Input from the European Movement
International
As we highlight in our latest position on An
EU Response to COVID-19, a well-designed EU recovery plan
as well as an adjusted long-term budget plan offer a much-needed
European response to a health crisis that will have an impact for
years to come. Europe’s recovery from this pandemic will no doubt be a
gradual one and relies on a solid political and economic framework to
foster a more resilient and united European society. In this context,
we advocate for a long-term budget and recovery fund that avoids
burdening future generations with debt and embodies the principles of
cohesion, solidarity and upward convergence while protecting citizens’
priorities.
The crisis puts the EU’s economic resilience to the test, and
leaders should take the crisis as an opportunity to explore new ways
to enhance the EU’s ability to respond to such shocks. A new scheme
for own resources can optimise the EU budget, while putting the EU’s
Green Deal at the core of the recovery, can promote a sustainable
Europe.
With leaders and institutions negotiating the long-term budget and
recovery in the coming months, we highlight the need for citizens to
be at the core of decisions taken on Europe’s future. While
institutions, authorities and organisations must at all times
coordinate and communicate their actions with each other and with
citizens, the Conference
on the Future of Europe can offer a timely opportunity
for an open dialogue on the key issues and priorities that will shape
the EU’s future.
