Shaping the Future: The EU’s Next Long-Term Budget
The European Commission has just published a Communication about designing the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)—the EU’s long-term budget, set to begin in 2028. This new financial plan must address increasing expectations while ensuring economic stability and maximizing the impact of every euro spent.
The Communication lays the groundwork for reflections on how to adapt the EU’s long-term budget to evolving needs and priorities, and, to support this, the Commission also launches in parallel a Europe-wide campaign with a range of stakeholders, including Member States governments, regional entities, and citizens.
A Budget for Europe’s Priorities
The EU budget is crucial in supporting citizens, businesses, researchers, and regions. Looking ahead, the budget must be more straightforward, more flexible, and more targeted to support priorities such as strategic investments, competitiveness, and a stronger European foreign policy.
To achieve this, the Commission proposes reforms including:
- A European Competitiveness Fund to boost key sectors and critical technologies.
- Revamped external action financing to align with strategic interests.
- Stronger safeguards to uphold the rule of law.
- Modernised revenue streams to ensure sustainable financing.
Public Consultation: Have Your Say!
The Commission is inviting all Europeans to contribute their ideas through a 12-week public consultation, accessible through the following links:
- Implementing EU Funds with Member States and regions
- EU funding for competitiveness
- EU funding for external action
- EU funding for cross-border education, training and solidarity, youth, media, culture, and creative sectors, values, and civil society
- EU funding for civil protection, preparedness and response to crises
- EU funding for the single market, and cooperation between national authorities
- Performance of the EU budget
A citizens’ panel will be set up to gather 150 Europeans to debate and make concrete recommendations for the next EU budget. It will be accompanied by an online platform offering everyone the opportunity to participate in the debate. Additionally, Commissioner Serafin will embark on a Tour d’Europe in 2025 to gather insights from governments, regional stakeholders, and beneficiaries of EU funds.
The formal proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework proposal will be presented in July 2025, aiming for a timely agreement before implementation in January 2028.
