CEEP comments on the EU recovery plan proposed by the European Commission

This afternoon [27 May 2020], European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the European Commission’s proposals for the EU recovery, relying on the Next Generation EU instrument, a proposal for an updated Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 and an adapted Commission Work Programme for 2020.

Following the presentation of those long-awaited proposals, CEEP General Secretary Valeria Ronzitti said:

“CEEP welcomes the intent of the European Commission to put forward a proposal for an EU recovery aimed at balancing burden-sharing, solidarity and sovereignty across the EU. The EU institutions must now agree on a recovery strategy fixing the damages caused by the COVID-19 outbreak while preparing for the future.”

“With our members, we will now proceed to a careful analysis of the proposals for the Next Generation EU instrument. We must now find the right balance between grants and loans, short and long-term perspectives and, first and foremost, address the most urgent priorities.”

“CEEP supports the highlighted priorities for building a forward-looking EU model. The green and digital twin transitions must be the engine of the new EU growth strategy embracing a resource-efficient, sustainable and resilient infrastructure. Central in providing the direct response to the COVID-19 outbreak, our members, representing employers and providers of services of general interest at the frontline of the crisis, should be placed at the very heart of the recovery and the future of the EU project.”