BRUSSELS, 28 SEPTEMBER 2016. Members of the European Parliament Committee on Budgets voted today on more than 2000 amendments to the Council’s position on the EU budget for 2017.

In addition to refusing the Council’s suggested cuts, the Parliament proposes an increase of almost half a billion euros to external spending beyond what the Commission originally proposed in their draft budget. These extra resources should enhance the EU’s capacity to respond to current challenges, notably the refugee crisis.

Tamira Gunzburg, Brussels Director at The ONE Campaign, said:

“It is refreshing to see the European Parliament Budget Committee recognise the need for more resources to help Europe face unprecedented challenges both inside and outside the EU.

 

In 2013, European leaders agreed on limits to the EU’s external spending, but these do not take into account the multiple crises the world is facing today. The Parliament is suggesting ways to extend those limits by nearly €500 million. This, paired with additional support for internal migration policies, is the only way the EU can both address the refugee crisis and continue working toward its promise to end extreme poverty by 2030.

 

Today’s vote is in stark contrast to the EU Member States’ proposed aid cuts, which would force an unacceptable trade-off between refugees and the world’s poorest. We call on the full Parliament to adopt this long-term vision and for the Member States to embrace it in the upcoming negotiations. After all, increasing both humanitarian and development financing is a forward-looking foreign policy move to build resilience, promote stability and stem future crises.”

The plenary vote is scheduled for 26 October. The first conciliation meeting on the 2017 budget is scheduled for November 8.

 

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Notes to editors:

Contact, information & interviews
Andrea Ghianda // [email protected] // +32 (0)2 300 89 42 // +32 (0)471 89 64 22

Yesterday’s solutions no longer work today – #EUBudget campaign

ONE is urging European leaders to increase the aid budget beyond the old ceilings, so that the EU can both respond to the refugee crisis and fulfil the EU’s commitment to end extreme poverty by 2030. Read more

ABOUT ONE: ONE is a campaigning and advocacy organisation of more than 7,5 million people taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Not politically partisan, we raise public awareness and press political leaders to combat AIDS and preventable diseases, increase investments in agriculture and nutrition, and demand greater transparency in poverty-fighting programmes. Read more at www.one.org.