Brussels: MEPs are pushing for a 2026 budget that reinforces the European Union’s key priorities amidst uncertain times, with an emphasis on boosting research, competitiveness, and defence.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the European Parliament has proposed an overall level of commitment appropriations for 2026 at £193.9 billion. This represents an increase of £597.8 million compared to the initial proposal by the Commission. The Parliament has also set the overall level of payment appropriations at £192.6 billion. The MEPs stress the need for a strong, investment-focused budget to address global instability, security threats, rising protectionism, and climate change. They have restored £1.3 billion in commitment appropriations for essential programmes that EU governments had cut, arguing that these reductions harm key initiatives such as Erasmus+ and EU4Health.
In the areas of research and infrastructure, MEPs are advocating for increased allocations for Horizon Europe by £60 million and for transport and energy networks by £80 million to foster competitiveness, job creation, and cross-border infrastructure. They are also pushing for an additional £5 million each for health and education through EU4Health and Erasmus+, respectively.
In response to rising food prices and food security concerns, MEPs are calling for increased support for young farmers with an additional £23 million, along with other priorities under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund, which they want to bolster by £40 million. They propose adding £30 million to the Civil Protection Mechanism to enhance coordination and disaster response. MEPs emphasize the importance of military mobility and suggest an additional £35 million in funding for it, considering its crucial role in EU defence preparedness.
Furthermore, MEPs are advocating for an additional £35 million for the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood and a £25 million increase for the Eastern Neighbourhood. They propose a £50 million boost in humanitarian aid to address geopolitical instability and accelerating global humanitarian crises caused by climate change.
The EU is also facing an unexpected £4.2 billion overrun in borrowing costs for the NextGenerationEU recovery package in 2026. MEPs insist this should not lead to reduced funding for essential programmes like Erasmus+ or EU4health. They are seeking to reverse the cuts made by EU governments and emphasize the need for a ‘cascade mechanism’ to manage these borrowing costs effectively.
An accompanying resolution was adopted with 384 votes in favour, 202 against, and 58 abstentions, summarizing the Parliament’s position. Andrzej Halicki, the general rapporteur for the EU’s 2026 budget, highlighted the budget as a vital investment tool for addressing citizens’ calls for security and unity, while Matja‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¾ Nemec, rapporteur for other sections, emphasized the need for resources to meet growing responsibilities in facing geopolitical challenges.
As the plenary vote launches negotiations with the Council, the first round of talks is expected to commence on 4 November, aiming for an agreement on next year’s budget before year-end. The EU budget, which supports people and projects across member states, remains relatively small compared to national budgets, serving 450 million Europeans with an annual range of £160-200 billion during 2021-27.