Source: European Parliament
In line with the political guidelines of the President of the Commission[1], the recent Commission’s communication on ‘The road to the next multiannual financial framework’ (MFF)[2] underscores the need for a policy-based budget that is more focused, more impactful, and simpler to deliver on EU priorities.
The next EU budget will include a strengthened cohesion and growth policy with regions at the centre and build on the commitment to defend a fair and sufficient income for farmers, with a common agricultural policy that finds the right balance between incentives, investments and regulation.
This new approach for a modern EU budget should include a plan for each country with key reforms and investments, designed and implemented in partnership with national, regional, and local authorities.
The next MFF should also continue to help address challenges related to managing migration, including effective protection of the EU external borders and comprehensive partnerships with countries of origin and transit.
It should thus continue to support Member States to ensure they have the expertise, operational and financial capacity they need for the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum[3].
In addition to the simplification measures proposed by the Commission to simplify EU rules for businesses, the recently adopted Clean Industrial Deal[4] will contribute to bringing climate and competitiveness under an overarching growth strategy.
As regards the next MFF, a European Competitiveness Fund[5] should establish an investment capacity that will support strategic sectors and technologies critical to the EU competitiveness.
It will ensure better use of EU’s budget to leverage further national, private and institutional financing, to the benefit of the entire single market, including small and medium-sized enterprises.
- [1] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683-f63ffb2cf648_en?filename=Political%20Guidelines%202024-2029_EN.pdf
- [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0046
- [3] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/migration-and-asylum/pact-migration-and-asylum_en
- [4] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0085
- [5] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0030