Activities of Tamás DEUTSCH related to 2024/0176(BUD)
Plenary speeches (1)
General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025 – all sections (debate)
Amendments (21)
Amendment 31 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Notes with concern that while inflation has begun to subside compared to previous years’ peaks, its longer term impact on the cost of living, energy and food prices continues to be a burden on households’ purchasing power and companies’ competitiveness and productivity; stresses that, against this background, a combination of policy responses comprising regulatory, fiscal and budgetary measures will have to be deployed to adequately address the broad range of challenges; reminds that the Union budget, in complementarity with the national budgets of the Member States and private finance should play a central rolethat the European Commission failed to adequately address the broad range of challenges; reminds that some Member States already introduced effective policies in this regard; recalls that the EU budget is an investment budget in line with Union’s political priorities and programmes which generates a return on investment and growth possibilities; emphasises that the 2024 European Parliament elections have sent a clear message for more solidarity between Member States and more investments in policies and programmes which improve people’s livechange in EU institutions; highlights that this call mustwas not be answered by ever more budgetary cuts and by a reduction in badly needed resourcesthe European Commission, which clearly failed to help people go through these difficult times;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Highlights that the Budget 2025 procedure takes place in a context of institutional changeover where the next Commission’s policy priorities, strategic focus and legislative initiatives and their budgetary implications are not yet know in any detail; stresses that most expenditure programmes of the 2021-2027 financial programming period are finally being executed according to plan and thatexecuted with delays, contrary to the obligation to implement multiannual programmes in a reliable and predictable manner must be squared with; the European Commission failed to address the necessity to swiftly respond to new developments and unforeseen events and crises; highlights that, given the new institutional cycle, cooperation across the institutional settings is crucial as investments and political decisions taken today will shape the EU’s agenda for the next decades and beyond;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Takes note that the Council, in its position which it calls “prudent”, proposes to cut commitment appropriations by EUR 1.52 billion across the MFF headings, leaving a total of EUR 191,527 billion, and reduces payment appropriations by EUR 876 million across the MFF headings; stresses that, by cutting across headings on programme lines to generate additional unallocated margins, the Council’s position may convey an ambiguous message of creating additional availabilities for 2025; underlines that this approach, however, is not in accordance with the reality of current budgetary needs, as these margins are not intended for use in the annual budget 2025;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. RegretNotes the Council’s approach to opt for what it calls “prudent” budgeting, creating artificial margins under the MFF ceilings; notes that the Council, in its position on the 2025 budget, and similar to 2024, reduces appropriations dedicated for EURI borrowing costs; points out that the Council’s position to cover only around 35% of the overrun costs by the EURI Special Instrument runs counter to the 50:50 benchmark that the Council itself insisted on during the MFF negotiations; alerts that in order to finance the difference and create additional unallocated margin (mostly in H2b but also in other headings, presumably in view of using it in future years through the SMI), sizeable reductions to a number of flagship programme envelopes have been proposed that have repercussions in 2025 as well as in 2026 and 2027; recalls that the most affected programmes, Horizon Europe, CEF digital and Erasmus, are well-established priorities for the European Parliament and flagship programmes of the Union; highlights that the Council targets for reductions are across several headings and even touch some programmes that were already subject to the MFF redeployments, such as Horizon, reduced by 400 million; or lines that were topped up in previous years, such as Erasmus+, reduced by 295 million, EU4Health or LIFE;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Intends, therefore, to restore some of the cuts proposed by Council; to ensure that programmes are properly resourced and that the budget’s flexibility and response capacity are maintained throughout the annual budgetary procedure; insists on the need for the Commission to provide reliable, timely and accurate information on NGEU borrowing costs and on expected Recovery and Resilience Facility disbursements throughout the budgetary procedure; recalls that Parliament is deeply concerned about the impact of the inherent uncertainty for the EURI interest line and questions the forecast from the Commission on NGEU borrowing costs and expected Recovery and Resilience Facility disbursements throughout the budgetary procedure;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18 a. Condems, that in December 2022 the European Commission decided to exclude the Hungarian universities from the Horizon Europe program, which is inexplicable and devastating, Hungarian students and researchers suffer a competitive disadvantage compared to others; highlights in this regard, that the use and accountability of EU funds has been transparent for decades at Hungarian universities; regrets that Hungarian universities have suffered enormous loss both in reputation and financially due to the inability to contract for tenders already won or submitted; calls on the European Commission to immediately withdraw its discriminative decision;
Amendment 140 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28 a. Highlight that the Hungarian Government conducted a series of negotiations with the European Commission in order for Hungary to be able to access the cohesion funds it is rightfully entitled to; notes that, as a result of the dialogue, Hungary undertook to fulfill a package of measures; condems, that the EC imposes more and more conditions to transfer development funds to Hungary; demands, that the Hungarian cohesion envelope must be protected from the risk of redirecting to other policies or countries and the EC must disburse the financial resources immediately; expects the new European Commission to review the application of the rule of law conditionality rules and to stop the politically selected ideological blackmailing of the Member States.
