REPORT on a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world

25.4.2025 - (2024/2051(INI))

Committee on Budgets
Rapporteurs: Siegfried Mureşan, Carla Tavares

PR_INI

Amendments

• 001-004 (PDF - 115 KB)
• 001-004 (DOC - 42 KB)
• 005-005 (PDF - 113 KB)
• 005-005 (DOC - 40 KB)
• 006-006 (PDF - 107 KB)
• 006-006 (DOC - 39 KB)
• 007-007/REV1 (PDF - 112 KB)
• 007-007/REV1 (DOC - 39 KB)
• 008-012 (PDF - 124 KB)
• 008-012 (DOC - 41 KB)
• 013-018 (PDF - 128 KB)
• 013-018 (DOC - 43 KB)
• 019-019 (PDF - 99 KB)
• 019-019 (DOC - 38 KB)

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

on a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world

(2024/2051(INI))

 

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Articles 311, 312, 323 and 324 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),

– having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027[1] and to the joint declarations agreed between Parliament, the Council and the Commission in this context and the related unilateral declarations,

– having regard to Council Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053 of 14 December 2020 on the system of own resources of the European Union and repealing Decision 2014/335/EU, Euratom[2],

– having regard to the amended Commission proposal of 23 June 2023 for a Council decision amending Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053 on the system of own resources of the European Union (COM(2023)0331),

– having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources[3] (the IIA),

– having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2024 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (recast)[4] (the Financial Regulation),

– having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2020 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget[5] (the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation),

– having regard to its position of 27 February 2024 on the draft Council regulation amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027[6],

– having regard to its resolution of 10 May 2023 on own resources: a new start for EU finances, a new start for Europe[7],

– having regard to its resolution of 15 December 2022 on upscaling the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework: a resilient EU budget fit for new challenges[8],

– having regard to its position of 16 December 2020 on the draft Council regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027[9],

– having regard to the Interinstitutional Proclamation on the European Pillar of Social Rights of 13 December 2017[10] and to the Commission Action Plan of 4 March 2021 on the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights (COM(2021)0102),

– having regard to the Agreement adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15) in Montreal on 19 December 2022 (Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework),

– having regard to the Agreement adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP 21) in Paris on 12 December 2015 (the Paris Agreement),

– having regard to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,

– having regard to the report of 30 October 2024 by Sauli Niinistö entitled ‘Safer together – strengthening Europe’s civilian and military preparedness and readiness’ (the Niinistö report),

– having regard to the report of 9 September 2024 by Mario Draghi entitled ‘The future of European competitiveness’ (the Draghi report),

– having regard to the report of 4 September 2024 of the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture entitled ‘A shared prospect for farming and food in Europe’,

– having regard to the report of 17 April 2024 by Enrico Letta entitled ‘Much more than a market – speed, security, solidarity: empowering the Single Market to deliver a sustainable future and prosperity for all EU Citizens’ (the Letta report),

– having regard to the report of 20 February 2024 of the High-Level Group on the Future of Cohesion Policy entitled ‘Forging a sustainable future together – cohesion for a competitive and inclusive Europe’,

– having regard to the Budapest Declaration on the New European Competitiveness Deal,

– having regard to the joint communication of 26 March 2025 entitled ‘European Preparedness Union Strategy’ (JOIN(2025)0130),

– having regard to the joint white paper of 19 March 2025 entitled ‘European Defence Readiness 2030’ (JOIN(2025)0120),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 7 March 2025 entitled ‘A Roadmap for Women’s Rights’ (COM(2025)0097),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 26 February 2025 entitled ‘The Clean Industrial Deal: a joint roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation’ (COM(2025)0085),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 19 February 2025 entitled ‘A Vision for Agriculture and Food’ (COM(2025)0075),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 11 February 2025 entitled ‘The road to the next multiannual financial framework’ (COM(2025)0046),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 29 January 2025 entitled ‘A Competitiveness Compass for the EU’ (COM(2025)0030),

– having regard to the Commission communication of 9 December 2021 entitled ‘Building an economy that works for people: an action plan for the social economy’ (COM(2021)0778),

– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 20 March 2025, 6 March 2025 and 19 December 2024,

– having regard to the political guidelines of 18 July 2024 for the next European Commission 2024-2029,

– having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 20 November 2024 entitled ‘EU budget and place-based policies: proposals for new design and delivery mechanisms in the MFF post-2027’[11],

– having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the opinions of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Development, the Committee on Budgetary Control, the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection, the Committee on Transport and Tourism, the Committee on Regional Development, the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, the Committee on Culture and Education, the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, and the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A10-0076/2025),

A. whereas, under Article 311 TFEU, the Union is required to provide itself with the means necessary to attain its objectives and carry through its policies;

B. whereas the Union budget is primarily an investment tool that can achieve economies of scale unattainable at Member State level and support European public goods, in particular through cross-border projects; whereas all spending through the Union budget must provide European added value and deliver discernible net benefits compared to spending at national or sub-national level, leading to real and lasting results;

C. whereas spending through the Union budget, if effectively targeted, aligned with the Union’s political priorities and better coordinated with spending at national level, helps to avoid fragmentation in the single market, promote upwards convergence, decrease inequalities and boost the overall impact of public investment; whereas public investment is essential as a catalyst for private investment in sectors where the market alone cannot drive the required investment;

D. whereas the NextGenerationEU recovery instrument (NGEU) established in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic enabled significant additional investment capacity of EUR 750 billion in 2018 prices – beyond the Union budget, which amounts to 1.1 % of the EU-27’s gross national income (GNI) – prompting a swift recovery and return to growth and supporting the green and digital transitions; whereas NGEU will not be in place post-2027;

E.  whereas in 2022 Member States spent an average of 1.4 % of gross domestic product (GDP) on State aid – significantly more than their contribution to the Union budget – with over half of the State aid unrelated to crises;

F. whereas the Union budget, bolstered by NGEU and loans through the SURE scheme, has been instrumental in alleviating the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 crisis and in responding to the effects of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; whereas the Union budget remains ill-equipped, in terms of size, structure and rules, to fully play its role in adjusting to evolving spending needs, addressing shocks and responding to crises and giving practical effect to the principle of solidarity, and to enable the Union to fulfil its objectives as established under the Treaties;

G. whereas people rightly expect more from the Union and its budget, including the capacity to respond quickly and effectively to evolving needs and to provide them with the necessary support, especially in times of crisis;

H. whereas, since the adoption of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF), the political, economic and social context has changed beyond recognition, compounding underlying structural challenges for the Union and leading to a substantial revision of the MFF in 2024;

I. whereas the context in which the Commission will prepare its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, with the established global and geopolitical order changing quickly and radically, the return of large-scale warfare in the Union’s immediate neighbourhood, a highly challenging economic and social backdrop and the worsening climate and biodiversity crisis; whereas, as the Commission has made clear, the status quo is not an option and the Union budget will need to change accordingly;

J. whereas the US administration has decided to retreat from the country’s post-war global role in guaranteeing peace and security, in leading on global governance in the rules-based, multilateral international order and in providing essential development and humanitarian aid to those most in need around the world; whereas the Union will therefore have to step up to fill part of the void the US appears set to leave, placing additional demands on the budget;

K. whereas the Union has committed to take all the steps needed to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at the latest and to protect nature and reverse biodiversity loss; whereas delivering on the policy framework put in place to achieve this objective will require substantial investment; whereas the Union budget will have to play a key role in providing and incentivising that investment;

L. whereas, in order to compensate for the budget’s shortcomings, there have been numerous workaround solutions that make the budget more opaque, leaving the public in the dark about the real volume of Union spending, undermining the longer-term predictability of investment the budget is designed to provide and undercutting not only the principle of budget unity, but also Parliament’s role as a legislator and budgetary and discharge authority and in holding the executive to account;

M. whereas the Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities; whereas breaches of those values undermine the cohesion of the Union, erode the rights of Union citizens and weaken mutual trust among Member States;

1. Insists that, in a fast changing world where people rightly expect more from the Union and its budget and where the Union is confronted with a growing number of crises, the next MFF must be endowed with increased resources compared to the 2021-2027 period, moving away from the historically restrictive, self-imposed level of 1 % of GNI;

2. Underscores that the next MFF must focus on financing European public goods with discernible added value compared to national spending; highlights the need for enhanced synergies and better coordination between Union and national spending; emphasises that spending will have to address major challenges, such as the return of large-scale warfare in the Union’s immediate neighbourhood, a highly challenging economic and social backdrop, a competitiveness gap and the worsening climate and biodiversity crisis;

3. Considers that the ‘one national plan per Member State’ approach as envisaged by the Commission, with the Recovery and Resilience Facility model as a blueprint, cannot be the basis for shared management spending post-2027; underlines that the design of shared management spending under the next MFF must fully safeguard Parliament’s roles as legislator and budgetary and discharge authority and be designed and implemented through close collaboration with regional and local authorities and all relevant stakeholders;

4. Calls for the next MFF to continue support for economic, social and territorial cohesion in order to help bind the Union together, deepen the single market, promote convergence and reduce inequality, poverty and social exclusion;

5. Considers that the idea of an umbrella Competitiveness Fund merging existing programmes as envisaged by the Commission is not fit for purpose; stresses that the fund should instead be a new instrument taking advantage of a toolbox of funding based on lessons learned from InvestEU and the Innovation Fund and complementing existing, highly successful programmes;

6. Stresses that, in particular in the light of the US’s retreat from its role as a global guarantor of peace and security, there is a clear need to progress towards a genuine Defence Union, with the next MFF supporting a comprehensive security approach through an increase in investment; stresses that defence spending cannot come at the expense of nor lead to a reduction in long-term investment in the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the Union;

7. Calls for genuine simplification for final beneficiaries by avoiding programmes with overlapping objectives, diverging eligibility criteria and different rules governing horizontal provisions; underlines that simplification cannot mean more leeway for the Commission without the necessary checks and balances and must therefore be achieved with full respect for the institutional balance provided for in the Treaties;

8. Insists on enhanced in-built crisis response capacity in the next MFF and sufficient margins under each heading; stresses that, alongside predictability for investment, spending programmes should retain a substantial in-built flexibility reserve, with allocation to specific policy objectives to be decided by the budgetary authority; underlines that flexibility for humanitarian aid should be ring-fenced; considers that the post-2027 MFF should include two special instruments – one dedicated to ensuring solidarity in the event of natural disasters and one for general-purpose crisis response;

9. Underlines that compliance with Union values and fundamental rights is an essential pre-requisite to access EU funds; insists that the Union budget be protected against misuse, fraud and breaches of the principle of the rule of law and calls for a stronger link between the rule of law and the Union budget post-2027;

10. Underlines that the repayment of NGEU borrowing must not endanger the financing of EU policies and priorities; stresses, therefore, that all costs related to borrowing backed by the Union budget or the budgetary headroom be treated distinctly from appropriations for EU programmes within the future MFF architecture;

11. Calls on the Council to adopt new own resources as a matter of urgency in order to enable sustainable repayment of NGEU borrowing; stresses that new genuine own resources, beyond the IIA, are essential for the Union’s higher spending needs; considers that all instruments and tools should be explored in order to provide the Union with the necessary resources, and considers, in this respect, that joint borrowing presents a viable option to ensure that the Union has sufficient resources to respond to acute Union-wide crises, such as the ongoing crisis in the area of security and defence;

