European Parliament votes to invest in climate, biodiversity and research
EU BUDGET 2022
Today, Members of the European Parliament have just voted in favour of greater climate protection, biodiversity and research to be part of the EU budget 2022. The Greens/EFA group have increased the budget by more than 1.64 billion, including 430 million euros for climate protection and biodiversity, 450 million increase for research and development and an increase for the European Environmental Agency to strengthen its capacities to support the implementation of key EU policies such the Green Deal. Another key achievement is the negotiation of 100 million euros for the programme CEF transport in order to support the transition of sustainable transportation in the EU. This is a strong position for the European Parliament for future trialogue negotiations.
Henrike Hahn MEP, shadow rapporteur for the Greens/EFA group for the EU budget 2022, comments;
“We made this budget not only greener but also future-oriented. The EU Budget 2022 will play an important role to implement the Paris climate targets by 2030 at the latest. We need more speed, more ambition and clear decisions how to invest taxpayers' money are spent in the best way protecting the climate and environment. Where the money goes, politics really happens.
“We need strong research and development for green technology, for decarbonization and a strong European economy. We launched an EU budget 2022 with large increases for Green priority programs with a total of more than 1.64 billion euros in addition to the draft budget, based on strong parliamentary inter group cooperation. More than 430 million euros are allocated to climate and biodiversity programs which includes the real highlight of a 171 million euro increase for LIFE (L'Instrument Financier pour l'Environnement).
“More than 450 million euros are now additionally allocated to research and development, and we have over 760 million euros for priorities such as Humanitarian Aid, EU4Health, Erasmus+ and Rights and Values. We can go well into the future negotiations on a 2022 budget with a strong parliamentary position that knows what future needs.”
Damian Boeselager MEP, member of Volt and rapporteur for the Greens/EFA Group for the administrative budget of the EU for 2022, comments;
"Good institutions matter. They are the solid rock upon which citizens' trust in politics is built. EU institutions need adequate budgetary support to do their job and deliver on the EU's commitments, for example with the Green Deal or the supervision of hundreds of billions of additional funds in the Recovery Fund."
