All EU institutions and Member States should deploy a rapid and aligned solidarity-based response to the coronavirus pandemic, adopting additional measures to promote sustainable investments with a view to funding the European Green Deal, advised the EESC in a recent opinion package.
In the opinion package adopted at the June plenary, the EESC calls for adequate funding of the European Green Deal, urging Member States to swiftly agree on a Multiannual Financial Framework for 2021-2027 in line with the ambitions of the Green Deal.
Carlos Trias Pintó, rapporteur for the opinion on the European Green Deal Investment Plan, said: "The outbreak of the coronavirus will have a significant impact on our economy, on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Green Deal objectives and on the EU budget. Recovery efforts should therefore focus on exactly the same objectives. The Green Deal must become the backbone of our economy."
The EU budget for 2021-2027 should thus be reinforced, with its spending ceiling temporarily expanded to 2%. As Ester Vitale, rapporteur for the opinion on the Just Transition Fund and amendments to the Common Provisions Regulation, explained: "The budget increase could be made up either by introducing new own resources or by increasing the contributions from the Member States."
Petr Zahradník, co-rapporteur for both opinions, was on the same page, adding: "The budgetary provisions for the Green Deal under the new MFF are insufficient. The next EU budget must live up to the ambitions of the Green Deal and the Recovery Plan." (mp)