The agreement about the lower on the European budget 2014-2020 represents a worrying step backwards in constructing a Europe of citizens. The wrong policy for cuts continues in those areas that need most: education, environment, innovation and research. In this way they can only un-do Europe!
This is why, Cittadinanzattiva signed an appeal (in Italy promoted by Legambiente) addressed to European Parliament, which has the final word on the EU budget, so that it opposes to cuts to the European Union budget.
Once again, the recessive logic of reducing the public budget won, justified by the difficulties of this period. This reasoning is particularly absurd when applied to the European budget, which can and should become the driving force of the European economic recovery in this difficult situation of crisis. In fact, 94% of its resources come back to the Member States and can be more effectively used to boost development projects that can direct the economy and create jobs, especially in innovative sectors such as the green economy.
For the first time, instead, the European budget is lowered compared to the period before returning to the 80's level. It's 960 billion euros in 7 years: 86.6 billion less than the Commission's proposal and 69.4 billion less than the current financial perspective. Therefore, we are only 1% of European GDP. Trifle, compared to 22% of the GDP of the American budget. If these cuts will pass, the results will be devastating and will prevent the possibility of thinking about a real "European green new deal" for the development of a new economy based on saving resources, on research efficiency, on the innovation and social cohesion. ¬ This is an unthinkable project at the national level, but that needs the size of European scale in order to really change things. Yet the opportunity to move in this direction would exist, as it has been confirmed the target of at least 20% of the overall financial commitment for the climate action and to support the transition to a "low-carbon economy", so to strengthen European competitiveness and create new jobs.
Therefore, the Italian civil society (ADA, AIAB, Anolf, ARCI, AUSER, Cittadinanzattiva, CNCA, Greenaccord, Federconsumatori, Fish, Fondazione Culturale Responsabilità Etica, Legambiente, Lipu, Movimento Difesa del Cittadino, Sei-Ugl, Slow Food, TCI) asks the European Parliament to oppose the suicidal approval of this budget, which cannot and must not remain unchanged for the next seven years. The Parliament has the strength and the power to enforce the Council at least its revision in 2015, after the next European elections. An opportunity not to be wasted if we really want the European Parliament to become the driving force behind the construction of the common home of European citizens in the coming years.
By Antonio Gaudioso, General Secretary of Cittadinanzattiva
