The next EU budget must match Europe’s strategic ambitions

If Europe is to become safer, more competitive, and more autonomous, a moderate, targeted increase in resources will be required, writes Siegfried Mureșan in an exclusive op-ed for EUalive.

MEP Siegfried Mureșan (EPP, Romania) is European Parliament’s co-rapporteur for the next long-term EU Budget

Expectations surrounding the next long-term EU budget (MFF) post-2027 are growing – and rightly so. The next financial framework must rise to the challenges we face and provide the best solutions for strengthening Europe, to the benefit of our people, regions, and enterprises. The European Commission is expected to present its draft proposal in the coming weeks, setting the tone for the political debate ahead.

Ahead of this proposal, we in the European Parliament – as the EU’s democratic, co-legislative, and budgetary institution – have set out our clear priorities and positions.

First and foremost, the EU budget must be rooted in a common European vision, not reduced to a collection of 27 fragmented national agendas. A model based on disconnected national plans – excluding regional and local actors and lacking a European perspective – would undermine shared objectives and erode the very principle of EU solidarity.

Sectors such as agriculture, research, and regional development should not be forced to compete for the same pot of funds. These sectors serve distinct missions, and it would be profoundly unfair if farmers lost funding simply because their government failed to implement a technical reform.

Agriculture, fisheries, and cohesion should have separate structures and dedicated envelopes. Food security is a key pillar of Europe’s strategic autonomy. Therefore, our Common Agricultural Policy should benefit from a dedicated budget – at least maintained at its current level and adjusted for inflation – to avoid a reduction in the real value of support for farmers.

Cohesion policy must remain a core part of the MFF. It should continue supporting economic, social, and territorial convergence, while adapting to new challenges such as housing and demographic shifts. This calls for maintaining current funding levels in real terms and ensuring all regions receive targeted support.

We need a future-proof budget: one that is flexible, efficient, and capable of responding quickly in times of crisis.

Defence must become a top priority for the next EU budget. With an increasingly aggressive Russia, security challenges at our borders, and a less engaged United States, Europe must act decisively to defend its citizens. Advancing a genuine European Defence Union – through joint procurement, shared capabilities, and greater coordination – can deliver more impact than isolated national initiatives. One euro spent at EU level in defence generates greater value than the same euro spent alone.

In parallel, the EU must remain focused on boosting competitiveness. Supporting job creation and economic resilience is essential in a fast-changing global environment.

The next EU budget should also help Europe prepare for future enlargement. The stability, security, and democratic resilience of candidate countries are closely tied to the EU’s own. The MFF must provide tailored pre-accession support – through a mix of grants and loans – linked to robust conditionality based on core European values, including the rule of law, judicial independence, and democratic standards.

As part of a more modern MFF toolbox, we also propose creating a new internal market facility – focused on targeted investments needed to improve the functioning of the single market, as recommended in the Draghi Report.

However, more ambition means more resources. We cannot expect the EU budget to deliver more while cutting back. If Europe is to become safer, more competitive, and more autonomous, a moderate, targeted increase in resources will be required – especially in areas such as defence, innovation, and external action.

To fund these priorities, new own resources will be essential. These must be carefully designed to avoid placing additional burdens on citizens or businesses, while ensuring the Union has the means to deliver.

Finally, responsibility must accompany ambition. Access to EU funds must remain conditional on the respect for fundamental European values, such as the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. Transparency, accountability, and democratic oversight must underpin the entire framework.

The EU budget is not just a technical exercise in numbers. It is a political instrument that defines our priorities and reflects our choices. And the choices we make today will shape the Europe we leave to future generations.

Disclaimer: EUalive doesn’t necessarily share the opinion of the guest authors and is open to publishing other views on the same topic.

Caption: Siegfried Mureșan, Press conference on the Implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility, 18 June 2025. [European Parliament Multimedia Centre]