In our changing world, it is more important than ever that the European Union asserts itself as a global leader. For the Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament, the European budget is one of the major tools to achieve this. That is why Renew Europe has exercised all its weight so that the fiscal year 2022 reflects liberal priorities.

Renew Europe has delivered on five priorities in the draft budget: 1.1 billion euro in funds allowing the EU to become the main global donor to COVAX and to invest massively in the health of Europeans, to better respond to humanitarian and migratory crises, to tackle the challenge of the climate emergency, to prepare the future of young people and boost the competitiveness of the economy and to give its institutions the means to strengthen the European democratic model and rule of law.

Nicolae Ștefănuță MEP (USR PLUS, RO), Renew Europe shadow rapporteur for the 2022 budget in the European Parliament Committee on Budgets (BUDG), said:

“Will 2022 be the first post-pandemic year? We Europeans want this and together, we hope to return to our previous lives. But for now, we are still in a crisis and citizens are facing very serious problems. They are worried not only for their future, but for tomorrow, for their health and how they will pay their increased energy and gas bills. The crises are multiple, from pandemic to energy and economy, and crises related to the rule of law and misinformation. That is why it is important that citizens see the European Union as a life jacket. The budget that the European Parliament is proposing is a realistic one, which reflects the needs of citizens today. There is never enough money but we want EU money to be green, clean and impactful for citizens.”

Olivier Chastel MEP (MR, BE), shadow rapporteur for Renew Europe on the 2022 budget for other institutions, added:

“Faced with the health and socio-economic crises that we are going through, citizens who for many months have demonstrated courage, resilience and solidarity, have their eyes riveted on the European Union. The EU cannot disappoint them, as the Conference on the Future of Europe places them at the center of an innovative, transnational democratic debate! The EU wants to be a strategic compass facing all types of threats by 2030. It has the means, if the European Council adopts a responsible attitude and reviews the horizontal and blind reading of its budget cuts, and if the EU adopts an effective policy against tax fraud, tax evasion and money laundering, and the money is invested in future programmes ensuring a fair and inclusive green and digital transition. Europe wants to be strong from within and recognised on the international stage. To achieve this, it will have to have the political will to act collectively and in accordance with the values ​​Renew Europe defends.”