Multi-annual budget: EU Parliament gives initial approval to the €200 billion increase

Brussels – New multiannual budget: the proposal to increase funding receives initial approval from the European Parliament. With 26 votes in favour, 9 against and 5 abstentions, the Budget Committee approved the European Parliament’s position on the MFF 2028–2034, now under consideration by the plenary, with a vote scheduled for 29 April. The increase of around €200 billion compared to the European Commission proposal has been confirmed. Specifically, an additional €139.1 billion is allocated to agriculture, €78.8 billion more to cohesion funds, €30 billion more to competitiveness, €3.2 billion more to immigration, and €25 billion more to research.

“We are proposing a European budget that is both sufficient and predictable for beneficiaries, addressing the shortcomings of the Commission’s initial proposal,” comments Siegried Muresan (EPP), co-rapporteur for the budget measure and member of the Parliament’s Committee on Budgets. “Through a moderate 10 per cent increase, we are ensuring adequate resources for new priorities such as defence and competitiveness, whilst fully preserving key policies such as agriculture and cohesion,” he emphasises.