Multiannual Financial Framework: Jean-Luc Dehaene MEP nominated new Rapporteur

The Chairman of the Budgets Committee of the European Parliament today confirmed Jean-Luc Dehaene MEP as the new Rapporteur on behalf of the European Parliament for the European Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

As Rapporteur on own-resources for the EU, Jean-Luc Dehaene was already a member of the team that negotiated a political agreement with the Member States on the 2014-2020 budget. On top of his responsibility for the dossier on direct European revenues, Dehaene will now also take the lead on the Multiannual Financial Framework.

Last Wednesday, a majority of 474 MEPs gave their political support to the agreement on the MFF. Jean-Luc Dehaene said that even though the 2014-2020 budget is not sufficient, it is an investment budget with enough flexibility to stimulate economic growth in Europe: “In times of national budget cuts, it is logical that Member States also put on the brakes when it concerns their contributions to the EU budget. The only way out of this situation is to finance the EU with own financial resources and to lower national contributions."

The European Parliament still has to give its formal go ahead for the MFF in September, after the finalisation of the legislative acts that constitute the 2014-2020 budget.