Statement by co-rapporteurs Siegfried Mureșan and Carla Tavares on the EU’s long-term budget, in response to the negotiating box presented on Thursday by the Cyprus Presidency.

The European Parliament’s lead co-rapporteurs on the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) Siegfried Mureșan (EPP, RO) and Carla Tavares (S&D, PT) take note of the draft negotiating position emerging from the Council. While discussions are at an early stage, the direction raises serious concerns about the EU’s capacity to meet its commitments and respond to the challenges facing Europeans.

“We reject the Council’s proposal, which is simply not fit for today’s realities. It reflects neither the needs of Europe’s people nor the position of the European Parliament, as the Union’s democratic and budgetary institution. The Council's proposal sends entirely the wrong signal. By cutting the Commission's overall proposal by 2%, it effectively suggests that Europe's challenges require less action, not more.

This is of particular concern given that, in their proposal, the Commission had already reduced Heading 1, which finances farmers and cohesion, from around 60% to 45% of the MFF. Cutting the EU budget further sends a message to farmers, regions, and citizens that food security, cohesion, border management, and support for local communities are not important despite the challenges they pose. At the same time, when it comes to security, defence and competitiveness, we cannot make Europe safer or more competitive, or play a stronger role at global level, with 4% cuts to Headings 2 and 3, which finance precisely those priorities.

To finance our ambitions, Parliament reiterates the need to introduce new genuine own resources. This is an opportunity for the Council to step up. The only way to not put more pressure on fiscally restrained governments is to agree to new sources of revenue. New own resources are the only credible way to avoid cuts to programmes that are essential for Europeans and to secure the additional investment businesses, citizens and regions need. EU governments need to decide: will they cut funding for research and security or ensure that global digital companies benefiting from the single market make a fair contribution?”, said co-rapporteur Siegfried Mureşan (EPP, RO).

“Parliament will continue to insist on strong and clearly ring-fenced funding for cohesion policy, the Common Agricultural Policy and the European Social Fund. These policies are the backbone of European solidarity, territorial cohesion and social convergence. They provide long-term investment, support farmers and rural communities, strengthen regions and help people access quality jobs and opportunities. Any attempt to dilute, merge or weaken these policies would undermine their effectiveness, predictability and accountability and turn the EU budget from an investment budget into an inadequate crisis-response mechanism.

The Parliament insists that the EU must match its global ambitions with adequate resources – to stand by Ukraine and other partners, uphold human rights and democracy, commit to humanitarian aid, and defend the territorial integrity of its partners in an increasingly dangerous world. In the current geopolitical context cuts would send the wrong message to those who count on us to uphold Union values and strengthen multilateralism.

Following the adoption of Parliament’s position by a strong majority in April, we stand ready to begin negotiations as soon as member states have agreed on a full mandate, so that we can conclude the negotiations by the end of 2026. We will remain firm in defending a stronger, fairer and future-oriented European budget. Parliament’s consent to the MFF will depend on a long-term budget that is fit for purpose,” said co-rapporteur Carla Tavares (S&D, PT).