal to Council by rejecting conclusions on MFF
Date
Sections
Speaking after a resolution rejecting the European Council's recent conclusions on the Multiannual Financial Framework was adopted in plenary, GUE/NGL President Gabi Zimmer welcomed the outcome:
"My group rejected the MFF in its current form and this sends a clear signal to Council that they must respect Parliament's co-decision powers. Another reason the GUE/NGL stuck firmly to our rejection was that it was unclear where the funding would actually be coming from to meet the aims of tackling youth unemployment and growth and jobs."
She continued: "As a Group we have always spoken out in favour of values such as social progress and non-discrimination of the peoples of the EU. With the MFF, we see an undermining of these values and the destruction of the EU with each nation fighting for itself."
GUE/NGL MEP Alda Sousa said: "The Council's agreement on the MFF clearly shows that national governments have given up on Europe. Rejecting this agreement is a sign of solidarity. People are losing their dignity amongst levels of poverty that are obscene. This framework as it currently stands is going to sink us into eternal austerity."
GUE/NGL MEP Jürgen Klute added: "The MFF proposal means that Europe will be driven further into the crisis. We need a two year extension that would mean MEPs in the next parliamentary term would be able to vote on a proper MFF. This would also mean the MFF would be put in sync with the Parliament which would be an important step forward. Members in each parliamentary term should be able to decide on fundamental rights."
Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20