Parliament reiterates its call for an ambitious EU budget for 2028-2034

MEPs, together with representatives of the Commission and the Council, debated on Wednesday the latest developments in the negotiations on the EU's next multiannual financial framework (MFF). Siegfried Mureșan (EPP, Romania), Parliament's co-rapporteur for the MFF, warned that "any cut to the budget that would weaken Europe in the years ahead will not bring Parliament's approval. We will not approve a budget that would not allow us to achieve our objectives or that would affect our capacity to react in the event of crises or unexpected developments." He noted that the Commission proposed a 2028-2034 budget at the same level as the current 2021-2027 one, despite growing challenges: 1.15% of Member States' gross national income (GNI), compared with 1.14% when the current MFF was presented. He stressed that while national budgets have grown by 68% over the past seven years, the EU budget has not kept pace. Carla Tavares (S&D, Portugal), also co-rapporteur, said: "We are no longer facing temporary crises but structural challenges," and the response must be just as structural and ambitious. "We are not asking for more money. We are asking for resources that match the responsibilities given to the EU." Speakers from a majority of political groups reaffirmed Parliament's position, adopted in April 2026: a strong, realistic, forward-looking EU budget that matches the EU's level of ambition and introduces new revenue streams, benefits citizens, reduces inequalities and guarantees adequate resources for key policies, including agriculture, regions, cohesion and social funding. MEPs also voiced concern about how EU money is spent and stressed the need for more transparency and accountability. Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin said some capitals still look at the EU budget the way accountants look at balance sheets -- what did I put in, what do I get out -- which he called completely flawed for a modern budget. The EU budget tackles common challenges that no single Member State can address alone, or that would be far more expensive if each tried on its own. In its position, Parliament asked for an increase of around 10% compared with the Commission's July 2025 proposal, to support priorities such as defence and security, competitiveness, cohesion and agriculture. MEPs also proposed new sources of revenue, including a digital services levy, an online gambling levy, an extension of the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and a levy on crypto-asset capital gains. Next steps: Member States are still negotiating their common position. The Cypriot Council presidency's draft proposed a 2% cut compared with the Commission's proposal. The Irish presidency's "negotiating box" will be presented on Saturday, 10 October. To be adopted, the long-term budget needs a unanimous Council decision and the approval of an absolute majority of MEPs. Over 93% of the EU budget goes to programmes supporting people and projects in all Member States, and less than 7% is spent on administration.