Amendment 151 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 30
Paragraph 30
30. Recalls that programmes under Heading 2b play a key role in ensuring resilience and values by providing support and opportunities for young people through Erasmus+, including the Special Olympics World Games (SOWG) 2025, and through the European Solidarity Corps; reinforcing support for the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme; investing in preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer diseases affecting children and improving mental health by increasing EU4Health; investing in skills development; ensuring social security coordination in order to facilitate labour mobility and easier transfer of social security benefits; supporting vulnerable communities, as well as rural, isolated and mountainous areas, social dialogue and trade unions, cultural and creative industries;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 35 a (new)
Paragraph 35 a (new)
35 a. Condems, that in December 2022 the European Commission decided to exclude the Hungarian universities, students, teachers and researchers from the mobility programs; highlights that reinforcing mobility opportunities is a clear policy priority in order to solidify Europe’s long-term competitiveness and according to Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, the Union's action in the field of education aims to encourage the mobility of students and teachers and to promote cooperation between educational institutions; regrets that the realization of this goal is obviously opposed by EU decisions that exclude the vast majority of students from a Member State from mobility; calls on the European Commission to immediately withdraw its discriminative decision;
Amendment 183 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 37
Paragraph 37
Amendment 201 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 40
Paragraph 40
40. Recalls the important role played by the decentralised agencies under Heading 2b; reinforcing funding and staffing levels for the Fundamental Rights Agency, for the European Institute for Gender Equality, the European Labour Authority and the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation in line with the agencies’ identified needs; proposes, furthermore, to reinforce the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in terms of financing and staff to allow the body to fulfil its duties and protect the Union’s financial interests;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41
Paragraph 41
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 41 a (new)
Paragraph 41 a (new)
41 a. Demands that appropriations must be cut for EU propaganda against national sovereignty of Member States and while supports culture and creativity in general, opposes the spread of 'woke' ideology by several media companies across Europe financed by EU funds;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50
Paragraph 50
50. Notes that additional financing is needed under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) in order to ensure appropriate and speedy implementation of the Asylum and MigratioUnderlines the failure of Union policies in preventing migration flows and human trafficking; reiterates its concerns about the role played by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, which should guarantee the proper implementation of a rigorous asylum policy in Pact; decides, therefore, to reinforce the AMIF by EUR 25 million above DB in 2025 given AMIF’s positive contribution in providing immediate support to refugeescordance with international standards, while blocking illegal immigration and ensuring border controls and an adequate repatriation policy;
Amendment 239 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 50 a (new)
Paragraph 50 a (new)
50 a. Expects that the AMIF should primarily focus on the strengthening of cooperation with third countries to reduce illegal migratory flows as well as countering irregular migration and ensuring effectiveness of return to and readmission in third countries; Demands that policies linked to legal migration and integration shall be managed at national level;
Amendment 246 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 a (new)
Paragraph 51 a (new)
51 a. Calls on the Commission to immediately mobilise substantial Union funds and means to support Member States in reinforcing external borders protection capabilities and infrastructure such as walls, means of surveillance, including aerial surveillance, and equipment; proposes an increase that shall cover the costs to build physical border barriers that are an essential part of a comprehensive migration policy, which should aim at preventing illegal entry, human smuggling and hybrid attacks, and detaining asylum seekers at the external borders;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 51 b (new)
Paragraph 51 b (new)
51 b. Recognises that some Members States have already spent EUR billions on protecting the EU's external borders, in the case of Hungary this amounts to 2 billion euros, requests these costs to be reimbursed; regrets that while Hungary protects the EU's external border against illegal migration, the European Court of Justice imposed a fine on the country for not letting migrants enter Hungary before a final decision is made on their application; requests the European Commission to use part of the EUR 2 billion due for border protection for Hungary to finance the fine imposed on Hungary by the European Court of Justice.
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 55
Paragraph 55
55. Recalls the highly unstable geopolitical situation and international environment around the Union giving rise to greater security and defence challenges since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; is of the conviction that there is no military solution to the conflict and that peace is the only viable and sustainable solution; urges the parties to open diplomatic channels, with the aim of concluding a lasting peace agreement
Amendment 269 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 61
Paragraph 61
61. Stresses the importance of the Southern Neighbourhood line in supporting political, economic and social reforms in the region; taking into consideration the increasing humanitarian needs in the region as well as other purposes of regional cooperation in providing assistance to refugees, in particular Syrian and Palestinian refugees, and in enabling support along the southern migration routes; proposes to increase appropriations for the line by EUR 60 milldemands that EU funding in the Palestine territories should have humanitarian relief as primary objective; underlines that beneficiaries of EU support cannot be compromised by terrorist organisations above the DB, including to reinforce funding for UNRWA based on EU regulations and valund extremist groups, and funding should not go to EU- listed terrorist organizations such as Hamas in Gaza; in this context, highlights the need to re-think the role of UNRWA and work on the gradual transition of humanitarian and development activities to non-compromised, impartial organisations and local authorities;
Amendment 286 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 64 a (new)
Paragraph 64 a (new)
64 a. expects that EU humanitarian assistance shall be able to tackle new challenges, protracted crises requires more financial resources available in order to assist local and support people to stay in their home region; highlights in this context the particular importance to maintain support for education in emergencies, nutrition and access to clean water; demands that EU funding shall enhance cohesion of local societies and mitigate migration, therefore the implementation of EU humanitarian budget needs to involve local actors, providing lifesaving and essential social services in emergency settings;