Fine Gael MEPs vote to reinforce EU funding for UNWRA

The four Fine Gael MEPs today voted in favour of reinforcing funding for UNWRA and supported the parliament’s call to increase EU humanitarian aid by €120 million overall in 2025.

Following today’s votes to establish the European Parliament’s negotiating mandate on the EU’s budget for 2025, Seán Kelly, Regina Doherty, Maria Walsh and Nina Carberry repeated their call for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of any remaining hostages. “The humanitarian situation in Gaza is absolutely dire. We want the EU to boost aid to the region and support UNWRA’s work there in getting emergency supplies to people in need. We fully condemn the actions of the terrorist group Hamas and urge the release of hostages. We implore all sides of the conflict to agree a ceasefire immediately and work towards a peaceful end to the conflict”, the MEPs said in a statement.

Today’s adoption of financial amendments to the draft EU budget for 2025, provides the Parliament with a negotiating mandate in order to finalise next year’s EU budget before the end of this year.

“The Council (Member States) has sought to reduce vital EU funds by a massive €1.5 billion. We fully support the Parliament’s position to restore the budget and increase crucial funding programmes across health, agriculture, research and innovation, support for SMEs, security and migration management. We recognise the need to protect the EU’s external borders, a subject which EU leaders intend to discuss further. We want to see the recently agreed EU Migration and Asylum Pact implemented”, the MEPs added.

The parliament today voted to boost funding for many key programmes including: Horizon Europe by €242m; EU4Health by €50m; Erasmus+ by €70m; the Common Agricultural Policy by €96m including €40m specifically ring-fenced for young farmers; and support for SMEs is topped up by €5m.

While the parliament’s position on the financial side of the budget is now clear, no accompanying political resolution was agreed today.

The Fine Gael MEPs look forward to analysing the details of the final draft budget once negotiations between the Parliament and Council conclude, after which a final plenary vote will be held.