12. Stands ready to work constructively with the Council and Commission to deliver a long-term budget that addresses the Union’s needs; highlights that the post-2027 MFF is being constructed in a far from ‘business as usual’ context and takes seriously its institutional role as enshrined in the Treaties; insists that it will only approve a long-term budget that is fit for purpose for the Union in a changing world and calls for swift adoption of the MFF to enable timely implementation of spending programmes from 1 January 2028;

A long-term budget with a renewed spending focus

13. Considers that, in view of the structural challenges facing the Union, the post-2027 MFF should adjust its spending focus to ensure that the Union can meet its strategic policy aims as detailed below;

 

Competitiveness, strategic autonomy, social, economic and territorial cohesion and resilience

14. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness, decarbonising the economy and enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth and a thriving, more resilient economy and society;

15. Considers that the Union must develop a competitiveness framework in line with its own values and political aims and that competitiveness must foster not only economic growth, but also social, economic and territorial cohesion and environmental sustainability as underlined in both the Draghi and Letta reports;

16. Underlines that, as spelt out in the Letta and Draghi reports, the European economy and social model are under intense strain, with the productivity, competitiveness and skills gap having knock-on effects on the quality of jobs and on living standards for Europeans already grappling with high housing, energy and food prices; is concerned that a lack of job opportunities and high costs of living increase the risk of a brain drain away from Europe;

17. Points out that Draghi puts the annual investment gap with respect to innovation and infrastructure at EUR 750-800 billion per year between 2025 and 2030; underlines that the Union budget must play a vital role but it cannot cover that shortfall alone, and that the bulk of the effort will have to come from the private sector - points to the need to exploit synergies between public and private investment, in particular by simplifying and harmonising the EU investment architecture;

18. Stresses that the Union budget must be carefully coordinated with national spending, so as to ensure complementarity, and must be designed such that it can de-risk, mobilise and leverage private investment effectively, enabling start-ups and SMEs to access funds more readily; calls, therefore, for programmes such as InvestEU, which ensures additionality and follows a market-based, demand-driven approach, to be significantly reinforced in the next MFF; considers that financial instruments and budgetary guarantees are an effective use of resources to achieve critical Union policy goals and calls for them to be further simplified;

19. Insists that more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending and de-risking in strategic policy areas, such as climate and, latterly, security and defence projects; calls for an increased risk appetite and ambition from the EIB Group to crowd in investment, based on a strong capital position, and for a reinforced investment partnership to ensure that every euro spent at Union level is used in the most effective manner;

20. Emphasises that funding for research and innovation, including support for basic research, should be significantly increased, should be focused on the Union’s strategic priorities, should continue to be determined by the principle of excellence and should remain merit-based; considers that there should be sufficient resources across the MFF and at national level to fund all high-quality projects throughout the innovation cycle and to achieve the 3 % GDP target for research and development spending by 2030;

21. Stresses that the next MFF, building on the current Connecting Europe Facility, should include much greater, directly managed funding for energy, transport and digital infrastructure, with priority given to cross-border connections and national links with European added value; considers that such infrastructure is an absolute precondition for a successful deepening of the single market and for increasing the Union’s resilience in a changing geopolitical order;

22. Points out that a secure and robust space sector is critical for the Union’s autonomy and sovereignty and therefore needs sustained investment;

23. Underlines that a more competitive, productive and socially inclusive economy helps to generate high-quality, well-paid jobs, thus enhancing people’s standard of living; emphasises that, through programmes such as the European Social Fund+ and Erasmus+, the Union budget can play an important role in supporting education and training systems, enhancing social inclusion, boosting workforce adaptability through reskilling and upskilling, and thus preparing people for employment in a modern economy;

24. Insists that the Union budget should continue to support important economic and job-creating sectors where the Union is already a world leader, such as tourism and the cultural and creative sectors; underscores the need for dedicated funding for tourism, including to implement the EU Strategy for Sustainable Tourism, in the Union budget post-2027; points to the importance of Creative Europe in contributing to Europe’s diversity and competitiveness and in supporting vibrant societies;

25. Stresses that, in order to compete with other major global players, the European economy must also become more competitive and resilient on the supply side by investing more in the Union’s open strategic autonomy through enhanced industrial policy and a focus on strategic sectors, resource-efficiency and critical technologies to reduce dependence on third countries;

26. Considers that, in light of the above, the idea of an umbrella Competitiveness Fund merging existing programmes as envisaged by the Commission is not fit for purpose; stresses that the fund should instead be a new instrument taking advantage of a toolbox of funding based on lessons learned from InvestEU and the Innovation Fund; recalls that, under Article 182 TFEU, the Union is required to adopt a framework programme for research;

27. Notes that, in the Commission communication on the competitiveness compass, the Commission argues that a new competitiveness coordination tool should be established in order to better align industrial and research policies and investment between EU and national level; notes that the proposed new tool is envisaged as part of a ‘new, lean steering mechanism’ designed ‘to reinforce the link between overall policy coordination and the EU budget’; insists that Parliament must play a full decision-making role in both mechanisms;

28. Emphasises that food security is a vital component of strategic autonomy and that the next MFF must continue to support the competitiveness and resilience of the Union’s farming and fisheries sectors, including small-scale and young farmers and fishers, and help the sectors to better protect the climate and biodiversity, as well as the seas and oceans; highlights that a modern and simplified common agricultural policy is crucial for increasing productivity through technical progress, ensuring a fair standard of living for farmers, guaranteeing food security and the production of safe, high-quality and affordable food for Europeans, fostering generational renewal and ensuring the viability of rural areas;

29. Points out that the farming sector is particularly vulnerable to inflationary shocks which affect farmers’ purchasing power; calls for adequate and predictable funding for the common agricultural policy in the next MFF;

30. Recalls that social, economic and territorial cohesion is a cornerstone of European integration and is vital in binding the Union together and deepening the single market; reaffirms, in that respect, the importance of the convergence process; underlines that a modernised cohesion policy must follow a decentralised, place-based, multilevel governance approach and be built around the shared management and partnership principle, fully involving local and regional authorities and relevant stakeholders, ensuring that resources are directed where they are most needed to reduce regional disparities;

31. Stresses that cohesion policy funding must tackle the key challenges the Union faces, such as demographic change and depopulation, and target the regions and people most in need; calls, furthermore, for enhanced access to EU funding for cities, regions and urban authorities;

32. Recalls the importance of the social dimension of the European Union and of promoting the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, its Action Plan and headline targets; emphasises that the Union budget should, therefore, play a pivotal role in reducing inequality, poverty and social exclusion, including by supporting children, families and vulnerable groups; recalls that around 20 million children in the Union are at risk of poverty and social exclusion; stresses that addressing child poverty across the Union requires appropriately funded, comprehensive and integrated measures, together with the efficient implementation of the European Child Guarantee at national level; emphasises that Parliament has consistently requested a dedicated budget within the ESF+ to support the Child Guarantee as a central pillar of the EU anti-poverty strategy;

33. Highlights, in this regard, the EU-wide housing crisis affecting millions of families and young people; stresses the need for enhanced support for housing through the Union budget, in particular via cohesion policy, and through other funding sources, such as the EIB Group and national promotional banks; acknowledges that, while Union financing cannot solve the housing crisis alone, it can play a crucial role in financing urgent measures and complementing broader Union and national efforts to improve housing affordability and enhance energy efficiency of the housing stock;

34. Points out that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has had substantial economic and social consequences, in particular in Member States bordering Russia and Belarus; insists that the next MFF provide support to these regions;

The green and digital transitions

35. Highlights that the green and digital transitions are inextricably linked to competitiveness, the modernisation of the economy and the resilience of society and act as catalysts for a future-oriented and resource-efficient economy; insists therefore, that the post-2027 MFF must continue to support and to further accelerate the twin transitions;

36. Recalls that the Union budget is an essential contributor to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, including through support for the 2030 and 2040 targets; underlines that the transition will require a decarbonisation of the economy, in particular through the deployment of clean technologies, improved energy and transport infrastructure and more energy-efficient housing; notes that the Commission estimates additional investment needs to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at 1.5 % of GDP per year compared to the decade 2011-2020 and that, while the Union budget alone cannot cover the gap, it must remain a vital contributor; calls, therefore, for increased directly managed support for environment and biodiversity protection and climate action building on the current LIFE programme;

37. Underlines that industry will be central in the transition to net zero and the establishment of the Energy Union, and that support will be needed in helping some industrial sectors and their workers to adapt; stresses the importance of a just transition that must leave no one behind, requiring, inter alia, investment in regions that are heavily fossil-fuel dependent and increased support for vulnerable households, in particular through the Just Transition Mechanism and the Social Climate Fund;

38. Points to the profound technological shift under way, with technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum both creating opportunities, in terms of the Union’s economic potential and global leadership and improvements to citizens’ lives, and posing reliability, ethical and sovereignty challenges; stresses that the next MFF must support research into, and the development and safe application of digital technologies and help people to hone the knowledge and skills they need to work with and use them;

Security, defence and preparedness

39. Recalls that peace and security are the foundation for the Union’s prosperity, social model and competitiveness, and a vital pillar of the Union’s geopolitical standing; stresses that the next MFF must support a comprehensive security approach by investing significantly more in safeguarding the Union against the myriad threats it faces;

40. Underlines that, as the Niinistö report makes clear, multiple threats are combining to heighten instability and increase the Union’s vulnerability, chief among them the fragmenting global order, the security threat posed by Russia and Belarus, growing tensions globally, hostile international actors, the globalisation of criminal networks, hybrid campaigns – which include cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation, disinformation and interference and the instrumentalisation of migration – increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events as a result of climate change, and health threats;

41. Points out that the Union has played a vital role in achieving lasting peace on its territory and must continue to do so by adjusting to the reality of war on its doorstep and the need to vastly boost defence infrastructure, capabilities and readiness, including through the Union budget, going far beyond the current allocation of less than 2 % of the MFF;

42. Notes that European defence capabilities suffer from decades of under-investment and that, according to the Commission, the defence spending gap currently stands at EUR 500 billion for the next decade; underlines that the Union budget alone cannot fill the gap, but has an important role to play, in conjunction with national budgets and with a focus on clear EU added value; considers that the Union budget and lending through the EIB Group can help incentivise investment in defence; stresses that defence spending must not come at the expense of social and environmental spending, nor must it lead to a reduction in funding for long-standing Union policies that have proved their worth over time;

43. Underlines the merits of the defence programmes and instruments put in place during the current MFF, which have enhanced joint research, production and procurement in the field of defence, providing a valuable foundation on which to build further Union policy and investment;

44. Emphasises that, given the geopolitical situation, there is a clear need to act and to progress towards a genuine Defence Union, in coordination with NATO and in full alignment with the neutrality commitments of individual Member States; concurs, in that regard, with the Commission’s analysis that the next MFF must provide a comprehensive and robust framework in support of EU defence;

