MEPs want a boost in transport, energy, research and agriculture spending in 2027 budget

Budgetary resolution complements the recent vote on figures and finalises budget committee position on 2027’s EU budget

Plenary to confirm position on 21 October, negotiations with Council to start in November

MEPs add €1.17 billion to the Commission’s initial draft budget

MEPs want EU debt repayments to be financed without cutting funding for flagship programmes that help Europeans tackle today’s challenges

In their draft resolution adopted on Monday 12 October, following and accompanying a 6 October vote on the budgetary figures, budget committee MEPs reaffirm Parliament’s political priorities for the 2027 EU budget and call for sufficient funding to deliver them. The EU must, they say, make full use of the budgetary means available to address current challenges, support its priorities and secure a prosperous future for Europe, despite existing budgetary constraints. MEPs voted to restore the €1 billion in commitment appropriations and €501.8 million in payment appropriations cut by the Council, while also proposing increases in commitment appropriations for several programmes compared with the Commission’s draft 2027 EU budget.

The draft resolution by rapporteurs Nils Ušakovs (S&D, LV), general rapporteur for the EU budget 2027 (for section III - Commission), and Michalis Hadjipantela (EPP, CY), rapporteur for the other sections, was adopted by 24 in favour, 8 against, and 2 abstentions.

Research, infrastructure, health and education

To boost European competitiveness, innovation and cross-border connectivity, MEPs want to increase funding for Horizon Europe by €63 million, transport and energy networks by €260 million, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises by €31.5 million. To strengthen public health, education and citizens’ participation, MEPs want to increase funding for EU4Health by €50 million and Erasmus+ by €96 million. They also propose an additional €15 million for the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme.

Agriculture, environment and civil protection

MEPs want to reinforce support for agriculture by increasing funding for young farmers by €20 million and for the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund by €85 million. They also propose an additional €85 million for the LIFE programme, including €25 million for the clean energy transition and €51 million for nature and biodiversity. To strengthen the EU’s capacity to respond to natural disasters and other emergencies, they want to increase funding for the Civil Protection Mechanism by €80 million.

Border management, EU’s neighbourhood and the world

To reinforce the EU’s capacity to manage migration and protect its external borders, MEPs propose increasing funding for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund by €20 million and the Border Management and Visa Instrument by €40 million. They also want to increase funding for military mobility by €20 million. MEPs voted to increase funding for the Southern Neighbourhood by €60 million and the Eastern Neighbourhood by €30 million, and propose an additional €40 million for humanitarian aid.

Further figures are available in the recent press release on the vote on the budgetary figures.

Repayment for the NextGenerationEU (NGEU) and the Ukraine Support Loan

To protect key programmes while preserving the EU budget’s flexibility and capacity to respond to unexpected needs, MEPs argue that dedicated funding instruments should be used to cover the costs of financing NGEU and the Ukraine Support Loan without undermining established EU programmes. MEPs say 65% of the NGEU repayment costs should be covered by decommitments to protect key EU programmes from cuts. MEPs also call for the full mobilisation of the newly created Ukraine Support Loan instrument, to cover the borrowing costs of the Ukraine Support Loan.

Next steps

Parliament’s plenary is expected to vote on its position on 21 October, launching three weeks of negotiations with the Council, which adopted its position in September 2026, with a view to reaching an agreement on next year’s budget before the end of the year. The first round of talks is expected to take place on 3 November.