The President of Renew Europe, Dacian Cioloș met with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, on 18 February to discuss the latest negotiations on the EU budget, ahead of the special meeting of the European Council on 20 February. Cioloș issued a statement after the meeting.

On the overall multiannual financial framework: “The figures discussed at this stage are very disappointing and therefore not acceptable. Member States should resist getting bogged down in an ideological negotiation linked to “1%” of GDP. In the aftermath of Brexit, Renew Europe expects and hopes for a surge of solidarity, commitment and ambition. Our objective is to focus on a new European dynamic. We have agreed on an ambitious programme based on reforms and investments with the Green Deal and the Digital agenda. These ambitions need to be reflected in the next MFF.”

On own resources and new investment capacities: “Renew Europe strongly defends the development of new own resources, which give real autonomy and European dimension to the EU budget. The system must be simple, clear, and offer solid and sustainable financing prospects for Europe. Charles Michel’s proposal is a first step, but negotiations are far from over to make the mechanism truly satisfactory.”

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