45. Underscores the importance of a competitive and resilient European defence technological and industrial base; considers that enhanced joint EU-level investment in defence in the next MFF backed up by a clear and transparent governance structure can help to avoid duplication, generate economies of scale, and thus significant savings for Member States, reduce fragmentation and ensure the interoperability of equipment and systems; underscores the importance of technology in modern defence systems and therefore of investing in research, cyber-defence and cybersecurity and in dual-use products; points to the need to direct support towards the defence industry within the Union, thus strengthening strategic autonomy, creating quality high-skilled jobs, driving innovation and creating cross-border opportunities for EU businesses, including SMEs;

46. Points to the importance of increasing support in the budget for military mobility, which upgrades infrastructure for dual-use military and civilian purposes, enabling the large-scale movement of military equipment and personnel at short notice and thus contributing to the Union’s defence capabilities and collective security; highlights, in that regard, the importance of financing for the trans-European transport networks to enable their adaptation for dual-use purposes;

47. Emphasises that the Union needs to ramp up funding for preparedness across the board; is alarmed by the growing impact of natural disasters, which are often the result of climate change and are therefore likely to occur with greater frequency and intensity in the future; points out that, according to the 2024 European Climate Risk Assessment Report, cumulated economic losses from natural disasters could reach about 1.4 % of Union GDP;

48. Underlines, therefore, that, in addition to efforts to mitigate climate change through the green transition, significant investment is required to adapt to climate change, in particular to prevent and reduce the impact of natural disasters and severe weather events; considers that support for this purpose, such as through the current Union Civil Protection Mechanism, must be significantly increased in the next MFF and made available quickly to local and regional authorities, which are often on the frontline;

49. Emphasises that reconstruction and recovery measures after natural disasters must be based on the ‘build back better’ approach and prioritise nature-based solutions; stresses the importance of sustainable water management and security and hydric resilience as part of the Union’s overall preparedness strategy;

50. Recalls that the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked economic and social havoc globally and that a key lesson from the experience is that there is a need to prioritise investment in prevention of, preparedness for and response to health threats, in medical research and disease prevention, in access to critical medicines, in healthcare infrastructure, in physical and mental health and in the resilience and accessibility of public health systems in the Union; recalls that strategic autonomy in health is key to ensuring the Union’s preparedness in this area;

51. Considers that the next MFF must build on the work done in the current programming period by ensuring that the necessary investment is in place to build a genuine European Health Union that delivers for all citizens;

52. Underlines that, with technological developments, it has become easier for malicious and opportunistic foreign actors to spread disinformation, encourage online hate speech, interfere in elections and mount cyberattacks against the Union’s interests; insists that the next MFF must invest in enhanced cybersecurity capabilities and equip the Union to counter hybrid warfare in its various guises;

53. Stresses that a free, independent and pluralistic media is a fundamental component of Europe’s resilience, safeguarding not only the free flow of information but also a democratic mindset, critical thinking and informed decision-making; points to the importance of investment in independent and investigative journalism, fact-checking initiatives, digital and media literacy and critical thinking to safeguard against disinformation, foreign information manipulation and electoral interference as part of the European Democracy Shield initiative and therefore to guarantee democratic resilience; underscores the need for continued Union budget support for initiatives in these areas;

54. Underscores the importance of continued funding, in the next MFF, for effective protection of the EU’s external borders; underlines the need to counter transnational criminal networks and better protect victims of trafficking networks, and to strengthen resilience and response capabilities to address hybrid attacks and the instrumentalisation of migration, by third countries or hostile non-state actors; highlights, in particular, the need for support to frontline Member States for the purposes of securing the external borders of the EU;

55. Underlines that the EU’s resilience and preparedness are inextricably linked to those of its regional and global partners; emphasises that strengthening partners’ capacity to prevent, withstand and effectively respond to extreme weather events, health crises, hybrid campaigns, cyberattacks or armed conflict also lowers the risk of spill-over effects for Europe;

External action and enlargement

56. Insists that, in a context of heightened global instability, the Union must continue to engage constructively with third countries and support peace, and conflict prevention, stability, prosperity, security, human rights, the rule of law, equality, democracy and sustainable development globally, in line with its global responsibility values and international commitments;

57. Regrets the fact that external action in the current MFF has been underfunded, leading to significant recourse to special instruments and substantial reinforcements in the mid-term revision; notes, in particular, that humanitarian aid funding has been woefully inadequate, prompting routine use of the Emergency Aid Reserve;

58. Underlines that the US’s retreat from its post-war global role in guaranteeing peace, security and democracy, in leading on global governance in the rules-based, multilateral international order and in providing essential development and humanitarian aid to those most in need around the world will leave an enormous gap and that the Union has a responsibility and overwhelming strategic interest in helping to fill that gap; calls on the Commission to address the consequences of the US’s retreat at the latest in its proposal for the post-2027 MFF;

59. Stresses that the next MFF must continue to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change, to providing relief in the event of natural disasters, preventing and addressing violent conflict and guaranteeing global security, ensuring global food security, improving healthcare and education systems, reducing poverty and inequality, promoting democracy, human rights, the rule of law and social justice and boosting competitiveness and the security of global supply chains, in full compliance with the principle of policy coherence for development; emphasises, in particular, the need for support for the Union’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods;

60. Underlines that, in particular in light of the drastic cuts to the USAID budget, the budget must uphold the Union’s role as the world’s leading provider of development aid and climate finance in line with the Union’s global obligations and commitments; recalls, in that regard, that the Union and its Member States have collectively committed to allocating 0.7 % of their GNI to official development assistance and that poverty alleviation must remain its primary objective; insists that the budget must continue to support the Union in its efforts to defend the rules-based international order, democracy, multilateralism, human rights and fundamental values;

61. Insists that, given the unprecedented scale of humanitarian crises, mounting global challenges and uncertainty of US assistance under the current administration, humanitarian aid funding must be significantly enhanced and that its use must remain solely needs-based and respect the principles of neutrality, independence and impartiality; emphasises that the needs-based nature of humanitarian aid requires ring-fenced funding delivered through a stand-alone spending programme, distinct from other external action financing; underscores, furthermore, that effective humanitarian aid provision is contingent on predictability through a sufficient annual baseline allocation;

62. Emphasises that humanitarian aid, by its very nature, requires substantial flexibility and response capacity; considers, therefore, that, in addition to an adequate baseline figure, humanitarian aid will require significant ring-fenced flexibility in its design to enable an effective response to the growing crises;

63. Emphasises that, in a context in which global actors are increasingly using trade interdependence as a means of economic coercion, the Union must bolster its capacity to protect and advance its own strategic interests, develop more robust tools to counter coercion and ensure genuine reciprocity in its partnerships; stresses that such an approach requires the strategic allocation of external financing so as to support, for example, economic, security and energy partnerships that align with the Union’s values and strategic interests;

64. Considers that enlargement represents an opportunity to strengthen the Union as a geopolitical power and that the next MFF is pivotal for preparing the Union for enlargement and the candidate countries for accession; recalls that the stability, security and democratic resilience of the candidate countries are inextricably connected to those of the EU and require sustained strategic investment, linked to reforms, to support their convergence with Union standards; underlines the important role that citizens and civil society organisations play in the process of enlargement;

65. Points to the need for strategically targeted support for pre-accession and for growth and investment; is of the view that post-2027 pre-accession assistance should be provided in the form of both grants and loans; believes, in that context, that the future framework should allow for innovative financing mechanisms, as well as lending to candidate countries backed by the budgetary headroom (the difference between the own resources and the MFF ceilings);

66. Stresses that financial support must be conditional on the implementation of reforms aligned with the Union acquis and policies and adherence to Union values; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a strong governance model that ensures parliamentary accountability, oversight and control and a strong, effective anti-fraud architecture;

67. Reiterates its full support for Ukrainians in their fight for freedom and democracy and deplores the terrible suffering and impact resulting from Russia’s unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression; welcomes the decision to grant Ukraine and the neighbouring Republic of Moldova candidate country status and insists on the need to deploy the necessary funds to support their accession processes;

68. Underlines that pre-accession support to Ukraine has to be distinct from and additional to financial assistance for macroeconomic stability, reconstruction and post-war recovery, where needs are far more substantial and require a concerted international effort, of which support through the Union budget should be an important part;

69. Is convinced that the existing mandatory revision clause in the event of enlargement should be maintained in the next framework and that national envelopes should not be affected; underlines that the next MFF will also have to put in place appropriate transitional and phasing-in measures for key spending areas, such as cohesion and agriculture, based on a careful assessment of the impacts on different sectors;

Fundamental rights, Union values and the rule of law

70. Emphasises the importance of the Union budget and programmes like Erasmus+ and Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values in promoting and protecting democracy and the Union’s values, fostering the Union’s common cultural heritage and European integration, enhancing citizen engagement, civic education and youth participation, safeguarding and promoting fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the rule of law; calls, in this regard, for increased funding for Erasmus+ in the next MFF; points to the importance of the independence of the justice system, the sound functioning of national institutions, de-oligarchisation, robust support for and, in line with article 11(2) TEU, an active dialogue with civil society, which is vital for fostering an active civic space, ensuring accountability and transparency and informing policymakers about best practices from the ground;

71. Highlights, in that connection, that the recast of the Financial Regulation requires the Commission and the Member States, in the implementation of the budget, to ensure compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights and to respect the values on which the Union is founded, which are enshrined in Article 2 TEU; expects the Commission to ensure that the proposals for the next MFF, including for the spending programmes, are aligned with the Financial Regulation recast;

72. Stresses that instability in neighbouring regions and beyond, poverty, underlying trends in economic development, demographic changes and climate change, continue to generate migration flows towards the Union, placing significant pressure on asylum and migration systems; underlines that the post-2027 MFF must support the full and swift implementation of the Union’s Asylum and Migration Pact and effective return and readmission policies, in line with fundamental rights and EU values, including the principle of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility; underlines, moreover, that, in line with the Pact, the EU must pursue enhanced cooperation and mutually beneficial partnerships with third countries on migration, with adequate parliamentary scrutiny, and that such cooperation must abide by EU and international law;

73. Underlines that compliance with Union values and fundamental rights is an essential pre-requisite to access EU funds; highlights the importance of strong links between respect for the rule of law and access to EU funds under the current MFF; believes that the protection of the Union’s financial interests depends on respect for the rule of law at national level; welcomes, in particular, the positive impact of the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation in protecting the Union’s financial interests in cases of systemic and persistent breaches of the rule of law; calls on the Commission and the Council to apply the regulation strictly, consistently and without undue delay wherever necessary; emphasises that decisions to suspend or reduce Union funding over breaches of the rule of law must be based on objective criteria and not be guided by other considerations, nor be the outcome of negotiations;

74. Points to the need for a stronger link between the rule of law and the Union budget post-2027 and welcomes the Commission’s commitment to bolster links between the recommendations in the annual rule of law report and access to funds through the budget; calls on the Commission to outline, in the annual rule of law report from 2025 onwards, the extent to which identified weaknesses in rule of law regimes potentially pose a risk to the Union budget; welcomes, furthermore, the link between respect for Union values and the implementation of the budget and calls on the Commission to actively monitor Member States’ compliance with this principle in a unified manner and to take swift action in the event of non-compliance;

