Nicosia:Siegfried Muresan, the European Parliament's MFF co-rapporteur from Romania, emphasized that the Parliament will not consent to any budget cuts that would weaken Europe. He criticized the proposed budget for 2028-2034, which maintains the same level as the current budget, despite increasing challenges. Muresan highlighted that while national budgets have significantly increased, the EU budget has not kept pace, challenging the perception of its continuous growth.

According to Cyprus News Agency, Carla Tavares, another Parliament co-rapporteur from Portugal, asserted that Europe is facing structural challenges requiring a structural and ambitious response, rather than temporary measures. She argued for resources that match the EU's responsibilities, warning against a "first-class Europe with a second-class budget."

Most political groups in Parliament support a strong, realistic budget aligned with the EU's ambitions, including new revenue streams to ensure benefits for citizens and adequate funding for key policies. Concerns about budget spending transparency and accountability were also raised by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs).

Irish Minister for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, confirmed that the Irish EU presidency will present the Council's draft negotiating position soon, aiming to move negotiations closer to an agreement. Piotr Serafin, the Commissioner for Budget, criticized some capitals for their narrow view of the EU budget as merely a balance sheet.

The Parliament is pushing for a budget increase of about 10% over the Commission's proposal from July 2025, to support priorities such as defense, security, and competitiveness. They also suggested new revenue sources like a digital services levy and a carbon border adjustment mechanism extension.

While Parliament has adopted its position, member states are still negotiating theirs, with the Irish Council presidency expected to propose a new draft soon. The EU's long-term budget adoption requires unanimous Council agreement and Parliament's consent.