MEPs adopted their position on the 2020 EU budget on Wednesday, saying it must provide a “solid starting point to launch the new generation of EU programmes”.

Parliament underlines, in its draft resolution, that the 2020 EU budget is “the last chance for the European Union to come closer to meeting the political commitments set for that period, including towards reaching the EU climate target”. It should pave the way for the new long-term 2021-2027 EU budget, the so-called multiannual financial framework (MFF).

MEPs have boosted the Commission’s draft budget by adding altogether more than €2 billion to protect the climate. Furthermore, they increased the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) and the Erasmus+ programmes and approved further support in line with Parliament’s priorities in areas such as SMEs, research, digitalisation, migration and external policy, including development and humanitarian aid.

Parliament voted on a budget amounting to almost €171 billion in commitment appropriations (what the EU commits to invest in 2020 or the years beyond, as projects and programmes run over several years), representing an increase of around €2,7 billion compared to the Commission’s draft budget. It sets the payment appropriations (what will be concretely spent in 2020) at €159 billion.

More to the session: <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20191017IPR64565/eu-investment-budget-for-2020-a-boost-for-the-climate" rel="noreferrer nofollow">www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20191017IPR6456...</a>