David SASSOLI, EP President, speaks to the press about the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Brussels

press conference

SASSOLI, David Maria (S&D, IT, S&D, IT)

Multiannual financial framework 2021-2027 (T)

Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF): extracts from the press conference by David SASSOLI, EP President

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, We, in this resolution, ask that the possibility of triggering Article 324 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should not be ruled out because we need a project and discussion in time to get to a shared solution.The Parliament will not agree to be a letterbox and wait for the proposal, but it wants to be a protagonist, as I said, at this stage of this political process.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, If we want to leverage our own resources, we need to increase them. For two reasons: first because those available this year will fall sharply and then because we understand that the Commission's indication is to go from 1.2% to 2%. Thus, we need new resources of our own. I believe that Parliament's indications are the right ones. On new technologies, on plastics, on financial activities we need to increase the volume of our own resources if we want to leverage that segment of the budget that can be useful to support and give assurance to the reconstruction plan.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, We are determining the future of the European Union. We are mainly determining this because in the Commission's indications, the recovery plan is so closely linked to the multiannual budget of the European Union. This connection so close. You will understand that it imposes a strong and important reflection: not only on how we will open the phase of reconstruction, but also on how we will look a little further to the next seven years.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, There is a pride in this Parliament: responding to its own citizens. These comments genuinely do not strike me and I do not believe that they are true because the nature of the Parliament is showing its pride and independence week after week. We will have the final say on the MFF and our own resources and we will exercise all our prerogatives. I am sure that with the last month's resolution and today's resolution Parliament has expressed itself very clearly.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), David SASSOLI, EP President, We need to do fast, but to do well. That's why I believe these weeks are useful. There are already many resources available to our countries: we are not with bare hands. Please be careful. I thank you. Good work, bon courage.