A simpler, truly European budget
Author: Maxime Jérôme Rolland-Calligaro
Date:
Ahead of the presentation of the next EU long-term budget proposal to come on the 16th of July, Renew Europe adopted two position papers. One paper fleshes out Renew Europe’s vision for the next multiannual financial framework (MFF). The other paper lays out reform paths to significantly simplify the way to access EU funds.
Our position on the MFF: more European, not less
MEP Fabienne Keller, our lead negotiator for the MFF said: “The Commission is attempting to renationalise the Union's budget through national plans decided by capitals. This is wrong. It threatens the very fabric of the Union and the risk severing the link our regions have with the EU institutions. Instead Renew Europe believes a leap forward towards a truly European budget. Our budget must become more European, not less”.
Renew Europe demands an MFF which is more European in its shape (no renationalisation, more parliamentary oversight); more European in its objectives (EU-public goods only), more European in its response to common challenges such as defence and competitiveness, more European in its financing (stable own resources needed). More European in its values (No funding for autocrats). And more European friendly (more on that below).
Our position on EU funds: for all, not just the jargon experts
MEP Morten Løkkegaard, who led the discussion on simplifying access to EU funds, said: "The European Union’s budget is a powerful lever for change. Yet many stakeholders struggle to access EU funds due to complexity, administrative burdens, and lack of clear guidance. Renew Europe wants to drive a pragmatic agenda for simplification: one that is citizen-focused, digital-first, results-driven, and fair”.
Renew Europe demands, among other things, more flat-rate and lump-sum payments for small projects, to reduce reliance on invoices, ensure that one trusted audit is sufficient and avoid repeated checks, introduce controls proportionate to the project size and risk, a unified EU funding portal with shared login, EU program comparison tools, pre-filled applications for returning users, using clear, user-friendly language in all guidance materials and templates.
The paper on the MFF can be found here and the paper on access to EU funds here.
