Collapse of EU budget talks short-changes people and planet

November 23, 2012

With todays collapse of negotiations at the EU budget summit in Brussels, environment groups CEE Bankwatch Network and Friends of the Earth Europe called on countries to focus their efforts on agreeing a deal in the new year that has quality EU spending [1] at the top of the agenda.

Markus Trilling, EU Funds coordinator for CEE Bankwatch Network and Friends of the Earth Europe, said: "Europes people and our environment have been let down by our leaders once again, and for what? While opposing member states have been fixating over sums as tiny as 0.005 percent of total EU GDP, the pressing issues of climate change, environmental degradation and resource use have been totally short-changed.

"If a further Budget summit goes ahead in the new year, it must put the quality of EU spending at the top of the agenda, and recognise the huge potential of this money for improving the quality of life in Europe, our shared environment and our economic prospects.

"A 25 percent green EU budget for 2014-2020 would unlock substantial investment money for projects like energy savings and renewables that will cut our greenhouse gas emissions, create millions of new green jobs and reduce fuel poverty.

"Linking direct payments for farmers to strict environmental conditions and dedicating funds to protect nature will be crucial for delivering overall green objectives.

"Europes leaders simply cannot afford to let a positive, quality-driven deal go begging again."