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Setting Sail on the Portuguese Presidency

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Setting Sail on the Portuguese Presidency Setting Sail on the Portuguese Presidency Table of contents INTERVIEW WITH EPP MEP JOSÉ MANUEL FERNANDES 4­7 PRIORITIES OF THE Portuguese PRESIDENCY 8­9 POLITICAL CALENDAR FOR THE NExT SIx MONTHS 10­11 wHAT ABOUT Portugal? 12 INTERVIEW WITH EPP MEP JOSÉ MANUEL FERNANDES EPP Coordinator in the Committee on Budgets Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Federative Republic of Brazil Member of the Committee on Budgetary Control Substitute in the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs Regarding the 2021-2027 EU budget and the Covid-19 economic recovery plan, which are the mainhot topics at the moment, clear discrepancies were noted regarding the levels of ambition between the EU Member States and the European Parliament on key policies which are of particular importance for citizens (fight against pandemics, support for R&D, Erasmus+, etc.). Today, we are faced with a blockage coming from Poland and Hungary, which oppose to the rule of law conditionality. José MANUEL FERNANDES Do you consider that the process of adopting the European budget - which German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a real requires Member States unanimity - is still and the only EU leader, that tries to push adequate in relation to the objectives of the others in the right direction. the EU and its development today? This selfishness is notably due to the fact The problem is not the process, it is the way that 85% of the EU budget comes from the Council (i.e. Member States) looks at the national budgets. And thus, states look for EU budget. their fare return. ¨I want my money back¨ is the thought. With the UK’s withdrawal, The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) France and Germany are together focuses on the upcoming 7 years, from 2021 responsible for 43% of the budget. They to 2027 and thus, gives an exceptional also feel like they have to have all the power predictability that has to be aligned with the in regard to the budget. European policy priorities and the definition of the supporting programs. In fact, only 6,5% of the MFF goes to operating and administrative expenses: In order for the MFF to be adopted, we meaning that almost 94% goes to direct need unanimity in the Council and majority investment in concrete projects at the EU in the Parliament. Unfortunately, we see that and Member States levels. However, the at the Council level, we have the sum of 27 latter still try to cut the budget and if the egoistic nations which should instead have a budget was not spent, there would be some real European spirit. Fortunately, we have happy states. And that is the main problem. Nations do not say to citizens how much that will benefit all states. The new own they benefit from the EU. The UK only said resources should be enough to pay the debt how much they had to pay, but everyone and avoid cuts in future EU programs and wins with the EU and what is curious is that funds. the countries that benefit most from the EU are the ones that critize it the most. The UK We just want to make sure that those had to leave to understand all the benefits benefiting from the internal market pay their the EU had. fair share for the benefits. The EU budget is only 1% of national GDP, Own resources have to help the EU to reach but we do so much with it. And no one its objectives, specifically regarding the fight knows that more than 93% goes to against climate change. The Carbon Border investment. Therefore, I don’t understand Adjustment Mechanism is an invitation to why governments attack the budget when companies to respect the environment. We they benefit so much and do not inform the are inviting them not to relocate their citizens. activities outside the EU, because if they do, they will have to pay a fee to send products It is said that the Parliament is too to Europe. With this, we have the creation of ambitious, that it asks for too much money. resources and at the same time we reinforce No, the truth is that we are realists. What is the competitivity of our companies. not realistic is to try to reach very ambitious However, we still have to work on this, and it EU objectives with lack of means. has to be balanced. If we were to follow the Council’s logic, we For their part, the digital giants do not have would divide the budgets allocated to a specific territory and benefit enormously R&D&I activities and give it to each Member from the internal market but do not pay for State. But we have more impact when we it. We need a common tax base at least. create common European programs. These are some examples in which this Fortunately, we have managed to reinforce resource basket should be enough to pay the EU budget and some of its flagship the debt, while showing a real solidarity programs with 16 billion euros. These between Member States. programs have strong benefits, and if we invested even more, we could benefit even Switching to international relations, do more. you believe that the exit of the United Kingdom, without an agreement for the To remedy this situation, should the EU moment, can have a real destabilizing not be able to benefit from its own effect on the EU? In terms of the budget, financial resources? Do you think there is do you believe that the fact that France a chance that new resources such as a and Germany have recovered a large part “digital tax” or a “Carbon Border of the weight can have a positive or Adjustment Mechanism” could be negative effect? implemented in the near future? The first two contributors to the EU where With the Council, we have a legally binding already Germany and France, but the exit of agreement in favor of working for the the United Kingdom is bad for everyone. In implementation of new financial own the first place for the UK as more than 40% resources. of the exports of the UK go to the EU (while only 7% of the EU exports are going to the Those resources will be essential to be able UK). to repay the loans made by the European Commission, on behalf of the EU, as part of In second place, it is bad for the 27 Member the Covid-19 economic recovery plan and States and the EU as a whole. With the UK, 5 I am confused about how a country like the U.S. could choose Trump as the Republican candidate. Now Joe Biden is the President- elect and I hope he will be a leader. Indeed, otherwise we are going to have a problem, and no one is talking about this issue: we have currently only one leader at the global level, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and she is leaving soon. She is the one pushing the Economic Recovery Plan; the fact that Greece is still in the Monetary Union, it’s all thanks to her. I do not know if Joe Bien is going to be a leader, but I truly hope so. I am almost certain he is going to be better than Trump, but this doesn’t take away my concerns. For we are almost at the US’s economic level, in its part, the EU has to do its work. We terms of GDP. We also lose in terms of cannot always be waiting for the U.S. With geopolitics and in terms of defense. this I am not saying that the U.S. and the EU do not have to strengthen their relationship, Finally, it is also the world who loses. The EU their commercial agreements, because they has to maintain its values. For this reason, have to. We also have to fight the climate the protection of the rule of law is essential. change together. That’s why, going back to The EU has to have ambitions in terms of the Paris Agreement is key. climate mitigation that have to be an example to the rest of the world. The EU For instance, and in relation to the should be the reference. It should export its forthcoming Portuguese Presidency, Africa values and its ambitions, especially in has to be a priority. We know that and we, climate issues. as Portuguese, know Africa well. Portugal has a long historical relationship with Africa However, I am sure we are going to find and strong cultural ties. In 2030, the ways of cooperation. However, it will not be continent will double in terms of inhabitants. the same. The UK wants to be in the The EU has to understand that this is a Erasmus+ Programme, in Horizon Europe, in priority, and it has to be done. At the global the EU Space Programme, but it will have to level, Europe is the one that gives more to pay to benefit from them. Africa in terms of humanitarian aid and development assistance. I think that today, most of the British people have understood the importance of the EU Humanitarian aid is of course needed, but it and to belonging to it. Their exit is a sad is more important to help in development moment, but it resulted in citizens from so that the humanitarian aid is no longer other Member States now understanding needed. In order to do so, there is a need to that we are stronger if we are together.
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