MEPs already shoot at EU multiannual budget
The majority of the parliament does not want any changes to agricultural policy, the policy for disadvantaged regions, and the social policy fund. However, the European Commission wants to do just that, say EU sources.
There is also insufficient support for allocating a portion of the EU budget to member states, which can spend it based on national plans. “We will not accept any centralization of the allocation of resources,” states the EPP, the largest party in parliament.
The social democrats will not accept the elimination of the social policy fund (ESF), warns the second-largest faction in advance. “It is important to invest in people,” said Dutch MEP Mohammed Chahim (GroenLinks-PvdA).
The liberal faction Renew demands, just like several other factions, a larger budget with more own resources. This could include higher contributions from the 27 member states, import duties, or taxes. The current budget of approximately 180 billion euros per year is far too little, according to proponents of a larger EU budget. Especially since they, like the European Commission, believe that more budget should be reserved for defense and security in the upcoming multiannual budget.
Radical right and left want to cut back.
The negotiations on the multiannual budget 2028-2034 are mainly conducted with the 27 member states. Only at the end will the European Parliament come back into play. That will be in about two years.
(July 9, 2025)
