Yesterday, with 23 votes in favour, nine against and two abstentions, the The European Parliament's Budget Committee approved a report highlighting the need for a long-term budget EU horizon and underlines that the current spending limit of 1% of gross national product does not is sufficient to cope with the growing number of crises and Challenges. The report points out, among other things, that the next framework multi-year financial system, which follows the seven-year programming that will expire on December 31, 2027, should include funding much more substantial and managed directly for the energy, transport and digital infrastructure, prioritising cross-border connections and national connections with European added value. The document specifies that it is considered that these infrastructures go hand in hand with an energy policy and constitute an absolute precondition for an effective strengthening the single market and increasing the resilience of the of the Union in a changing geopolitical order.

In addition, the report draws attention to the importance of increase budget support for military mobility, which enhances infrastructure for military and civilian purposes, enabling the large-scale and rapid movement of equipment and military personnel and thus contributing to the capabilities and the collective security of the Union. In this regard the importance of the financing of trans-European networks is underlined transport to allow for dual-use adaptation to both military and civilian.

The request for more funding for transport, energy and infrastructure under the next framework formulated by the Budget Committee of the The European Parliament was welcomed by the Association of European Ports. "European ports - highlighted Isabelle Ryckbost, Secretary General of the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) - are important partners for the strengthening energy, economic and geopolitical resilience. This involves large investments, often at high risk and without a direct or significant return on investment, although these investments are key to meeting the ambitions of the of Europe. It is good to note that the experts of European Parliament's budget include the importance of investment and financing in both transport and energy in the current geoeconomic and geopolitical context".

ESPO expressed the hope that this strong signal will be acknowledged. The plenary session of the EU Parliament is expected to vote on the report next month, while the European Commission is expected to present its proposal in July.