The European Union’s long-term budget, the multiannual financial framework (MFF) was discussed in the European Parliament with statements from the Commission and Council.

Speaking ahead of the debate, the European Green Party co-chairs Reinhard Bütikofer and Monica Frassoni said:

“This budget must be backed up by a concrete plans within an actionable framework If we are to guarantee that the European Green Deal under Von der Leyen’s stewardship goes beyond good intentions.

“A first step must be to increase climate-related spending to 50 percent and guarantee the EU budget will not decrease in volume even in the case of Brexit. The political calculus for the 2020s is unlike anything we have faced before. We’ve seen climate destruction and biodiversity loss on an unprecedented scale and worse could still be to come if we do not change course. Fresh thinking and an end to business as usual is now our only option.”

Read the full press release here.