Aktuelles > EM Germany Newsletter CW 50|2020: Weeks of truth for MFF and Brexit

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Europakommunikation, Institutionen & Zukunftsdebatte, Wirtschaft & Finanzen

EM Germany Newsletter CW 50|2020: Weeks of truth for MFF and Brexit

December is a usually a busy month in European politics – this time not only in the EU institutions, but especially on the home stretch of the German EU Council Presidency: before the Christmas season promises a few quiet days, hopefully, the major challenges regarding Brexit and the coming multiannual financial framework of the EU (MFF) have not yet been solved. Funding from January onwards for important EU programmes, such as Horizont Europa, and the 750 billion euro reconstruction instrument Next Generation EU are on the brink of collapse. 

As our #EBDGrafik shows, the German EU Council Presidency has moved ahead with the negotiations on the complex budget package at breakneck speed after the EU heads of state and government had struggled to reach agreement. But now Poland and Hungary are blocking the Council agreement on the future financing of the EU, because they do not agree with the integrated rule of law conditionality. To solve this dilemma, swift action is now needed at all levels. First, the Commission must launch a contingency plan by extending the current MFF for at least January 2021. This will provide certainty for all actors who depend on EU funds. Second, the European Council on Thursday and Friday, which will gather key players in a blockade game, must keep all options open to solve the problem. If there is no solution then, the last resort must be brought into play: The decision of the instrument for reconstruction in enhanced cooperation. 

Have a nice week – and stay safe! 

Yours

Dr. Linn Selle  
President of European Movement Germany

#EBDFocus: Weeks of truth for MFF and Brexit

This week marks the beginning of two weeks of truth in Brussels: Over the next two weeks it will be decided whether the negotiations on the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027 and the Brexit will be concluded this year. After the announced veto of Poland and Hungary due to the planned rule of law conditionality, the MFF negotiations are stagnating. If no agreement is reached by the end of the year, the EU would face an emergency budget from 2021 onwards – the first in 32 years. A new #EBDgrafik shows the state of negotiations on the complex MFF package. +++ Willingness to engage in dialogue on the design of the budget yes, tolerate violations of the rule of law no – this was the comment recently made by EM Germany board member Christian Moos at the EBD De-Briefing Rule of Law Dialogue in the General Affairs Council. +++ With the chapter „Respecting European values and fundamental rights“ in its policy 2020/21 EM Germany makes it clear that „the EU can only function as an internally and externally credible community of values“ if „fundamental values and rights are respected in the EU and all Member States“. +++ Although Brexit has been discussed for much longer than the MFF, there is no agreement in sight on this issue either. This #EBDGrafik provides an overview of the state of negotiations. When asked how Brexit affects the EU’s ability to act, EM Germany President Selle was optimistic about the mood in the EU-27 in early November. +++ Both Brexit and the MFF are on the agenda of the European Council meetingon 10 and 11 December. EM Germany will report on the council’s results at an EBD de-briefing with the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energie on 14 December. The videoconference will take place with simultaneous translation into English and Italian. Click here to register. +++

#EBDGrafik of the week

After the announced veto of Poland and Hungary due to the planned rule of law conditionality, the negotiations on the EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-27 are stagnating. A new #EBDGrafik shows which steps have already been taken in the budget negotiations and which are still to come. | Download

EM Germany news

EBD International Briefing with Michael Roth: On 18 November, Germany took over the rotating presidency in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Together with Michael Roth MP, Minister of State for Europe at the Federal Foreign Office, EMI president Eva Maydell MEP and EM Germany President Selle an International Briefing discussed topics and strategies of the German presidency in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. | More (in German)

EBD De-Briefing on the last ECOFIN and Euro Group meetings under the German Council Presidency | More (in German) +++ EBD De-Briefing EYCS: Strengthening social forces during and after the COVID-19 crisis | More (in German) +++ EBD De-Briefing COMPET (research and innovation): Looking ahead to the new investment targets for research and development | More (in German)

Press review: Ursula von der Leyen has headed the European Commission for a year now. Speaking to the German newspaper Neue Osnabrücker Nachrichten, EM Germany president Selle took stock of von der Leyen’s first year in office, emphasising that „the Covid-19 pandemic has shown how urgently a deeper discussion on the future of the European project is needed“. EM Germany General Secretary Bernd Hüttemann spoke to the German radio stationDeutschlandfunk Nova about the Commission President’s first year in office. In it he gave a positive assessment of von der Leyen’s pro-European, technical political style. However, he said she had not yet succeeded in achieving the urgently needed parliamentary solidarity. +++ Europe’s political guidelines are negotiated in the Council of the EU – not open to the public. In the German newspaper Tagesspiegel Selle commented on a report published by the European research network Investigate Europe, highlighting the role of transparency for a lively democracy in the EU. +++

Upcoming events

All EM Germany events take place via videoconference. Participation is free, but registration required. Conference language is German unless indicated otherwise. +++ 08.12.2020: EBD De-Briefing Justice +++ 10.12.2020: EBD De-Briefing TTE +++ 11.12.2020: EBD & EBÖ De-Briefing ECB Council +++ 14.12.2020: EBD De-Briefing European Council (with simultaneous translation into English and Italian) +++ 15.12.2020: EBD De-Briefing Home Affairs +++18.12.2020: EBD De-Briefing AGRIFISH +++ 18.12.2020: EBD De-Briefing ENVI +++ Our Presidency Calendar on the German EU Council Presidency is online – in the traditional six-month format (scroll to page 2). The December edition of the calendar is available here.


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