Aura Salla: Long-awaited EU budget proposal published – The budget remains cautious
The Commission presented its budget proposal for 2028–2034 last week. I was present at the budget committee when Commissioner Piotr Serafin, responsible for the budget, presented the proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework. The proposal is too cautious. The focus remains on agriculture, cohesion, and structures that maintain the union of financial transfers. The new competitiveness fund is a sensible initiative. Next, we face a tough two-year negotiation period over the budget, both in Parliament and among the member states.
During the plenary session week in Strasbourg, we voted on a motion of censure against the Commission. The motion was brought forward by far-right MEPs seeking to undermine the Commission’s position. However, Ursula von der Leyen’s Commission received a strong mandate from Parliament, as expected. Also on the agenda was a vote on urgent procedure on the European climate law, which unfortunately did not receive the required support. I voted in favor of urgency. I believe we must do everything we can for the climate now – not later. The lead rapporteur for the climate law is a representative of the Patriots, who will likely slow down the progress of the law and our climate goals. That’s why an urgent procedure would have been desirable. The EPP supports the 2040 climate target. Work within the party is already underway.
With Denmark’s EU Council Presidency now underway, we’ve also welcomed Danish ministers to Parliament. I had the opportunity in the ITRE committee to ask Denmark’s Minister of Defence how Denmark plans to advance the initiative related to Russia’s shadow fleet, especially in terms of extending security and defence policy mandates to include its monitoring. I emphasized NATO-EU cooperation and synergy benefits. As a Finnish MEP, I also raised the question of potential additional EU funding for the EU’s border with Russia and investments in security-supporting structures.
This week, MEPs are mainly working in their home countries, after which the European Parliament will go into its summer break. I’ll be spending a few weeks on holiday with my family. After that, we’ll be packing our moving boxes for Brussels. I’m really happy that we’ll finally all be moving to Brussels together as a family.
Aura
Member of the European Parliament, National Coalition Party, EPP
