By Zigfried Mouresan & George East*

As the European Commission is preparing to present its proposal for the new multiannual fiscal framework (MSc), that is, the EU’s long -term budget, rumors and speculation about its structure are already in circulation. In the EPP team (European People’s Party), we are sure of one thing: this budget will be decisive for the future of Europe. It must respond to the challenges we face and offer the optimum framework for supporting Europe for the benefit of citizens, regions and businesses.

To achieve this, the EU budget must above all reflect a united Europe – and not 27 fragmentary national agendas “sewn” with each other. The EU budget is not a cash withdrawal machine. That is why we are opposed to the idea of ​​a MFF based solely on central national plans without a European perspective and without an ambitious role for local and regional authorities. Such an approach would undermine our common priorities. Is not the right approach.

In addition, the merger of existing EU programs would be completely counterproductive. The abolition of cohesion, agriculture and research policies for the benefit of a single “fund for all” is not a reform – it is weakening. We cannot ask farmers, researchers and regional partners to compete for the same resources. These areas perform distinct and meaningful missions. It would be deeply unfair for farmers to lose funds simply because their government did not implement a technical reform. Investments in each sector must depend solely on reforms within the sector itself.

We need a future -resistant budget: flexible, effective and ready to act in times of crisis.

Defense should be a top priority in the next EU budget, along with enhancing competitiveness. The EPP team supports progress for a real defense union, especially through common supplies and common defense potential. A euro spent at European level on defense gives much more than one euro spent nationally.

Competitiveness is the key to job creation and resistance to a global economy that is rapidly changing and becoming increasingly demanding.

However, we cannot achieve more with less. The EU budget plays a decisive role in making Europe safer and stronger. As a more ambitious distribution of security, defense and competitiveness is required, a moderate and targeted budget increase is inevitable.

That is why the introduction of new resources should be seriously considered. Of course, we must ensure that this does not lead to new taxes that will overpower citizens or harm European entrepreneurship.

The next MFS should be ambitious both in terms of structure and scale, but also innovative in its tools. In this context, we propose the creation of a new funding tool for the internal market, targeted at investments required to optimize its operation – according to Draghi reports.

Finally, in addition to the size of the budget, we require responsibility. This means a commitment to good management, transparency and respect for fundamental European values. Access to European funds must be conditional: with respect to the rule of law and democratic authorities. Every euro must serve the common European interest and not close political games. The budget must be a strategic tool, capable of uniting the member states around a stronger, safer and more competitive future.

The EU budget is not just a matter of numbers. It’s a matter of choices. The choices we make today will determine tomorrow’s Europe – and for the coming decades. The EPP team will be at the forefront of this effort.

* Zigfried Mouresan is Vice President of KO. of EPP and responsible for budget and structural policies.

* Giorgos Autias is a MEP of the ND and a member of the budget and financial and monetary Affairs Committees.