Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach is probably aware that the EU multi-annual financial framework has been overwhelmingly rejected by the European Parliament. The resolution rejected the Council's proposals on the MFF and it was carried by 506 votes in favour and 161 against. That represents a hefty majority against the Council's proposals. The unhappiness of most of the MEPs who have commented on the MFF has been common knowledge. Five of the six major political blocs in the European Parliament urged their members to vote against the passing of this regressive budget. Despite the fact that there was a good deal of pressure from many Governments on MEPs they came into the European Parliament today and rejected the proposal. The Council proposal would have meant that for the first time in 56 years the EU budget would have been cut. That would have made no sense. The main argument was that while the EU has continued to face into this crisis with its huge socioeconomic problems it is continuing to expand and it would make no sense to try to cut the budget for this period.

The issue with the EU budget is not only the size of the expenditure but also what the money is used for. The proposal by the European Council did not change the overall structure of the budget. The Council missed a real opportunity to refocus the budget strategically to promote growth and jobs. The EU Parliament's rejection of the budget has presented the Taoiseach with a lifeline and an opportunity to renegotiate a better deal. It gives all leaders throughout Europe a fresh opportunity to consider this area. Rather than seeing it as a setback - many will maintain it is just that - I see it as an opportunity to reconsider the budget area and how we spend our money.

Savings in administration would have been made under the proposed budget and I broadly welcome those, but one issue the budget did not touch was the waste involved in having two seats for the European Parliament, one each in Brussels and Strasbourg. Ending the monthly charade of decamping thousands of MEPs, officials, documents and so on from Brussels to Strasbourg in favour of a European Parliament with only one seat has the potential to save an estimated €200 million per year or €1.4 billion over the seven year period of the current budget. I cannot understand it. Will the Taoiseach indicate whether member states will include this change in any new budget arrangements?

The reality is that the Council's budget was an austerity budget and would have locked the EU in austerity for the next seven years. It did not contain sufficient spending to boost investment in jobs and growth and it would have left member states starved of strategic investment in key areas. The Government has told us repeatedly that the No. 1 priority for EU leaders is jobs and growth. Does the Taoiseach not accept that the Council's proposed budget only set aside a limited budget investment for jobs and growth? The EU Parliament's rejection allows the Taoiseach to argue for greater investment in jobs and growth, something the EU desperately needs. I hope the Taoiseach takes the opportunity given to him by the EU Parliament and that he uses Ireland's EU Council Presidency to negotiate a pro-growth, pro-jobs progressive budget.

The Taoiseach referred to the €6 billion EU youth guarantee agreed as part of the EU budget negotiations at the last Council meeting. While I welcome any attempt to tackle youth unemployment in the EU much remains unclear about the nature and enforceability of the guarantee. Throughout the EU 22% of people between the ages of 15 and 24 years are unemployed and more than 30% of these have been unemployed for more than 12 consecutive months. Youth unemployment is one of the greatest socioeconomic problems the EU is facing and it must implement programmes to solve it. One of the greatest problems we are facing is the lack of hope throughout Europe and addressing this problem must be part of any package. The EU youth guarantee must be funded rather than simply a call on member states to make better use of the European Social Fund. Often, many young workers can only access precarious, temporary jobs or traineeships which offer little prospect of career progression. Youth policy needs to be more than recognised and visible; it must be robust and measurable. Action on this issue must address inequality in society and existing structural and systemic failures. Will the Taoiseach confirm that the guarantee will ensure that every person under 25 years of age in the EU will have access to and the right to qualified, adequately-paid stable employment and some sort of job security? Will they have a training or educational placement that will genuinely improve their chances and career prospects? Will there be operational programmes for young apprentices to enable them to finish training and begin fully-qualified work in their trades?

We are seeking practical measures. I genuinely hope the youth guarantee effectively tackles the youth unemployment problem in Ireland and the EU. Does the Government have any plans to tackle youth unemployment crisis here before the youth guarantee becomes operational? That is the big question to which people at home seek an answer. What exactly will be introduced to break the cycle of youth unemployment?

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