The EU long-term budget (MFF) drives investment in Europe’s future, improving citizens’ lives. It funds common projects and delivers on priorities from economic competitiveness to agriculture.

It is time for the EU to decide on a long-term budget from 2028 onwards. Europeans expect clear action in several key areas: economy and social issues, defence and security, climate change, and agriculture. The European Parliament is working together with the other EU institutions to address these expectations.

Over the last few years, the political, economic and social context has changed significantly. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, as well as the need for the EU to stay competitive, support businesses in the digital transformation and tackle climate change pose major challenges.

During the plenary session in April 2026, the European Parliament set out its position for negotiations with member states on the 2028-2034 EU budget.

The 2028-2034 EU budget should be set at 1.27% of EU GNI (+ 10% compared to the Commission’s July 2025 proposal).

MEPs stress that the next long-term EU budget must remain an investment tool supporting EU policies, citizens, regions, businesses and small and SMEs, while securing EU added value compared to national spending. They firmly oppose any re-nationalisation that risks to weaken EU policies, reduce transparency and create competition between beneficiaries.

MEPs want strong and adequately funded policies, with distinct allocations for policies under the national and regional partnership plans, including the common agricultural policy and fisheries policy, also for the outermost regions, cohesion policy, the European Social Fund and home affairs.

Simplification must not undermine transparency, accountability or democratic oversight. The report also underlines that respect for EU values and the rule of law is a precondition for accessing EU funds, while avoiding penalising final recipients for breaches of the rule of law by their governments.