For a coherent European budgetary policy supported by national and European parliamentarians

The 18^th Summit of Chairmen of EPP Parliamentary Groups in the National Parliaments of the EU and the European Parliament today adopted a declaration which emphasises the importance of providing the next generation with jobs, without increasing debt. The declaration states that creating the right conditions for new growth and jobs in Europe is the main political objective for the future. Both MEPs and national parliamentarians believe that, in order to achieve these objectives and stimulate growth and jobs in solidarity, Europe should: strengthen and open up the Internal Market, have a future-oriented MFF and ensure effective implementation of EU funding in the Member States.

Concluding the first panel of debates on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) the Chairman of the EPP Group, Joseph Daul, underlined that the Member States have to take their responsibility and focus more on better spending the EU budget:  “Member States have to establish order in their public finances. They are the ones holding budgets with deficits; the EU budget doesn´t have a deficit. The EU Treaty does not allow it and the European Parliament will fight for a zero deficit in the EU's long-term budget. We should not forget that 94% of European money goes back to the Member States. Only 4 % goes to the administration and 2 % to interpreters. Member States should take responsibility for best practice in spending”.

Paulo Rangel, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group responsible for Relations with National Parliaments, said: “Now that a huge effort has been made to consolidate fiscal discipline we need to look to the future. We need an ambitious MFF, not a restricted or a reticent one. We appeal to all involved to secure an agreement as soon as possible; the continuity of European Union programmes is essential and cannot be questioned. The MFF is vital for Europe. Investment in cohesion, in infrastructure, in research, in agriculture and employment initiatives are now at the core of European citizens' aspirations”.

Parliamentarians also debated the future of Europe, focusing on the challenges of the next European elections in 2014. The President of the European People's Party, Wilfried Martens, underlined that Europe offers the solution to exiting this economic crisis: “It is true that the elections next year will be the 'most European' of all the European elections we have held. More Europe and not less Europe will provide the best chance for continued recovery today and prosperity tomorrow, and the EPP in particular is the political family that can best fulfill that promise“.

Speaking on the same topic, Corien Wortmann-Kool MEP, Vice-Chairwoman of the EPP Group and Vice-President of the European People's Party, added : "A candidate for every political family is likely to give a more European dimension to the debate. Even if national issues will continue to dominate the national and local campaigning, the fact that there will be a "face" for every political family engaging the national campaigns in the Member States, could partly give a European dimension to the debate".