Written by Clare Ferguson with Olga Dunderberg.
Members are expected to focus on the European Union’s budget this month, with their plenary agenda both looking back at spending in 2023 – and forward to the next long-term budget for the years from 2028 on. A commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe is scheduled to take place on Wednesday. The Council and European Commission are due to make statements on a unified EU response to new US trade measures, on EU support for a just, sustainable and comprehensive peace in Ukraine, and on preparation of the EU-United Kingdom summit on 19 May, among other things.
The European Union’s current long-term budget, the multiannual financial framework (MFF), is set to end in 2027. The time has therefore come to consider setting the boundaries for EU spending for the following seven years. On Tuesday afternoon, Members are set to consider a report from the Committee on Budgets that proposes to revamp the MFF to prepare the EU to face the challenges ahead. The report lists competitiveness; security, defence and preparedness; global peace, security and prosperity; and promotion of fundamental rights, EU values and the rule of law as the priorities for EU spending to 2034. The report also calls on the Council to adopt new own resources to cover increased spending needs, and for a simpler, more transparent design for the next MFF.
As every year, Members are due to debate granting discharge for the implementation of the annual EU budget, for the year 2023. Members are set to consider recommendations from the Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) on discharge for the EU’s 2023 accounts later on Tuesday afternoon. The first file, representing the lion’s share of the EU budget, is CONT’s recommendation to grant discharge for the Commission, six executive agencies and for the Recovery and Resilience Facility grants, plus separate decisions for the European Development Funds. Here, the CONT committee recommends Parliament grant discharge in all cases, but highlights the need to reduce the rising error rate, speed up disbursement of a record number of outstanding commitments, and effect stricter controls. The committee also recommends granting discharge for eight other EU institutions and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, suggesting improvements in transparency and human resources. However, CONT once again recommends postponing the decision on granting discharge to the European Council and the Council of the EU, as the Council’s continued refusal to cooperate prevents CONT from fulfilling its oversight role on behalf of EU citizens. Finally, CONT recommends granting discharge for 32 EU decentralised agencies and 11 joint undertakings, welcoming their improvement on the previous year’s results. The CONT committee proposes to postpone the decision on granting discharge to the European Union Asylum Agency, due to serious issues of stability and reputation identified in a European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) investigation, and a continued lack of transparency.
To uphold EU law ensuring a high level of protection of human life and health, Parliament has consistently objected to proposals to authorise use of genetically modified organisms in agriculture. The European Commission has nevertheless continued to authorise such GMOs, in the face of deadlock amongst Member States. It is therefore expected to make a statement to Members on Wednesday afternoon on the democratic legitimacy of its decisions to override Parliament’s objections.
Access to water is essential for everyone, yet growing demand, climate change and pollution are putting severe pressure on water resources in the EU. Ahead of a planned EU water resilience strategy, Parliament is set to debate a Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) report on Tuesday, which calls for all new legislation to consider impacts on water resources. The report specifically highlights the need for better monitoring, phasing out PFAS chemicals and better shared management of river basins between countries.
Countries applying to join the EU must respect democratic values, the rule of law and human rights. However, despite its reiterated commitment to EU accession in the long term, a report from the Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) notes that Türkiye is moving further from aligning with the EU. Nevertheless, AFET recognises that Türkiye has supported Ukraine in the context of the war and the EU is exploring an updated framework for EU-Türkiye relations. Members are set to debate the AFET report on Tuesday. They are also due to consider the parallel reports concerning Serbia and Kosovo.