Committees of the Riigikogu focus on Estonia’s interests in the next EU budget at public sitting

Chair of the European Union Affairs Committee Liisa Pakosta said that the next year it must be unambiguously clear that the financial preparations for the accession of at least Ukraine and Moldova had been agreed upon and made. “The EU budget was also increased for Estonia’s accession, now it is our turn to take it forward for Ukraine and other acceding countries. Setting Estonia’s priorities early will help achieve a larger budget,” Pakosta pointed out.

“Estonia must also be the leader in increasing Europe’s defence capability, where currently at least 600 billion euros are lacking. In both issues, other Member States need to be convinced,” Pakosta said. “In any case, putting off difficult budgetary disputes into indefinite future should be avoided, as this will also reduce the motivation of the Ukrainian soldiers fighting on the front.”

Chair of the Finance Committee Annely Akkermann pointed out that if we approved Estonia’s initial positions on the long-term budget and the future of Cohesion Policy now, we could find countries that are thinking along the same lines, and together influence the long-term budget in the direction that suited us, even before the European Commission presented its budget proposal.

“Together with the budget, it is necessary to speak about the future of Cohesion Policy. Here, we want the continuation of the current rules that avoid a sharp reduction in support provided to a country when the country’s prosperity increases,” Akkermann said. “It is also very important to put an emphasis on cooperation between European countries so that the internal market would work effectively and the competitiveness of the European Union would improve.”

In June next year at the latest, the European Commission will submit a proposal for a new long-term budget of the European Union, including the size of funds and programmes.

Analyst of the European Union Policy Unit Karin Kondor-Tabun and Head of Foreign Funding Unit Triin Tomingas from the Ministry of Finance will give an overview of Estonia’s positions for the negotiations on the long-term budget of the European Union starting in 2028, and in regard to the future of Cohesion Policy.

The public sitting will start at 1.30 p.m. in the Conference Hall of the Riigikogu. It can be followed online on the Riigikogu web page. Video recording will be available to watch later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

For more information, please contact: Liisa Pakosta, phone +372 502 6191

Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592; +372 510 6179
merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Committees of the Riigikogu focus on Estonia’s interests in the next EU budget at public sitting

Source: Parliament of Estonia