Lucia Yar: EP in the EU budget for 2026 does not want cuts on people and scientific research

Sep 12, 2025 - 03:00

Brussels/Strasbourg – Members of the European Parliament (EP) discussed on Wednesday (September 10) the recently agreed position of the member states on the EU budget proposal for next year. MEP Lucia Yar (RE/PS), the only one among Slovak lawmakers in the EP Budget Committee, told the TASR reporter that the European Parliament advocates for a more ambitious implementation of EU policies than indicated by the member states.

The MEP, who is the vice-chair of the Budget Committee on behalf of the centrist Renew Europe (RE) group, pointed out that the governments of the member states in the EU Council traditionally approach the preparation of the budget with cuts to the original proposal of the European Commission, which means saving primarily on people, reducing funding for social programs and education.

However, we in the European Parliament are fighting for a more ambitious EU budget

“However, we in the European Parliament are fighting for a more ambitious EU budget that will support young people, students, and research, and thus the future of Europe. We will not allow cuts to affect programs like Erasmus+, which are an integral part of building a united Europe,” explained Lucia Yar.

She emphasized that as the vice-chair of the Budget Committee in the European Parliament, she advocates for a significant increase in the budget to support future generations and innovations. According to her, the EP proposes not cuts but funding of approximately 5.1 billion euros for the Erasmus+ program. This would significantly expand the number of young people involved in mobility and educational programs. She also added that the Horizon Europe program, which the EU Council wants to significantly weaken, is also crucial for the competitiveness of Europe.

“As an MEP from Slovakia, I take a clear stance: we must invest in people, in education, and in the future of our young generation. The Erasmus+ program is not just about studying abroad; it is an investment in cultural understanding and the competitiveness of our young people. We are not willing to accept cuts that would limit the opportunities for students and young people. Investments in research and innovation, which are the foundation for the prosperity of Slovakia and all of Europe, are equally important,” she described the situation.

She explained that negotiations with the member states about the shape of next year’s EU budget will begin this fall, with the goal of the EP negotiators being to reach a fair compromise that does not jeopardize the needs of young people and the development of regions, including those in Slovakia.

The Commission announced at the beginning of June that it set the EU budget for 2026 at 193.26 billion euros, which should be supplemented by an estimated 105.32 billion euros in payments under the Next Generation EU recovery plan. (September 11)