What does the multi-annual financial framework mean for daily life? This is the realization of a vision and policies of growth and development for our European community. We also plan within the family what we will build in the coming years, how much money it will cost for education, for cars, computers… To do this, we have to earn the money that we intend to spend. Part of this is likely to come from savings, but the rest relies on the likelihood that we will be able to earn that money and therefore invest in satisfying our needs for our quality of life.
In Europe, we are experiencing another decline, during a time of planning the next financial framework until 2020 (the basis of which is the Strategy 2020, which is at the same time a vision for and content of Europe), which has raised uncertainty. We all want a Europe that meets people’s expectations, not only the expectations of banks. If expectations are too high, then we will always be unhappy.
We need to stay firmly grounded. In the European Parliament, we are warning that this budget will be the only source of investment funds for countries. Investments are also opening up new job opportunities. Concerns have been voiced due to announced reductions in the budget. Considered to be around 70 billion euros, that is 7% of the entire 1000 billion budget. The plan is more Europe with less money. This also means that we will have to use the resources, but with greater quality and efficacy. Even today we can see some of the projects co-financed with European funds in Slovenia, but the number of new jobs promised never arrived.
For Slovenia, the most alarming potential decrease is in cohesion funds. Barroso during his speech today promised that the reduction in the budget will be spread over all parts. We all live in a time of serious crisis and serious limitations. We have to plan the future with increased growth and savings in parallel. However, growth can not be dictated, it is necessary to establish the conditions for growth and in particular to convince people that it is each individual’s responsibility to be a part of the solution. New ideas are more likely to come about in times of crisis than in a time of excess.
Given the worsening economic situation in Europe, we have to plan funds that we can realistically produce. To give a new hope to the unemployed, companies need to open up and join together at the European level. They need to connect with knowledge centres. Today is not a time for isolated cowboys but a time in which we are dependent on one another and when political and economic strength comes from a united Europe.
Zofija Mazej Kukovič MEP
