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听听Sandra Kalniete (PPE), in writing. 鈥� (LV) 合法博彩网站鈥檚 position on the multiannual financial framework must be clear and rigorous: the budget amount recommended by the Commission should not be reduced. A reduced budget in the European Union would have a negative impact on economic growth and competitiveness throughout the EU, and would weaken its cohesiveness, solidarity and ability to overcome the crisis. Any reduction would restrict opportunities to ensure a fairer distribution of direct payments and proper financing of the cohesion policy. I can only support the President of the Commission, Mr听Barroso, who recently, in Bratislava, stated at a meeting of the Friends of Cohesion group that Europe needs political unity 鈥� the wealthier countries must agree to a wide-ranging policy, which provides for support for the less wealthy regions of Europe, since this is an investment in the growth of the European Union as a whole. I understand the political difficulties in many Member States when the EU budget is discussed. However, together with the rapporteur I would like to remind you that the EU budget represents only some 2听% of total government expenditure in the Union, and is hence more than 45 times smaller than the sum of government expenditure in the Member States.