75. Calls for the consolidation of a robust rule of law toolbox, building on the current conditionality provisions under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), the horizontal enabling conditions in the Common Provisions Regulation and the relevant provisions of the Financial Regulation and insists that the toolbox should cover the entire Union budget; underlines the need for far greater transparency and consistency with regard to the application of tools to protect the rule of law and for Parliament’s role to be strengthened in the application and scrutiny of such measures; insists, furthermore, on the need for consistency across instruments when assessing breaches of the rule of law in Member States;

76. Recalls that the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation provides that final recipients should not be deprived of the benefits of EU funds in the event of sanctions being applied to their government; believes that, to date, this provision has not been effective and stresses the importance of applying a smart conditionality approach so that beneficiaries are not penalised because of their government’s actions; calls on the Commission, in line with its stated intention in the political guidelines, to propose specific measures to ensure that local and regional authorities, civil society and other beneficiaries can continue to benefit from Union funding in cases of breaches of the rule of law by national governments without weakening the application of the regulation and maintaining the Member State’s obligation to pay under Union law;

 A long-term budget that mainstreams the Union’s policy objectives

77. Stresses that a long-term budget that is fully aligned with the Union’s strategic aims requires that key objectives be mainstreamed across the budget through a set of horizontal principles, building on the lessons from the current MFF and RRF;

78. Recalls that the implementation of horizontal principles should not lead to an excessive administrative burden on beneficiaries and be in line with the principle of proportionality; calls for innovative solutions and the use of automated reporting tools, including artificial intelligence, to achieve more efficient data collection;

79. Underlines, therefore, that the next MFF must ensure that, across the board, spending programmes pursue climate and biodiversity objectives, promote and protect rights and equal opportunities for all, including gender equality, support competitiveness and bolster the Union’s preparedness against threats;

80. Points out that effective mainstreaming is best achieved through a toolbox of measures, primarily through policy, project and regulatory design, thorough impact assessments and solid tracking of spending and, in specific cases, spending targets based on relevant and available data; welcomes the significant improvements in performance reporting in the current MFF, which allow for much better scrutiny of the impact of EU spending and calls for this to be further developed in the next programing period;

81. Welcomes the development of a methodology to track gender-based spending and considers that the lessons learnt, in particular as regards the collection of gender-disaggregated data, the monitoring of implementation and impact and administrative burden, should be applied in the next MFF in order to improve the methodology; calls on the Commission to explore the feasibility of gender budgeting in the next MFF; stresses, in the same vein, the need for a significant improvement in climate and biodiversity mainstreaming methodologies to move towards the measurement of impact;

82. Regrets that the Commission has not systematically conducted thorough impact assessments, including gender impact assessments, for all legislation involving spending through the budget and insists that this change;

83. Is pleased that the climate mainstreaming target of 30 % is projected to be exceeded in the current MFF; regrets, however, that the Union is not on track to meet the 10 % target for 2026 for biodiversity-related expenditure; insists that the targets in the IIA have nevertheless been a major factor in driving climate and biodiversity spending; calls on the Commission to adapt the spending targets contributing positively to climate and biodiversity in line with the Union policy ambitions in this regard, taking into account the investment needs for these policy ambitions;

84. Stresses, furthermore, that the Union budget should be implemented in line with Article 33(2) of the Financial Regulation, therefore without doing significant harm[12] to the specified objectives, respecting applicable working and employment conditions and taking into account the principle of gender equality;

85. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to phase out all fossil fuel subsidies and environmentally harmful subsidies in the next MFF; expects the Commission to come forward with its planned roadmap in this regard as part of its proposal for the next MFF;

A long-term budget with an effective administration at the service of Europeans

86. Underlines the need for Union policies to be underpinned by a well-functioning administration; insists that, post-2027, sufficient financial and staff resources be allocated from the outset so that Union institutions, bodies, decentralised agencies and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office can ensure effective and efficient policy design, high-quality delivery and enforcement, provide technical assistance, continue to attract the best people from all Member States, thus ensuring geographical balance, and have leeway to adjust to changing circumstances;

87. Regrets that the Union’s ability to implement policy effectively and protect its financial interests within the current MFF has been undermined by stretched administrative resources and a dogmatic application of a policy of stable staffing, despite increasing demands and responsibilities; points, for example, to the failure to provide sufficient staff to properly implement and enforce the Digital Services[13] and Digital Markets Acts[14], thus undercutting the legislation’s effectiveness and to the repeated redeployments from programmes to decentralised agencies to cover staffing needs; insists that staffing levels be determined by an objective needs assessment when legislation is proposed and definitively adopted, and factored into planning for administrative expenditure from the outset;

88. Emphasises that the Commission has sought, to some degree, to circumvent its own stable staffing policy by increasing staff attached to programmes and facilities and thus not covered by the administrative spending ceiling; underscores, however, that such an approach merely masks the problem and may ultimately undermine the operational capacity of programmes; insists, therefore, that additional responsibilities require administrative expenditure and must not erode programme envelopes;

89. Stresses that up-front investment in secure and interoperable IT infrastructure and data mining capabilities can also generate longer-term cost savings and hugely enhance policy delivery and tracking of spending;

90. Acknowledges that, in the absence of any correction mechanism in the current MFF, high inflation has significantly driven up statutory costs, requiring extensive use of special instruments to cover the shortfall; regrets that the Council elected not to take up the Commission’s proposal to raise the ceiling for administrative expenditure in the MFF revision, thus further eroding special instruments;

A long-term budget that is simpler and more transparent

91. Stresses that the next MFF must be designed so as to simplify the lives of all beneficiaries by cutting unnecessary red tape; underlines that simplification will require harmonising rules and reporting requirements wherever possible, including, as relevant, ensuring consistency between the applicable rules at European, national and regional levels; underlines, in that respect, the need for a genuine, user-friendly single entry point for EU funding and a simplified application procedure designed in consultation with relevant stakeholders; points out, furthermore, that the next MFF must be implemented as close to people as possible;

92. Calls for genuine simplification where there are overlapping objectives, diverging eligibility criteria and different rules governing horizontal provisions that should be uniform across programmes; considers that an assessment of which spending programmes should be included in the next MFF must be based on the above aspects, on the need to focus spending on clearly identified policy objectives with clear European added value and on the policy intervention logic of each programme; stresses that reducing the number of programmes is not an end in itself;

93. Underlines that simplification cannot mean more leeway for the Commission without the necessary checks and balances and must therefore be achieved with full respect for the institutional balance provided for in the Treaties;

94. Insists that simplification cannot come at the expense of the quality of programme design and implementation and that, therefore, a simpler budget must also be a more transparent budget, enabling better accountability, scrutiny, control of spending and reducing the risks of double funding, misuse and fraud; underlines that any reduction in programmes must be offset by a far more detailed breakdown of the budget by budget line, in contrast to some programme mergers in the current MFF, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI – Global Europe), which is an example not to follow; calls, therefore, for a sufficiently detailed breakdown by budget line to enable the budgetary authority to exercise proper accountability and ensure that decision-making in the annual budgetary procedure and in the course of budget implementation is meaningful;

95. Recalls that transparency is essential to retain citizens’ trust, and that fraud and misuse of funds are extremely detrimental to that trust; underlines, therefore, the need for Parliament to be able to control spending and assess whether discharge can be granted; insists that proper accountability requires robust auditing for all budgetary expenditure based on the application of a single audit trail; calls on the Commission to put in place harmonised and effective anti-fraud mechanisms across funding instruments for the post-2027 MFF that ensure the protection of the Union’s budget;

96. Reiterates its long-standing position that all EU-level spending should be brought within the purview of the budgetary authority, thereby ensuring transparency, democratic control and protection of the Union’s financial interests; calls, therefore, for the full budgetisation of (partially) off-budget instruments such as the Social Climate Fund, the Innovation Fund and the Modernisation Fund, or their successors;

A long-term budget that is more flexible and more responsive to crises and shocks

97. Points out that, traditionally, the MFF has not been conceived with a crisis response or flexibility logic, but rather has been designed primarily to ensure medium-term investment predictability; underlines that, in a rapidly changing political, security, economic and social context, such an approach is no longer tenable; insists on sufficient in-built crisis response capacity in the next MFF;

98. Underscores that the current MFF has been beset by a lack of flexibility and an inability to adjust to evolving spending priorities; considers that the next MFF needs to strike a better balance between investment predictability and flexibility to adjust spending focus; highlights that spending in certain areas requires greater stability than in others where flexibility is more valuable; stresses that recurrent redeployments are not a viable way to finance the Union’s priorities as they damage investments and jeopardise the delivery of agreed policy objectives;

99. Believes that, while allocating a significant portion of funding to objectives up-front, spending programmes should retain a substantial in-built flexibility reserve, with allocation to specific policy objectives to be decided by the budgetary authority; notes that the NDICI – Global Europe’s emerging challenges and priorities cushion provides a model for such a flexibility reserve, but that the decision-making process for its mobilisation must not be replicated in the future MFF; points to the need for stronger, more effective scrutiny powers of the co-legislators over the setting of policy priorities and objectives and a detailed budgetary breakdown to ensure that the budgetary authority is equipped to make meaningful and informed decisions;

100. Underlines that the MFF must have sufficient margins under each heading to ensure that new instruments or spending objectives agreed over the programming period can be accommodated without eroding funding for other policy and long-term strategic objectives or eating into crisis response capacity;

101. Underlines that the possibility for budgetary transfers under the Financial Regulation already provides for flexibility to adjust to evolving spending needs in the course of budget implementation; stresses that, under the current rules, the Commission has significant freedom to transfer considerable amounts between policy areas without budgetary authority approval, which limits scrutiny and control; calls, therefore, for the rules to be changed so as to introduce a maximum amount, in addition to a maximum percentage per budget line, for transfers without approval; considers that for transfers from Union institutions other than the Commission that are subject to a possible duly justified objection by Parliament or the Council, a threshold below which they would be exempt from that procedure could be a useful measure of simplification;

102. Recalls that the current MFF has been placed under further strain due to high levels of inflation in a context where an annual 2 % deflator is applied to 2018 prices, reducing the budget’s real-terms value and squeezing its operational and administrative capacity; considers, therefore, that the future budget should be endowed with sufficient response capacity to enable the budget to adapt to inflationary shocks;

103. Calls for a root-and-branch reform of the existing special instruments to bolster crisis response capacity and ensure an effective and swift reaction through more rapid mobilisation; underlines that the current instruments are both inadequate in size and constrained by excessive rigidity, with several effectively ring-fenced according to crisis type; points out that enhanced crisis response capacity will ensure that cohesion policy funds are not called upon for that purpose and can therefore be used for their intended investment objectives;

104. Considers that the post-2027 MFF should include only two special instruments – one dedicated to ensuring solidarity in the event of natural disasters (the successor to the existing European Solidarity Reserve) and one for general-purpose crisis response and for responding to any unforeseen needs and emerging priorities, including where amounts in the special instrument for natural disasters are insufficient (the successor to the Flexibility Instrument); insists that both special instruments should be adequately funded from the outset and able to carry over unspent amounts indefinitely over the MFF period; believes that all other special instruments can either be wound up or subsumed into the two special instruments or into existing programmes;

