The future of the multiannual financial framework after 2020 and the opportunities for funding the EU spending policies were discussed at the Budget Committee (BUDG) meeting at the Inter-Parliamentary Conference for Stability, Economic Coordination and Governance in the EU.

Three panel discussions were organised at the inter-parliamentary conference. The discussions were attended by MEPs from the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON), the Budget Committee (BUDG) and the Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL) at the European Parliament, co-chaired by representatives of the respective committees of the National Assembly.

The future of the EU tax policy, taxation and digital economy were also among the issues discussed by the parliamentarians at the Budget Committee meeting. The first Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU has the responsible task to hold a broad discussion with representatives of all member states on the future multiannual financial framework, said Deputy Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee at the National Assembly Evgeniya Angelova. According to her, even the best innovative solutions would not be successful, if a common agreement and understanding is not reached.

Managing the balance between sharing and mitigating risk in relation to the banking union was another main topic of debate. The discussion dealt with the philosophy of drafting the EU budget, the introduction of new types of own resources, etc.

“Digitalisation and the future of labour” and “Inequalities in member states” were the topics discussed at the meeting of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee. Chair of the Labour, Social and Demographic Policy at the National Assembly Hasan Ademov said that the discussion was focused on the new requirements to workers in the digital age, the legislative changes needed to protect the rights of the so called digital workers, as well as issues related to the existing social inequalities and the need of measures to overcome them. It is important to maintain the cohesion policy, which is a serious instrument for overcoming inequalities, he added. The discussion also focused on issues related to the implementation of the European social pillar.

“The Multiannual Financial Framework after 2020: facing emerging challenges and new priorities, and their funding” was the topic of heated debate at the meeting organised by the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON). Chairs of specialised committees of the European Parliament took part in the meeting and discussed the banking sector and opportunities to counter tax evasion, as well as the fair taxation of digital businesses, which are not exempt from taxes. It was emphasised that one of the big challenges we were facing was to ensure transparency of the management and spending of resources from the European budget, said Economic Policy and Tourism Committee Chair at the National Assembly Petar Kanev.