Statement by group majority leaders on the EU long-term budget

Statement of the leaders of EPP, S&D, Renew and Greens/EFA groups on continuing support for a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world.

We take note of the European Commission’s proposals on the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which officially kick off the process of negotiations on the long-term EU budget. We welcome that the Commission has listened to the Parliament and decided to partly move away from several of its previous plans.

In a world grappling with uncertainty and instability, with war raging in our continent, the European Union must face multiple challenges; from bridging the competitiveness gap to tackling climate and biodiversity crises, from facing global security, migration management, humanitarian risks, to strengthening our European defence, food security and strategic autonomy, from facing economic and social insecurity coupled with an eroding industrial base to protecting our European democracies and rule of law. These challenges are too big to be addressed by any country alone. We can only succeed if we pool resources and act together.

Our citizens expect from the European Union to do more to solve their problems and improve their lives. The EU budget is an essential tool in this respect. A strong Union requires a strong budget. This should be a budget for all Europeans, one that provides a genuine European added value. We will defend an ambitious and robust MFF with increased resources compared to the 2021-2027 period, with a built-in crisis response capacity, and where the repayment of NGEU borrowing must not endanger the financing of EU policies and priorities.

As the only directly elected EU institution, we strongly insist that Parliament’s legislative, budgetary and discharge prerogatives are fully respected at every stage of the process. The next MFF should be subject to full parliamentary control and accountability and safeguard Parliament’s role as co-legislator, budgetary and discharge authority.

Furthermore, lessons must be learnt from past experiences and therefore we are critical to the creation of the so-called “National and regional Partnership plans” in the way it has been designed and presented today which in their current design could hamper the European dimension. The European Parliament will not accept any reduction of Parliamentary oversight and the legitimate democratic control and scrutiny over the EU spending or, worse, renationalise flagship Union policies.

We believe that we should not compromise on the respect of our Union values and the fundamental rights as enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Article 2 TEU and of the rule of law which should remain an essential pre-requisite to access EU funds. We reiterate our strong support to new Own Resources to enable the repayment of NGEU debt to finance new EU priorities and to prevent the risk of a reduction to the financing of EU policies.

The European Parliament has already outlined its position on the next MFF in a report adopted by a large majority on 7 May 2025 to be further complemented with its formal negotiating position. We urge the Council to also adopt its position in due course in order to avoid delaying meaningful negotiations and a swift and good agreement on the next MFF.

We stand ready to work constructively with the Council and Commission in a spirit of sincere and mutual cooperation to deliver a long-term budget that delivers for the people and addresses the Union’s needs and is flexible to new and emerging challenges. We intend to use all powers at our disposal, in order to ensure that our positions are heard and respected.

We firmly believe that the European project, our values and our commonly agreed priorities deserve appropriate financial resources and political courage.