Progressive ministers of European affairs convened ahead of today’s General Affairs Council (GAC), which is set to discuss the next multiannual financial framework (MFF).
Finnish Minister for European Affairs Tytti Tuppurainen, who exceptionally chaired the PES meeting, said:
“This generation has a responsibility to act now, and to act decisively, to avert an environmental and social catastrophe and safeguard our planet’s future. We must also not lose sight of our social goals and our shared values. The MFF needs a strong rule of law mechanism. This is a major priority shared by many member states. We need to make sure that Europe can enforce compliance with its core values effectively and that conditionality with regards to the rule of law is not watered down.
“We have put fighting social inequalities, promoting social wellbeing, and promoting research, digitalisation, and development in the European Commission’s agenda. For example, funding for the Horizon Europe research programme, which is central to the development of innovation and digitalisation in Europe, needs its fair share of the MFF.
“Progressive Commissioner Frans Timmermans has also produced a plan to make our continent sustainable through a green transition that leaves no one and no region behind.
“To achieve our ambitions, the European Council has a responsibility to make sure proper resources are made available. Without sufficient funding, the potential of the Green Deal, and our ambition for greater social convergence, will not be realised and all of Europe will lose.”
The PES has called on the EU Council to reach an agreement on the MFF at the Special European Council meeting later this week. Europe needs an ambitious MFF with means to implement progressive priorities that address social inequalities, promote cohesion and convergence and the European Green Deal.
The meeting was attended by:
- Tytti Tuppurainen, Minister for European Affairs and Ownership Steering, Finland
- Ana Paula Zacarias, Secretary of State for European Affairs, Portugal
- Frantisek Ruzicka, State Secretary for European Affairs, Slovakia
- Juan González-Barba, State Secretary for European Affairs, Spain
- Margarida Marques MEP, S&D Group rapporteur on the MFF, European Parliament
- Yonnec Polet, Deputy Secretary-General PES