105. Calls for the future Flexibility Instrument to be heavily front-loaded and subsequently to be fed through a number of additional sources of financing: unspent margins from previous years (as with the current Single Margin Instrument), the annual surplus from the previous year, a fines-based mechanism modelled on the existing Article 5 of the MFF Regulation, reflows from financial instruments and decommitted appropriations; underlines that the next MFF should be designed such that the future special instruments are not required to cover debt repayment;

106. Underlines that re-use of the surplus, of reflows from financial instruments and surplus provisioning and of decommitments would require amendments to the Financial Regulation;

107. Points out that, with sufficient up-front resources and such arrangements for re-using unused funds, the budget would have far greater response capacity without impinging on the predictability of national GNI-based contributions; insists that an MFF endowed with greater flexibility and response capacity is less likely to require a substantial mid-term revision;

A long-term budget that is more results-focused

108. Emphasises that, in order to maximise impact, it is imperative that spending under the next MFF be much more rigorously aligned with the Union’s strategic policy aims and better coordinated with spending at national level; underlines that, in turn, consultation with regional and local authorities is vital to facilitate access to funding and ensure that Union support meets the real needs of final recipients and delivers tangible benefits for people; underscores the importance of technical assistance to implementing authorities to help ensure timely implementation, additionality of investments and therefore maximum impact;

109. Underlines that, in order to support effective coordination between Union and national spending, the Commission envisages a ‘new, lean steering mechanism’ designed ‘to reinforce the link between overall policy coordination and the EU budget’; insists that Parliament play a full decision-making role in any coordination or steering mechanism;

110. Considers that the RRF, with its focus on performance and links between reforms and investments and budgetary support, has helped to drive national investments and reforms that would not otherwise have taken place;

111. Underlines that the RRF can help to inform the delivery of Union spending under shared management; recalls, however, that the RRF was agreed in the very specific context of the COVID-19 pandemic and cannot, therefore, be replicated wholesale for future investment programmes;

112. Points out that spending under shared management in the next MFF must involve regional and local authorities and all relevant stakeholders from design to delivery through a place-based and multilevel governance approach and in line with an improved partnership principle, ensure the cross-border European dimension of investment projects, and focus on results and impact rather than outputs by setting measurable performance indicators, ensuring availability of relevant data and feeding into programme design and adjustment;

113. Underlines that the design of shared management spending under the next MFF must safeguard Parliament’s role as legislator, budgetary and discharge authority and in holding the executive to account, putting in place strict accountability mechanisms and guaranteeing full transparency in relation to final recipients or groups of recipients of Union spending funds through an interoperable system enabling effective tracking of cash flows and project progress;

114. Considers that the ‘one national plan per Member State’ approach envisaged by the Commission is not in line with the principles set out above and cannot be the basis for shared management spending post-2027; recalls that, in this regard, the Union is required, under Article 175 TFEU, to provide support through instruments for agricultural, regional and social spending;

A long-term budget that manages liabilities sustainably

115. Recalls Parliament’s very firm opposition to subjecting the repayment of NGEU borrowing costs to a cap within an MFF heading given that these costs are subject to market conditions, influenced by external factors and thus inherently volatile, and that the repayment of borrowing costs is a non-discretionary legal obligation; stresses that introducing new own resources is also necessary to prevent future generations from bearing the burden of past debts;

116. Deplores the fact that, under the existing architecture and despite the joint declaration by the three institutions as part of the 2020 MFF agreement whereby expenditure to cover NGEU financing costs ‘shall aim at not reducing programmes and funds’, financing for key Union programmes and resources available for special instruments, even after the MFF revision, have de facto been competing with the repayment of NGEU borrowing costs in a context of steep inflation and rising interest rates; recalls that pressure on the budget driven by NGEU borrowing costs was a key factor in cuts to flagship programmes in the MFF revision;

117. Underlines that, to date, the Union budget has been required only to repay interest related to NGEU and that, from 2028 onwards, the budget will also have to repay the capital; underscores that, according to the Commission, the total costs for NGEU capital and interest repayments are projected to be around EUR 25-30 billion a year from 2028, equivalent to 15-20 % of payment appropriations in the 2025 budget;

118. Acknowledges that, while NGEU borrowing costs will be more stable in the next MFF period as bonds will already have been issued, the precise repayment profile will have an impact on the level of interest and thus on the degree of volatility; insists, therefore, that all costs related to borrowing backed by the Union budget or the budgetary headroom be treated distinctly from appropriations for EU programmes within the MFF architecture;

119. Points, in that regard, to the increasing demand for the Union budget to serve as a guarantee for the Union’s vital support through macro-financial assistance and the associated risks; underlines that, in the event of default or the withdrawal of national guarantees, the Union budget ultimately underwrites all macro-financial assistance loans and therefore bears significant and inherently unpredictable contingent liabilities, notably in relation to Ukraine;

120. Calls, therefore, on the Commission to design a sound and durable architecture that enables sustainable management of all non-discretionary costs and liabilities, fully preserving Union programmes and the budget’s flexibility and response capacity;

A long-term budget that is properly resourced and sustainably financed

121. Underlines that, as described above, the budgetary needs post-2027 will be significantly higher than the amounts allocated to the 2021-2027 MFF and, in addition, will need to cover borrowing costs and debt repayment; insists, therefore, that the next MFF be endowed with significantly increased resources compared to the 2021-2027 period, moving away from the historically restrictive, self-imposed level of 1 % of GNI, which has prevented the Union from delivering on its ambitions and deprived it of the ability to respond to crises and adapt to emerging needs;

122. Considers that all instruments and tools should be explored in order to provide the Union with those resources, in line with its priorities and identified needs; considers, in this respect, that joint borrowing through the issuance of EU bonds presents a viable option to ensure that the Union has sufficient resources to respond to acute Union-wide crises such as the ongoing crisis in the area of security and defence;

123. Reiterates the need for sustainable and resilient revenue for the Union budget; points to the legally binding roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources in the IIA, in which Parliament, the Council and the Commission undertook to introduce sufficient new own resources to at least cover the repayment of NGEU debt; underlines that, overall, the basket of new own resources should be fair, linked to broader Union policy aims and agreed on time and with sufficient volume to meet the heightened budgetary needs;

124. Recalls its support for the amended Commission proposal on the system of own resources; is deeply concerned by the complete absence of progress on the system of own resources in the Council; calls on the Council to adopt this proposal as a matter of urgency; and urges the Commission to spare no effort in supporting the adoption process;

125. Calls furthermore, on the Commission to continue efforts to identify additional innovative and genuine new own resources and other revenue sources beyond those specified in the IIA; stresses that new own resources are essential not only to enable repayment of NGEU borrowing, but to ensure that the Union is equipped to cover its the higher spending needs;

126. Calls on the Commission to design a modernised budget with a renewed spending focus, driven by the need for fairness, greater simplification, a reduced administrative burden and more transparency, including on the revenue side; underlines that existing rebates and corrections automatically expire at the end of the current MFF;

127. Welcomes the decision, in the recast of the Financial Regulation, to treat as negative revenue any interest or other charge due to a third party relating to amounts of fines, other penalties or sanctions that are cancelled or reduced by the Court of Justice; recalls that this solution comes to an end on 31 December 2027; invites the Commission to propose a definitive solution for the next MFF that achieves the same objective of avoiding any impact on the expenditure side of the budget;

A long-term budget grounded in close interinstitutional cooperation

128. Underlines that Parliament intends to fully exercise its prerogatives as legislator, budgetary authority and discharge authority under the Treaties;

129. Recalls that the requirement for close interinstitutional cooperation between the Commission, the Council and Parliament from the early design stages to the final adoption of the MFF is enshrined in the Treaties and further detailed in the IIA;

130. Emphasises Parliament’s commitment to play its role fully throughout the process; believes that the design of the MFF should be bottom-up and based on the extensive involvement of stakeholders; underlines, furthermore, the need for a strategic dialogue among the three institutions in the run-up to the MFF proposals;

131. Calls on the Commission to put forward practical arrangements for cooperation and genuine negotiations from the outset; points, in particular, to the importance of convening meetings of the three Presidents, as per Article 324 TFEU, wherever they can aid progress, and insists that the Commission follow up when Parliament requests such meetings; reminds the Commission of its obligation to provide information to Parliament on an equal footing with the Council as the two arms of the budgetary authority and as co-legislators on MFF-related basic acts;

132. Recalls that the IIA specifically provides for Parliament, the Council and the Commission to ‘seek to determine specific arrangements for cooperation and dialogue’; stresses that the cooperation provisions set out in the IIA, including regular meetings between Parliament and the Council, are a bare minimum and that much more is needed to give effect to the principle in Article 312(5) TFEU of taking ‘any measure necessary to facilitate the adoption of a new MFF’; calls, therefore, on the successive Council presidencies to respect not only the letter, but also the spirit of the Treaties;

133. Recalls that the late adoption of the MFF regulation and related legislation for the 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 periods led to significant delays, which hindered the proper implementation of EU programmes; insists, therefore, that every effort be made to ensure timely adoption of the upcoming MFF package;

134. Expects the Commission, as part of the package of MFF proposals, to put forward a new IIA in line with the realities of the new budget, including with respect to the management of contingent liabilities; stresses that the changes to the Financial Regulation necessary for alignment with the new MFF should enter into force at the same time as the MFF Regulation;

135. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council and the Commission.

 

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

The European Commission is required, under the regulation establishing the multiannual financial framework for the period 2021-2027, to put forward a legislative proposal for the post-2027 framework by 1 July 2025. This report is intended, therefore, to set out Parliament’s vision of how that post-2027 framework should be designed and resourced.

