More ambition for Europe’s future, but not as much for Erasmus+
Yesterday the European Parliament adopted a Resolution laying down its negotiating position on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the years 2028 to 2034, following the proposals by the European Commission from last year.
Young people are an active part of society and have high stakes and high expectations from an European budget that can invest in their present and in their future.
The Parliament was loud and clear: ambitious goals need to be met with the necessary investments, which can only be achieved by new sources of revenue for the EU (“Own Resources”). The European Parliament’s proposal to raise 60 billion EUR yearly is much needed to address all the systemic crises Europe faces. Next, we hope that the European Council agrees to this.
We also welcome the allocation of funds to the European Social Fund of 124 billion EUR. It is plainly clear that the European Commission’s proposal of 14% minimum target of social investments under the National and Regional Partnership Funds would be insufficient to invest in people, promoting social inclusion, access to employment and quality working conditions, and tackling discrimination and poverty.
Finally, we are happy to see the Parliament recognising the crucial role that civil society plays in the development of EU legislation and a functioning democracy. The European Parliament’s support to engagement with civil society and their resourcing is much needed at a time of democratic backsliding.
When it comes to Erasmus+, the European Parliament calls for a budget of EUR 47 billion. Whilst this is a welcome increase to the Commission’s original proposal of EUR 40 billion, this figure still falls considerably short of the EUR 130 billion that youth organisations in Europe have demanded to make the next Erasmus+ truly accessible to all young people.
The adoption of this text represents simply another step in a long and hard fought process. We look to the EU institutions to choose wisely where to put their money and to have strategic foresight to invest today to reap the benefits in the future: from social inclusion and quality working conditions, health including mental health, social housing, green economy, to a vibrant civil society sector, where youth organisations play a vital role.
The European budget has a direct impact on young people and youth organisations and directly affects our local realities. Young people, who make up 25% of the European population, face a list of systemic crises that the allocation of the European budget can either alleviate or further aggravate. Is the EU ready to take responsibility and ownership to start addressing them? Is the EU ready to invest in young people?
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