(Strasbourg) “A forward-looking Europe needs clear vision, focussed on giving effective answers to its citizens. The first change we must promote is having a political budget with adequate funds, which reflects the Europeans’ priorities on security, defence, immigration, unemployment and climate change. The Treaties do not need to be changed, courage and goodwill are needed instead”. This was stated by the president of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, in the light of the resolution passed by the plenary assembly in Strasbourg today about the European Commission’s plan for the new Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027. “This Parliament thinks that the EU Commission’s plan of putting a cap of 1.11% of the GDP of the member states on the budget is inadequate. Great Britain’s support will be missing as from 2021. If we want to spend less on a national level and be more effective, we must create economies of scale and added value across the European Union. That’s why we must invest at least 1.3%”. Tajani adds: “This increase must not come out of the citizens’ pockets, as they are paying a lot already, it must come from our own resources. Internet giants, speculative financial transactions, those who pollute with non-biodegradable plastics, must help. We are concerned that the European Commission may have omitted the recent proposal for a web tax from the package of its own new funds”.