The 2017 EU budget should not be a means to blackmail countries that reject mandatory resettlement quotas

Press release by Tamás Deutsch, Norbert Erdős and György Hölvényi

The plenary session of the European Parliament has adopted the EU’s annual budget for 2017. According to the agreement with the Council, MEPs assigned €157.8 billion for commitments and €134.5 billion for payments. Fidesz MEP Tamás Deutsch pointed out after the voting: “It is a high priority that the EU budget keeps up with the Member States’ accelerated execution of regional development projects in 2017 and that the resources for cohesion policy are available as needed. The funds are available for the European Commission to fully cover the 2017 bills of projects realized by the Member States.

Tamás Deutsch emphasized that they were successful in that the financial resources for migration crisis management cannot be deducted from other, already functioning EU programs. Cohesion and agricultural funds cannot be decreased and reallocated to the budget for migration crisis management.

Tamás Deutsch considered it a particular success that finally the 2017 budget will not impose punishment measures for Member States that reject mandatory resettlement quotas. The MEP recalled that the Socialists and Liberals proposed a budgetary mechanism that would have fined those Member States, which – contrary to the mandatory resettlement quota system – refuse to let illegal migrants into their country.

MEP Norbert Erdős, Fidesz member of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee said after the voting, “I noted with relief that the Parliament does not accept the reduction of agricultural funds as proposed by the Council. This way, it reset the original European Commission proposal in every budgetary item. It is also good news that next year’s budget includes a €500 million emergency package for the dairy sector that was adopted in autumn. It is my distinct pleasure, that the EP proposes a further €100 million above the €500 million to aid dairy farmers, including Hungarians”.

György Hölvényi, KDNP member of the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee expressed his delight that the Parliament accepted his pilot project proposal for a research plan to examine pollution sources responsible for poor air quality in Europe. The aim of the plan is to assess the degree of air pollution as a result of the domestic burning of hazardous waste, tires, used clothes, electronic devices and construction materials. It would assess their effect on public health while proposing alternative, more environmentally friendly and sustainable heating methods.

MEPs also discussed the Council recommendation on the revision of the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework, which is now awaiting the Italian government’s confirmation. Tamás Deutsch, Fidesz MEP said: “It is of utmost importance, that cohesion, agricultural and rural development resources – funds previously awarded to Member States – not be decreased in the revision process. With this, we achieved that the EU funds previously championed by the Orbán government will not be reduced during the revision and ensured Hungarian farmers’ subsidies as well”.

Background: If the European Parliament comes to an agreement on the numbers adopted by the Council, MEPs are expected to vote on the revision of the 2014-2020 Multiannual Financial Framework during the December plenary in Strasbourg.