The PES has called on the EU Council to reach an agreement on the MFF at the Special European Council meeting on February 20. Europe needs an ambitious MFF with means to implement progressive priorities that address social inequalities, promote cohesion and convergence and the European Green Deal.

Agreement on the MFF must keep guard over our shared values and include proper funding for Europe’s growth strategy, the European Green Deal, and social progress, ministers from the progressive political family said this afternoon at a meeting in Brussels.

Progressive ministers of European affairs convened ahead of this week’s General Affairs Council (GAC), which is set to discuss the next multiannual financial framework (MFF). Finnish Minister for European Affairs Tytti Tuppurainen, who exceptionally chaired the PES meeting, said:

“This generation has a responsibility to act now, and to act decisively, to avert an environmental and social catastrophe and safeguard our planet’s future. We must also not lose sight of our social goals and our shared values. The MFF needs a strong rule of law mechanism. This is a major priority shared by many member states. We need to make sure that Europe can enforce compliance with its core values effectively and that conditionality with regards to the rule of law is not watered down.

“We have put fighting social inequalities, promoting social wellbeing, and promoting research, digitalisation, and development in the European Commission’s agenda. For example, funding for the Horizon Europe research programme, which is central to the development of innovation and digitalisation in Europe, needs its fair share of the MFF.

Read the full article here.