EU Budget 2018: EPP Group prioritises jobs and security

“Today’s vote shows very clearly that a large majority of the European Parliament remains fully committed to making use of the available tools that the EU Budget offers in order to strengthen job creation and growth across Europe, while ensuring the security of EU citizens and companies“, stated the Rapporteur, Siegfried Mureşan MEP.

The EPP Group expects the European Commission to propose a draft budget that takes into account our priorities of investing in research, innovation, infrastructure, SMEs and entrepreneurs, especially young ones. These areas bring real added value to the economy and the EU must continue to support them adequately.

The EPP Group believes that the EU Budget also needs to respond to the most pressing concerns of our citizens relating to security. “This is why we request in this Report sufficient funding devoted to strengthening our borders and the Agencies in the field of justice and home affairs, while at the same time investing more in the countries of transit and those of origin of migrants and refugees”, explained Mureşan.

Finally, the Report adopted today is proof that the EPP Group not only aims at strengthening existing policies but also supports new ones, such as the proposal to secure funding in order to grant every 18 year-old in the EU a free Interrail ticket. “We call on the European Commission to assess the costs and come up with a proposal on Interrail. It is our view that such a programme would increase European consciousness and identity among young people and would contribute to tackling populism and misinformation”, concluded Mureşan.

The Commission will put forward its draft budget for 2018 at the end of May, which will then be subject to negotiations between Parliament and Council.