New European Commission Priorities

On May 3rd, the European Commission presented its draft budget for 2021-2027. The proposal has not yet been discussed among the 27 member states and approved by Parliament. Nothing has been decided yet, but reactions are very important.

Despite the United Kingdom's release from the scene, the Commission proposes increased spending to 1,279 billion euros, versus 1.087 billion anchored for the current period.

This increase is explained by the will of Brussels to make a profit from Brex that means the immediate disappearance of British obstruction, for strengthening European unity to invest in Eurozone protection and cohesion.

More political ambition

Currently, military issues remain the preservation of individual states and the Union costs very little to it, but the Commission would like to distribute over $27 billion for the creation of a common defence. As far as Eurozone has rejected the French idea of secureing its own budget, the Commission proposes to allocate $55 billion to cope with potential economic crises.

The project also plans to triple the figure dedicated to monitoring the Union's borders and to double the budget of Erasmus programme. This increase in spending will be offset by a reduction in the amounts dedicated to two programmes that today make up 70% of the European budget: common agricultural policy (with a 5% reduction) and cohesion policy for less developed regions, or structural funds (-7 percent).

No mention of canceling these two programs, but past priorities are no longer present priorities. New, political and less subsidies have emerged. In this sense it is important that the Commission proposes reducing structural funds allocated to a member state when it does not respect rule of law.

If this project seems completely new, reactions are the same as always. France immediately declared it would be necessary to cross its body before reducing agricultural spending. East countries, usually not prone to solidarity among member states, have been indignant at reducing structural funds, which have long benefited. Nordic countries, in turn, are asking how it is possible to increase costs after leaving the United Kingdom group.

Soon, Paris and Berlin will take a joint stance, but negotiations between 27 will be very difficult. / France Inter World.al