'Where are you?!' EU chief under fire for SKIPPING crunch budget talks – Brexit panic hits

European Council President Charles Michel was accused of ignoring the issue at hand after skipping the crunch debate in the EU Parliament in Strasbourg. Senior MEPs queued up to lash out at the EU’s most senior official, who this week has been on a diplomatic mission in Africa despite the bloc’s struggles at home. They lined up to trigger an institutional civil war as the EU’s Council, Parliament, and Commission as they attempt to negotiate the bloc’s next multi annual financial framework.

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission’s president, warned the EU faces a €75 billion gap in its budget after Britain’s departure.

She said: “As a Union of 27, as you said, we have fewer resources.

“It’s about 75 billion less for the whole seven-year period, but more common challenges that no member states can solve on their own.”

Manfred Weber, head of the EU Parliament’s European People’s Party group, was the first to bemoan Mr Michel’s absence in the Strasbourg-based parliamentary Hemicycle.

He blasted: “It would be good if Charles Michel had been here today today. It would have been good if you were listening… We know that he has been in close contact with the groups but coming today would have had a different significance.”

The German politician used Brexit as an example while the bloc should further loosen the purse strings, adding: “If we give into the populists that’ll strengthen them and not weaken them.

“That’s why we need an ambitious approach, not the lowest common denominator, rather than ambition.”

Iratxe Garcia Perez, the Spanish leader of the socialist bloc, also targeted Mr Michel’s absence.

She said: “Perhaps it’s not not surprising that Mr Michel isn’t here, perhaps he wouldn’t have had much to say. But there is a great deal that he could have listened to.

“I would say he has to understand the huge responsibility we’re facing.”

Each EU institution has put forward differing spending plans, with MEPs demanding the most cash per member state – up to 1.3 percent of GDP.

With the Council pushing back on a significantly lower demand of 1.1 percent, senior MEPs have bemoaned Mr Michel’s lack of ambition.

The Council chief has arranged an emergency summit of European leaders next week in a bid of bridging the growing divides between member states.

But Greens co-leader Philippe Lamberts warned MEPs are waiting to veto any budget proposals unless their demands are met.

He blast: “If the Council’s extraordinary summit doesn’t meet our expectations, we shouldn’t be afraid.

“It’s only when both institutions agree that the budget is passed, we don’t just sign off on the Council’s decision… and Mr Michel should have been here to listen to that.”

source: express.co.uk