Activities of Michael GAHLER related to 2022/2046(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Upscaling the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (debate)
Opinions (1)
OPINION on upscaling the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework: a resilient EU budget fit for new challenges
Amendments (9)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Reiterates that, from the very beginning of the new multiannual financial framework (MFF),under the current MFF, the funding for external action has been lagging behind the geopolitical necessities and the potential for global EU added value from the beginning; Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and the resulting need for the EU to engage, has radically underlined the need for an early revision of the MFF, including the need for more appropriate funding tools to effectively address the tectonic shifts in the geopolitical landscape of Europe that are currently unfolding; the available margins under Heading 6 have been limited and have been shrinking further, including through early depletion of the cushion; encourages the Commission to propose an ambitious early revision of the MFF in order to meet needs more effectively; including, yet not limited to, in terms of greater defence spending, divestment from Russian hydrocarbons, and alleviation of the socio-economic consequences of the war for EU citizens;
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. Calls to prioritise an upwards revision of the MFF through the EU budget as a matter of priority; should this not be possible, accepts externally assigned revenue by Member States or external Trust Fund solutions on the condition that Parliament is fully involved in the decision-making process and can properly exercise scrutiny;
Amendment 15 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Underlines its undivided solidarity with the people of Ukraine and recalls the need to mobilise all available EU budget instruments to provide the strongest possible economic and financial support to Ukraine and to people fleeing the war; calls for work to start on a Marshall-Plan-like facility within the EU budget (Ukraine solidarity trust fund) to rebuild Ukraine after the war, and for a massive investment programme to be launched; considers that apart from EU and Member States contributions, the fund should be filled by Russia’s compensation for war damages, including Russian assets which were previously frozen as a result of sanctions and should be legally confiscated in accordance with international law;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Welcomes the Commission’s upcoming proposal for a European Defence Investment Programme (EDIP), the aim of which would be to introduce joint procurement and life cycle management of military capabilities, in particular those necessary to harness EU defence over the decades to counter a military threat from Russia; calls on all Member States to complement EU funding with funding from their national defence budgets; invites the Commission to open this programme to key strategic partners and allies; calls on the NATO Secretary General as well as the Commission and European Council Presidents to regularly monitor EU- NATO cooperation in those regards and give the necessary impetus to its future evolution;
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Calls for stronger defence cooperation with Ukraine and Moldova to be established, including by enhancing the financial capabilities of the European Defence Agency (EDA) to help identify where Ukraine should participate in EU defence capability development over the years to come., reiterates its call to fund the EDA and permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) from the Unionbudget as foreseen by Article 41(2) TEU;
Amendment 41 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5 a. Reiterates the need to pay close attention to the complicated situation in Belarus; underlines the importance of reviewing Union funding and ensuring that it is not directed to the Lukashenko regime, but towards supporting civil society in Belarus;
Amendment 42 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5 b. Calls for the establishment of a new dedicated European Fund within the EU budget (a Strategic Autonomy Fund for Europe) to finance cross-border energy infrastructure, as well as cybersecurity, industrial competitiveness, the circular economy, food security and sustainable development, thereby securing Europe’s autonomy and protecting quality public services in the decades to come as well as to strengthen energy interconnections between Member States and like-minded partners in the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhoods and Western Balkans; in this context also calls for stronger energy solidarity with Moldova, inter alia by increasing energy infrastructure interlinkages between the EU and the countries in the region;
Amendment 45 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Paragraph 5 c (new)
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 d (new)
Paragraph 5 d (new)
5 d. Calls to more effectively deploy the investment framework for external action under NDICI-Global Europe for real impact and to top up guarantees as necessary; calls on the Commission to further spell out the ‘Global Gateway’ initiative and to make the plans concrete so as to foster joint infrastructure investments in particular in those countries which share universal values with the EU; calls on the Commission to work on an effective governance of the EU Global Gateway, with the aim to improve internal coordination, cooperation with the private sector, coordination with Team Europe, as well as with the European Parliament; calls on the Commission to duly involve the Parliament in the decisions on the Global Gateway investment programmes and keep it regularly informed about the respective developments, including budgetary implications, as they unfold;