Valérie Hayer Member of the European Parliament Brussels, 11
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Valérie Hayer Brussels, 11 March 2020 Member of the European Parliament Ms. Ursula von der Leyen President European Commission Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat 200 1049 Brussels Belgium Dear President, On behalf of the Renew Europe Group’s French delegation, I ask you and the coronavirus response team to take all the appropriate budgetary measures to ensure a coordinated European response to the health, economic and social impacts caused by the coronavirus outbreak in all Member States of the European Union (EU). In this regard, I welcome the Corona Response Investment Initiative aiming at mobilising 7.5 billion of euros unspent for the cohesion policy. In addition, I want to raise your attention that more than 4 billion of euros are also available for unforeseen events and crises in this year budget. As this situation puts high pressure on our European businesses, economy and workers, we should use the EU budget flexibilities to alleviate economic losses and reinforce sectors and enterprises at risk, enabling the European Union and its businesses to cope with unforeseen sanitary crises in the future at the same time. Consequently, I urge you to make a proposal for the modification of the Council Regulation (EU) 2016/369 of 15 March 2016 on the provision of emergency support within the Union in order to extend its scope for providing European businesses and sectors negatively and significantly impacted by an epidemic with a budgetary support to avoid their collapse and job losses, but also to prepare them for any future crisis. If such a modification cannot be considered, I ask you to propose a new Regulation based on the Article 122 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which states that the Union may grant financial assistance “where a Member State is in difficulties or is seriously threatened with severe difficulties caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences beyond its control”. This new Regulation should bring a European response to the economic challenges stated above. I suggest the Commission to propose a Draft Amending Budget 2020 to make the necessary funds available in parallel. In this regard, we recall that the Council and the European Parliament specifically ensured a large degree of flexibility in the budget 2020 for unforeseen events and crises. Yours sincerely, Valérie Hayer Renew Europe Group’s Coordinator in the Committee on Budgets European Parliament - WIB 04M113 - B-1047 Brussels - +32 2 28 45 639 Constituency office : 113, avenue Robert Buron - F-53000 Laval - +33 9 88 35 12 15 [email protected] - @ValerieHayer cc: Mr Johannes HAHN, Commissioner for Budget and Administration Mr Paolo GENTILONI, Commissioner for Economy Ms. Ylva JOHANSSON, Commissioner for Home Affairs Ms. Stella KYRIAKIDES, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Mr Janez LENARČIČ, Commissioner for Crisis Management Ms. Adina VĂLEAN, Commissioner for Transport European Parliament - WIB 04M113 - B-1047 Brussels - +32 2 28 45 639 Constituency office : 113, avenue Robert Buron - F-53000 Laval - +33 9 88 35 12 15 [email protected] - @ValerieHayer .