“In times of general budget consolidation, Brussels, too, must send out a clear signal on prudent and sustainable economic activity.
My first impression of the proposals submitted today is that the Commission’s figure for the Financial Framework total volume is considerably higher than that considered justifiable by the Federal Government. We need a strict limit on expenditure in the EU too. We believe 1% of the EU GDP – this still amounts to around 1000 billion euro for the period 2014 to 2020 – must be adequate for EU expenditure.
I welcome the Commission’s readiness to make more funds available for projects that will make Europe fit for global competition. Investing in education, research and innovation means investment in the future, for which we should provide a greater portion of the budget. This has to be made possible through budget reallocation.
Germany and the majority of member states reject the idea of an EU tax as stated in the Commission’s proposal. There is no need for such a tax, since the EU has no problem with funding.
We will play a constructive role in the complex negotiations now beginning and we will support those EU partners which – like us – want in times of consolidation to generate more European added value, even with less EU money available.”