 

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEURS HAVE RECEIVED INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteurs declare that they received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the report, prior to the adoption thereof in committee:

Entity and/or person

DG BUDG, European Commission EU Agencies Network European Institute for Gender Equality Eurojust Joint Research Centre of the European Commission Budget and Finance Committee of the Lower Saxony State Parliament Members of the Austrian Parliament Bundestag Representatives Delegation of the Grand Committee of the Parliament of Finland State Minister for Economic Affairs Sven Schulze and CDU Delegation of the Saxony-Anhalt State Parliament CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group Copa – Cogeca Alstom Belgium Eurocities Comunidade Intermunicipal do Douro (CIMDOURO) Magellan Circle - European Affairs Consultancy MBDA

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteurs.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur declares that he has submitted to the concerned natural persons the European Parliament's Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

 

 

 

 

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS (20.03.2025)

for the Committee on Budgets

on a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world

(2024/2051(INI))

Rapporteur for opinion: Hilde Vautmans 

 

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Foreign Affairs submits the following to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible:

Amendment  1

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Preamble and Articles 24(1) and 42(2) of the Treaty on European Union and Article 2(4) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),

Amendment  2

Motion for a resolution

Citation 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Versailles Declaration of 11 March 2022,

Amendment  3

Motion for a resolution

Citation 13 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the joint communication from the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 5 March 2024 entitled ‘A new European Defence Industrial Strategy: Achieving EU readiness through a responsive and resilient European Defence Industry’  (JOIN(2024)0010),

Amendment  4

Motion for a resolution

Recital A

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
A. whereas, under Article 311 TFEU, the Union is required to provide itself with the means necessary to attain its objectives and carry through its policies;	A. whereas the Union aims to promote peace, its values and the well-being of its citizens; whereas, under Article 311 TFEU, the Union is required to provide itself with the means necessary to attain its objectives and carry through its policies;

Amendment  5

Motion for a resolution

Recital C

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
C. whereas spending through the Union budget, if effectively targeted, aligned with the Union’s political priorities and coordinated with spending at national level, helps to avoid fragmentation in the single market and to boost the overall impact of public investment; whereas public investment is essential to incentivise private investment;	C. whereas spending through the Union budget, if effectively targeted inside and outside the Union, aligned with the Union’s political priorities and coordinated with spending at national level, helps to avoid fragmentation in the single market, to boost the overall impact of public investment and to promote peace, security and progress in the world; whereas public investment is essential to incentivise private investment;

Amendment  6

Motion for a resolution

Recital G

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
G. whereas the context in which the Commission will prepare its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, with the established global and geopolitical order changing quickly and radically and the Union budget needing to change accordingly;	G. whereas the context in which the Commission will prepare its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, with the established global and geopolitical order changing quickly and radically and the Union budget needing to change accordingly; whereas the EU must adopt a holistic approach in which all external action financing programmes should comprise a security dimension; whereas the territorial integrity of the Union could be challenged on its eastern flank before the end of the post-2027 MFF;

Amendment  7

Motion for a resolution

Recital G a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ga. whereas given the new geopolitical reality marked by the return of high-intensity warfare in Europe and the likelihood of worst-case military scenarios materialising on the European continent, the post-2027 MFF must enable the EU to prepare itself for potential military aggression on its soil before the end of this decade;

Amendment  8

Motion for a resolution

Recital G b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Gb. whereas, in the Versailles Declaration of March 2022, the Member States collectively committed to significantly increasing defence expenditure and investing in defence capabilities developed in a collaborative way, as well as in joint projects and joint procurement;

Amendment  9

Motion for a resolution

Recital H

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
H. whereas, in order to compensate for the budget’s shortcomings, there have been numerous workaround solutions that make the budget more opaque, undercutting Parliament’s role as a legislator and budgetary and discharge authority and in holding the executive to account;	H. whereas, in order to compensate for the budget’s shortcomings, there have been numerous workaround solutions that make the budget more opaque, undercutting Parliament’s role as a legislator and budgetary and discharge authority and in holding the executive to account; whereas, in the area of the foreign, security and defence policies, the institutional balance between the budgetary functions of the Council and Parliament needs to be respected;

Amendment  10

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives, tackle the growing challenges it faces, manage and repay its debt sustainably, respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs;	1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives, be resilient, tackle the growing challenges it faces, manage and repay its debt sustainably, prepare for and respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs;

Amendment  11

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
6. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness, decarbonising the economy and enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society;	6. Is convinced that achieving EU defence sovereignty, boosting competitiveness, decarbonising the economy and enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term security, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society;

Amendment  12

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending in strategic policy areas, such as climate and, latterly, dual-use defence projects;	10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending in strategic policy areas, such as climate and, latterly, defence projects;

Amendment  13

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
12. Stresses that the next MFF should include much greater funding for energy, transport and digital infrastructure, with priority given to cross-border connections and national links with European added value; considers that such infrastructure goes hand in hand with a deepening of the single market;	12. Stresses that the next MFF should include much greater funding for energy, transport and digital infrastructure, with priority given to cross-border connections, dual use and national links with European added value; considers that such infrastructure goes hand in hand with a deepening of the single market;

Amendment  14

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
16. Stresses that, in order to compete with other major global players, the European economy must also become more competitive and resilient on the supply side by investing more in the Union’s open strategic autonomy through enhanced industrial policy and a focus on strategic sectors and critical technologies to reduce dependence on third countries;	16. Stresses that, in order to compete with other major global players, the European economy must also become more competitive and resilient on the supply side by investing more in the Union’s open strategic autonomy through enhanced industrial policy and a focus on strategic sectors, such as the energy and defence sectors, and critical technologies to reduce dependence on third countries;

Amendment  15

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	17a. Points out that energy independence is of critical importance for EU security; calls for investment in financial incentives for Member States investing in the development of strategic energy infrastructure, particularly in renewable energy projects that reduce dependence on Russia and other suppliers posing strategic risks;

Amendment  16

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
20. Points out that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has had substantial economic and social consequences, in particular in Member States bordering Russia; insists that the next MFF provide support to these regions;	20. Points out that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has had substantial economic and social consequences, in particular in Member States bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine; insists that the next MFF provide support to these regions;

Amendment  17

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
25. Recalls that security is the foundation for the Union’s prosperity and social model and that the next MFF must invest significantly more in safeguarding the Union against the myriad threats it faces;	25. Recalls that peace and security are the foundation for the Union’s stability and prosperity, global standing and social model and that the next MFF, as the Draghi report clearly states, must invest significantly more in safeguarding the Union against the existential external threats it faces;

Amendment  18

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
26. Underlines that, as the Niinistö report makes clear, the fragmenting global order, increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, the security threat posed by Russia, growing tensions globally, hybrid campaigns, which include cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation, disinformation and interference and the instrumentalisation of migration, and health threats are combining to heighten instability and increase the Union’s vulnerability;	26. Underlines that, as the Niinistö report makes clear, the fragmenting global order, fostered by autocratic and revisionist powers, increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, the security threat posed by Russia, growing tensions globally, hybrid campaigns, which include sabotage, cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation, disinformation and interference and the instrumentalisation of migration, terrorism, and health threats are combining to heighten instability and to exploit the Union’s vulnerabilities;

Amendment  19

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 27

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
27. Points out that the Union has played a vital role in achieving lasting peace on its territory and must continue to do so by adjusting to the reality of war on its doorstep and the need to vastly boost defence capabilities and readiness, far beyond the current allocation;	27. Points out that the Union has played a vital role in achieving lasting peace on its territory and must continue to do so by adjusting to the new reality of war on its doorstep and the need to vastly boost defence capabilities and readiness, far beyond the current allocation; recalls the need to deploy the means fostering a common strategic culture in security and defence that promotes cohesion among the Member States and that ensures intelligence sharing and assessment from the Member States to the EU level and a coordinated response to the threats the Union faces; urges, therefore, the European Council to support the establishment of the Defence Union without any further delay;

Amendment  20

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 28

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
28. Notes that, according to the Commission President, the defence spending gap currently stands at EUR 500 billion for the next decade; underlines that the Union budget alone cannot fill the gap, but has an important role to play;	28. Stresses that the targets for national and collective defence require substantial investment efforts at national level, which the Commission estimates at several percent of GDP; stresses the need for long-term investments in defence capabilities to improve strategic autonomy, cohesion among Member States and the defence readiness of the Union; stresses the importance of establishing a clear and transparent governance structure for security investments to avoid fragmentation and the duplication of efforts at the EU level;

Amendment  21

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 29

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
29. Underscores the importance of a competitive and resilient European defence technological and industrial base and considers that joint EU-level investment in defence can generate economies of scale, and thus significant savings for Member States, and help ensure the interoperability of equipment and systems; points to the need to direct support towards the defence industry within the Union, thus creating quality high-skilled jobs;	29. Underscores the importance of a competitive and resilient European defence technological and industrial base that is autonomous and independent from non-European actors and considers that EU-level investment in defence should generate economies of scale and scope, and thus significant savings for Member States, and help ensure the interoperability and effectiveness of their armed forces;

Amendment  22

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 29 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	29a. Points to the need to direct support towards the defence industry within the Union, ranging from SMEs to prime contractors, and towards defence training and education, thus creating quality high-skilled jobs and unleashing the full potential of a balanced and strategic European defence ecosystem, in particular to avoid competition between the Member States and to tackle duplication and fragmentation; emphasises the importance of ensuring that joint EU defence procurement initiatives benefit not only major defence industry players but also other companies, including SMEs, mid-caps and those companies that do not fall within these categories but are considerably smaller in comparison with the multinational companies that can act as prime contractors in joint capabilities development initiatives, thus reinforcing the whole supply chain, as well as fostering innovation and competitiveness in the defence sector; calls for alignment with the recommendations of the Draghi and Niinistö reports to create a balanced and strategic European defence ecosystem;

Amendment  23

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 30

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
30. Points to the importance of support in the budget for military mobility, which upgrades infrastructure for dual-use military and civilian purposes and thus contributes to the Union’s defence capabilities;	30. Points to the importance of increasing allocations in the MFF for military mobility, transport, energy and data infrastructure, their upgrading and maintenance, civil protection, collaborative research and development and innovation for military and civilian purposes, in order to strengthen the Union’s defence capabilities;

Amendment  24

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 30 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	30a. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to increase funding for defence by possibly increasing national contributions to the Union budget, introducing new own resources, reusing unspent appropriations and considering issuing common debt and adapting the fiscal stability rules for Member States; insists that procurement should primarily focus on suppliers from the Member States to foster technological sovereignty and contribute to the Union’s strategic autonomy;

Amendment  25

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 33

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
33. Underlines that, with technological change, it has become easier for malicious and opportunistic foreign actors to spread disinformation, interfere in elections and mount cyberattacks against the Union’s interests; insists that the next MFF must invest in enhanced cybersecurity; points to the importance of digital and media literacy and critical thinking in this regard, and to the need for continued Union budget support for initiatives in these areas;	33. Underlines that, with technological change, it has become easier for malicious and opportunistic foreign actors to spread disinformation, interfere in elections and mount cyberattacks against the Union’s interests; recognises that cybersecurity and technological innovation are critical components of the EU’s global competitiveness and security; calls for further investment in emerging technologies, such as AI and quantum computing, to ensure EU leadership in these strategic sectors and in order to address constantly evolving threats; insists that the next MFF must invest in enhanced cybersecurity in order to fight disinformation with swift, efficient and coordinated mitigation actions; points out the importance of strengthening the Union’s strategic communication capabilities;

Amendment  26

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 33 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	33a. Underscores the importance of building new European capacities in the context of hybrid warfare and ever increasing cases of foreign information manipulation and interference; stresses the urgent need to have the necessary funds to effectively build up resilience, both for EU institutions’ headquarters and EU delegations in third countries; stresses that free and independent media should be considered a fundamental component of Europe’s resilience, safeguarding not only the free flow of information but also the democratic mindset, critical thinking and informed decision-making of European citizens; points to the importance of increased investment in independent journalism, fact-checking initiatives, digital and media literacy and critical thinking as a shield against disinformation and foreign information manipulation and electoral interference;

Amendment  27

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 34

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
34. Underscores the importance of continued funding, in the next MFF, for effective protection of the EU’s external borders; underlines the need to counter trafficking networks and address hybrid attacks and the instrumentalisation of migrants, in particular by a third country or a hostile non-state actor;	34. Underscores the importance of continued funding, in the next MFF, for effective protection of the EU’s external borders, such as constructing the East Shield; underlines the need to counter trafficking networks; calls for a comprehensive approach to security that brings together diplomacy, development, efforts to tackle inequality, and security cooperation ensuring that EU foreign policy reinforces stability – as well as the protection of human rights and the promotion of inclusive governance; stresses the importance of addressing hybrid attacks and the instrumentalisation of migrants, in particular by a third country or a hostile non-state actor;

Amendment  28

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 35

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
35. Insists that, in a context of heightened global instability, the Union must continue to engage constructively with third countries and support peace, stability, prosperity, security, democracy and sustainable development globally, in line with its values;	35. Insists that, in a context of heightened global instability, the Union must continue to engage constructively with third countries and support peace, stability, prosperity, security, human rights, democracy and sustainable development globally, in line with its values and its international commitments; stresses the need to ensure that the next MFF provides robust and dedicated funding for democracy support and human rights, particularly in light of the growing global trend toward authoritarianism;

Amendment  29

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 36

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
36. Regrets the fact that external action in the current MFF has been underfunded, leading to significant recourse to special instruments and substantial reinforcements in the mid-term revision; notes, in particular, that humanitarian aid funding has been woefully inadequate, prompting routine use of the Emergency Aid Reserve;	36. Notes that geopolitical crises, such as Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine or the situation in Gaza, have been putting considerable pressure on the current Heading 6; regrets the fact that external action in the current MFF has been underfunded, leading to significant recourse to special instruments and substantial reinforcements in the mid-term revision that fell short of the needs identified by Parliament; reiterates the urgent need to increase funding and strengthen the geopolitical position of the EU, particularly in crisis-affected regions where the needs are greatest, such as the Middle East and Ukraine; considers that external action financing instruments should not be subject to redeployment or to the use of special instruments and that emergency reserves should be used in case of urgent need; notes, in particular, that humanitarian aid funding has been woefully inadequate, prompting routine use of the Emergency Aid Reserve; underlines the utmost importance of transparency, traceability and accountability within the above-mentioned instruments, as well as effective oversight by the European Parliament;

Amendment  30

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 37

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
37. Stresses that the next MFF must continue to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change, to providing relief in the event of natural disasters, ensuring global food security, improving healthcare systems, reducing poverty and inequality and boosting competitiveness and the security of global supply chains; emphasises, in particular, the need for support for the Union’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods;	37. Stresses that the next MFF must continue to tackle the most pressing global challenges, including humanitarian crises, climate change and food security, while defending human rights and democracy, improving healthcare systems, reducing poverty and inequality and contributing to global supply chain stability; emphasises, in particular, the need for support for the Union’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods; supports targeted funding to strengthen regional security, capacity building for institutional development and cooperation in the field of migration that is strictly conditional on the full respect of EU and international law and EU values; calls for secure, sufficient and predictable support for actors providing aid and relief to achieve long-term stability and security in the Middle East region; calls for the development of an instrument similar to the Ukraine Facility, dedicated to the reconstruction of Gaza, once a political agreement for its reconstruction has been established; calls for an increase in funding for democracy support, particularly for electoral observation missions and for the European Endowment for Democracy;

Amendment  31

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 38

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
38. Underlines that the budget must uphold the Union’s role as the world’s leading provider of development aid and climate finance in line with the Union’s global obligations and commitments; insists that the budget must continue to support the Union in its efforts to defend the rules-based international order, democracy, multilateralism, human rights and fundamental values;	38. Underlines that the budget must uphold the Union’s role as the world’s leading provider of development aid and climate finance in line with the commitments taken linked to the implementation of the Paris Agreement and in line with the Union’s global obligations and commitments; insists that the budget must continue to support the Union in its efforts to defend the rules-based international order, democracy, multilateralism, human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment, non-discrimination and fundamental values; calls for a streamlined foreign policy instrument supporting women’s organisations and gender equality; stresses that in the face of the United States’ withdrawal of funds, the EU must take responsibility for providing appropriate funding for civil society and democratisation efforts worldwide;

Amendment  32

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 39

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
39. Insists that, given the scale of humanitarian crises and mounting global challenges, humanitarian aid funding must be significantly enhanced and made more predictable in the next MFF, and that its use must remain solely needs-based;	39. Insists that, given the ever-increasing scale of humanitarian crises and mounting global challenges, humanitarian aid funding must be significantly enhanced, correspond to growing needs and be made more predictable in the next MFF, and that its use must remain solely needs-based; underlines the need to maintain specific EU humanitarian aid instruments and avoid any possible merging; notes the uncertainty of future commitments by the United States, which would need to be compensated;

Amendment  33

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 40

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
40. Emphasises that, in a context in which global actors are increasingly using trade interdependence as a means of economic coercion, the Union must bolster its capacity to protect and advance its own strategic interests, develop more robust tools to counter coercion and ensure genuine reciprocity in its partnerships;	40. Emphasises that, in a context in which global actors are increasingly using trade interdependence as a means of economic coercion, the Union must bolster its capacity to protect and advance its own strategic interests, diversify its political and trade alliances with third countries and its supply chains, effectively address its overdependence on certain third countries, develop more robust tools to counter coercion and ensure genuine reciprocity in its partnerships;

Amendment  34

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 40 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	40a. Calls for the enhancement of the Global Gateway offer through integrated country packages that combine infrastructure investment, trade and macroeconomic support while delivering on development results, including poverty reduction; stresses that the next funding instrument should provide predictability to develop long-term and mutually beneficial partnerships; calls for the establishment of a European-African infrastructure fund;

Amendment  35

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 41

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
41. Considers that the next MFF is pivotal for preparing the Union for enlargement and the candidate countries for accession; recalls that the stability, security and democratic resilience of the candidate countries are inextricably linked to those of the EU and require sustained strategic investment to support their convergence with Union standards;	41. Considers that the next MFF is pivotal for preparing the Union for enlargement and ensuring that EU candidate countries receive structured financial support for institutional and economic transformation; recalls that the stability, security and democratic resilience of the candidate countries are inextricably linked to those of the EU and require sustained strategic investment to support their convergence with Union standards; emphasises the importance of integrating the EU candidate countries into the EU internal market and EU political structures and of providing sufficient resources in support of civil society and independent media; emphasises that the EU’s presence in candidate countries is essential not only because these countries are key partners for the EU but also because any void left could encourage Russia and China to reinforce their influence;

Amendment  36

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 42

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
42. Points to the need for strategically targeted support for pre-accession and for growth and investment; is of the view that post-2027 assistance should be provided in the form of both grants and loans; believes, in that context, that the future framework should allow for innovative financing mechanisms, including lending to candidate countries backed by the ‘headroom’ (the difference between the own resources and the MFF ceilings);	42. Calls on the Commission to present a proposal for an instrument for pre-accession assistance for the next MFF that incorporates the new facilities to avoid overlap, covers all 10 enlargement countries and should ensure strong institutional and economic preparedness for EU membership; stresses that sufficient budgetary resources need to be allocated to enable meaningful gradual integration of the candidate countries into the EU; points to the need for strategically targeted support for pre-accession and for growth and investment; is of the view that post-2027 assistance should be provided in the form of both grants and loans; believes, in that context, that the future framework should allow for innovative financing mechanisms, including lending to candidate countries backed by the ‘headroom’ (the difference between the own resources and the MFF ceilings), as a strong political signal of the EU’s commitment to integrating the candidate countries;

Amendment  37

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 43

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
43. Stresses that financial support must be conditional on the implementation of reforms and adherence to Union values; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a strong governance model that ensures parliamentary accountability, oversight and control;	43. Stresses that financial support must be conditional on the implementation of reforms and adherence to Union values; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a strong governance model that ensures parliamentary accountability, oversight and control and that ensures a strengthened conditionality mechanism, based on the improved rule of law reporting and clear criteria, in particular a strong and functional anti-fraud architecture; considers that support for civil society in enlargement countries should remain independent of government reform progress;

Amendment  38

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 44

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
44. Underlines that pre-accession support to Ukraine has to be distinct from financial assistance for reconstruction and post-war recovery, where needs are far more substantial and require a concerted international effort, of which support through the Union budget should be an important part;	44. Underlines that pre-accession support to Ukraine has to be distinct from financial assistance for reconstruction and post-war recovery, where needs are far more substantial and require a concerted international effort, of which support through the Union budget should be an important part; calls for a dedicated reconstruction fund for Ukraine and for the use of immobilised Russian assets for Ukraine’s reconstruction;

Amendment  39

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 44 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	44a. Underlines the need to strengthen the EU’s preventive diplomacy, including mediation and dialogue, as a proactive foreign policy instrument; calls for continued funding to be available in particular for peace mediation, dialogue and reconciliation efforts, particularly in high-risk regions, in response to increasing demand for EU-led conflict resolution initiatives;

Amendment  40

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 44 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	44b. Underlines the constructive role that a vibrant civil society plays, especially in terms of the EU integration process and therefore for enlargement countries; stresses, in this regard, the need to increase meaningful engagement with and budget allocations for civil society, specifically where civic spaces are closing, and with a particular focus on the protection of human rights defenders and journalists; calls for increased funding to strengthen the capacities of EU delegations and key stakeholders in designing and implementing key public policies for the promotion and protection of a stronger civil society;

Amendment  41

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 44 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	44c. Underlines the importance of the role that citizens and their organisations in candidate countries play in the enlargement process; believes in the importance of the role that citizen-to-citizen projects and interactions between the Member States and accession countries play in preparing societies for enlargement; stresses that organisations from accession countries should participate in the various EU programmes with a transnational dimension on an equal standing as those from the Member States;

Amendment  42

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 44 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	44d. Underlines that the next MFF should contribute to strengthening the fight against transnational repression and support the victims of transnational repression inside the EU;

Amendment  43

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 45 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	45a. Underlines the need for increased coherence between internal and external EU policies to better serve EU interests and competitiveness; advocates for external action funding that supports new solutions in green technology, digital innovation, health, education and migration, while aligning with EU investment and trade objectives; emphasises the importance of promoting a level playing field for private sector investments;

Amendment  44

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 45 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	45b. Highlights the necessity for the EU to deepen its engagement with emerging economies and developing regions through sustainable investment programmes; calls for the next MFF to introduce targeted funding mechanisms that promote economic cooperation, technology transfer and regulatory harmonisation in key partner countries;

Amendment  45

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 45 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	45c. Calls for greater flexibility in funding guidelines to ensure that organisations forced to leave a third country can continue receiving support, even if they relocate to the EU; believes that funding designated for projects in third countries should also be accessible to organisations operating from the EU while continuing their work on the situation in the affected country;

Amendment  46

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 45 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	45d. Underlines that conflict prevention and peacebuilding should be included as objectives in all external financing instruments;

Amendment  47

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 45 e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	45e. Stresses that the budget allocations for the thematic programme on peace, stability and conflict prevention need to be increased;

Amendment  48

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 47

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
47. Stresses that instability in neighbouring regions, poverty, underlying trends in economic development and demographic changes continue to generate migration flows towards the Union, placing significant pressure on asylum and migration systems; underlines that the post-2027 MFF must support the full implementation of the Union’s Asylum and Migration Pact, in line with fundamental rights and EU values; underlines, moreover, that, in line with the Pact, cooperation with third countries on migration must abide by EU law and respect international standards;	47. Stresses that worldwide instability, persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations, poverty, underlying trends in economic development and demographic changes, as well as the direct and indirect impacts of climate change, continue to contribute to an increased number of people forcibly displaced globally; stresses that 71 % of all refugees and people in need of protection are hosted in low- and middle-income countries; underlines that the post-2027 MFF must include a sufficient budget to support protection and reception in third countries and support the full implementation of the Union’s Asylum and Migration Pact, governed by the principle of solidarity and the fair sharing of global responsibility while respecting fundamental rights, in line with Union values and international commitments; underlines, moreover, that, in line with the Pact, cooperation with third countries on migration must abide by EU law and respect international standards;

Amendment  49

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 49 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	49a. Emphasises the importance of ensuring that future EU assistance for third countries in the next MFF aligns with human rights and peace objectives, with robust safeguards to prevent the funds from directly or indirectly supporting terrorist or violent activities;

Amendment  50

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 49 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	49b. Stresses that there must be no disbursements from the European budget for countries where proven violations of the rule of law jeopardise the management of European funds;

Amendment  51

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 50

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
50. Calls for the consolidation of a robust rule of law toolbox, building on the current conditionality provisions under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the horizontal enabling conditions in the Common Provisions Regulation; underlines the need for far greater transparency and consistency with regard to the application of tools to protect the rule of law and for Parliament’s role to be strengthened in the application and scrutiny of such measures; insists, furthermore, on the need for consistency across instruments when assessing breaches of the rule of law in Member States;	50. Calls for the consolidation of a robust rule of law toolbox, building on the current conditionality provisions under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the horizontal enabling conditions in the Common Provisions Regulation; underlines the need for far greater transparency and consistency with regard to the application of tools to protect the rule of law and for Parliament’s role to be strengthened in the application and scrutiny of such measures; insists, furthermore, on the need for consistency across instruments when assessing breaches of the rule of law in Member States; recognises that about 65 % of sustainable development goal targets require local and regional authority involvement; calls for the restoration of a dedicated budget for local and regional authorities in external action funding to enhance their role in EU development policies; recommends integrating local and regional authorities into EU funding tools, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI-Global Europe) and the Global Gateway strategy, without decreasing support for and the funding opportunities of civil society organisations; supports a localisation marker to measure the impact of EU action at the local level for more effective development cooperation; calls for the next MFF to fund decentralised cooperation programmes, such as the partnership for sustainable cities, and improve financing access for local and regional authorities in partner countries; emphasises the need to boost economic security by strengthening supply chain resilience, securing critical materials and technologies, diversifying strategic partnerships and enhancing EU industrial capabilities for a stable and competitive economy;

Amendment  52

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 53

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
53. Underlines, therefore, that the next MFF must ensure that, across the board, spending programmes pursue climate and biodiversity objectives, promote and protect rights and equal opportunities for all, including gender equality, support competitiveness and bolster the Union’s preparedness against threats;	53. Underlines, therefore, that the next MFF must ensure that, across the board, spending programmes pursue digital, climate and biodiversity objectives, promote and protect democracy, human rights and equal opportunities for all, including gender equality, support competitiveness, promote the Union’s values and safeguard its interests, and bolster the Union’s preparedness and resilience against threats;

Amendment  53

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 56 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	56a. Recalls, the importance of the ‘do no significant harm’ principle, as defined in the Taxonomy Regulation, the alignment with and observance of the principles of humanitarian law and human rights law, and the right to individual and collective self-defence, enshrined in the UN Charter, in implementing the Union budget;

Amendment  54

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 57

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
57. Insists that, post-2027, sufficient financial and staff resources be allocated from the outset so that Union institutions, bodies and decentralised agencies can ensure effective and efficient policy design, delivery and enforcement, continue to attract the best people from all Member States, thus ensuring geographical balance, and have leeway to adjust to changing circumstances;	57. Insists that, post-2027, sufficient financial and staff resources be allocated from the outset so that Union institutions, the European External Action Service and the Union’s bodies and decentralised agencies can ensure effective and efficient policy design, delivery and enforcement, continue to attract the best people from all Member States, thus ensuring geographical balance, and have leeway to adjust to changing circumstances;

Amendment  55

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 57 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	57a. Stresses that underfunding the European External Action Service jeopardises the EU’s relations with third countries; underlines that volatile interest rates and rising financing costs for EU delegations require flexible solutions, such as linking the non-salary expenditure ceiling to inflation rates; highlights the need to maintain the current structure of the network of EU delegations;

Amendment  56

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 59

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
59. Stresses that up-front investment in interoperable IT infrastructure and data mining can also generate longer-term cost savings and hugely enhance policy delivery and tracking of spending;	59. Stresses that up-front investment in interoperable and secure IT infrastructure and data mining can also generate longer-term cost savings and hugely enhance policy delivery and tracking of spending;

Amendment  57

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 66

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
66. Believes that, while allocating a significant portion of funding to objectives up-front, spending programmes should retain a substantial in-built flexibility reserve, with allocation to specific policy objectives to be decided by the budgetary authority; notes that the NDICI – Global Europe’s emerging challenges and priorities cushion provides a model for such a flexibility reserve, but that the decision-making process for its mobilisation must not be replicated in the future MFF; points to the need for a detailed budgetary breakdown to ensure decisions by the budgetary authority are meaningful;	66. Believes that, while allocating a significant portion of funding to objectives up-front, spending programmes should retain a substantial in-built flexibility reserve, with allocation to specific policy objectives to be decided by the budgetary authority; notes that the NDICI – Global Europe’s emerging challenges and priorities cushion provides a model for such a flexibility reserve, but that the decision-making process for its mobilisation must not be replicated in the future MFF; points to the need for a detailed budgetary breakdown to ensure decisions by the budgetary authority are meaningful; calls in general for a more strategic and impactful approach to EU funding abroad while advancing open strategic autonomy;

 

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR OPINION HAS RECEIVED INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for opinion declares that she received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the opinion, prior to the adoption thereof in committee:

Entity and/or person

EEAS

DG INTPA

CoR rapporteur of the report on EU-Africa

Search for Common Ground

UNICEF

Concord

 

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur for the opinion.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur for opinion declares that she has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted	18.3.2025
Result of final vote	+ : 45 - : 17 0 : 6
Members present for the final vote	Petras Auštrevičius, Jordan Bardella, Dan Barna, Wouter Beke, Robert Biedroń, Adam Bielan, Ľuboš Blaha, Marc Botenga, Helmut Brandstätter, Sebastião Bugalho, Danilo Della Valle, Özlem Demirel, Elio Di Rupo, Loucas Fourlas, Michael Gahler, Alberico Gambino, Giorgos Georgiou, Bernard Guetta, Hana Jalloul Muro, Rasa Juknevičienė, Sandra Kalniete, Łukasz Kohut, Ondřej Kolář, Andrey Kovatchev, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Marion Maréchal, Costas Mavrides, Vangelis Meimarakis, Sven Mikser, Francisco José Millán Mon, Hannah Neumann, Leoluca Orlando, Kostas Papadakis, Tonino Picula, Nacho Sánchez Amor, Mounir Satouri, Andreas Schieder, Alexander Sell, Villy Søvndal, Davor Ivo Stier, António Tânger Corrêa, Marta Temido, Hermann Tertsch, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Reinier Van Lanschot, Roberto Vannacci, Hilde Vautmans, Harald Vilimsky, Nicola Zingaretti, Željana Zovko
Substitutes present for the final vote	Pernando Barrena Arza, Krzysztof Brejza, Jaroslav Bžoch, Vasile Dîncu, Jan Farský, Viktória Ferenc, Mircea-Gheorghe Hava, Evin Incir, András László, Yannis Maniatis, Marjan Šarec, Claudiu-Richard Târziu, Matej Tonin, Pekka Toveri, Matthieu Valet, Thomas Waitz, Lucia Yar
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Jüri Ratas, Kristian Vigenin

 

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

45	+
PPE	Beke Wouter, Brejza Krzysztof, Bugalho Sebastião, Farský Jan, Fourlas Loucas, Gahler Michael, Hava Mircea-Gheorghe, Jukneviciene Rasa, Kalniete Sandra, Kohut Lukasz, Kolár Ondrej, Kovatchev Andrey, López-Istúriz White Antonio, Meimarakis Vangelis, Millán Mon Francisco José, Ratas Jüri, Stier Davor Ivo, Tonin Matej, Toveri Pekka, Zovko Zeljana
Renew	Austrevicius Petras, Barna Dan, Brandstätter Helmut, Guetta Bernard, Sarec Marjan, Vautmans Hilde, Yar Lucia
S&D	Biedron Robert, Dîncu Vasile, Di Rupo Elio, Incir Evin, Jalloul Muro Hana, Maniatis Yannis, Mavrides Costas, Mikser Sven, Picula Tonino, Sánchez Amor Nacho, Schieder Andreas, Temido Marta, Vigenin Kristian
Verts/ALE	Neumann Hannah, Satouri Mounir, Søvndal Villy, Van Lanschot Reinier, Waitz Thomas

 

17	-
ESN	Sell Alexander
NI	Blaha Lubos, Papadakis Kostas
PfE	Bardella Jordan, Bzoch Jaroslav, Ferenc Viktória, László András, Tânger Corrêa António, Tertsch Hermann, Valet Matthieu, Vannacci Roberto, Vilimsky Harald
The Left	Barrena Arza Pernando, Botenga Marc, Della Valle Danilo, Demirel Özlem, Georgiou Giorgos

 

6	0
ECR	Bielan Adam, Gambino Alberico, Maréchal Marion, Târziu Claudiu-Richard, Tynkkynen Sebastian
Verts/ALE	Orlando Leoluca

 

Key:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstentions

 

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON DEVELOPMENT (9.4.2025)

for the Committee on Budgets

on a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world

(2024/2051(INI))

Rapporteur for opinion: Barry Andrews

 

 

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Development submits the following to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible:

Amendment  1

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to Article 208 TFEU, which establishes poverty reduction and eradication as the primary objective of EU development cooperation, and to the EU’s commitment to upholding human rights, the rule of law and good governance in its development policy,

Amendment  2

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the EU’s collective commitments to provide 0.7 % of gross national income as official development assistance (ODA), and 0.2 % as ODA to Least Developed Countries by 2030, reaffirmed in the Council Conclusion of 24 June 2024, in the European Consensus on Development and in the Council Conclusions of 26 May 2015,

Amendment  3

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to its resolution of 14 March 2023 on Policy Coherence for Development1a, __________________________________ 1a OJ C, C/2023/398, 23.11.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2023/398/oj.

Amendment  4

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals and the ‘EU Voluntary Review on progress in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda’ of May 2023 and Parliament’s resolution of 15 June 2023 on the implementation and delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals1a, __________________________________ 1a OJ C, C/2024/493, 23.1.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/493/oj.

Amendment  5

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Paris Agreement of 12 December 2015, adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,

Amendment  6

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 f (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the joint statement by the Council and the representatives of the governments of the Member States meeting within the Council, the European Parliament and the Commission of 30 June 2017 entitled ‘The new European consensus on development – “Our world, our dignity, our future”‘1a, __________________________________ 1a OJ C 210, 30.6.2017, p. 1.

Amendment  7

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 g (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development held in Addis Ababa from 13 to 16 July 2015,

Amendment  8

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 h (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (2000), with African, Caribbean and Pacific states, which strengthened relations with ACP countries, emphasising political, economic and social dimensions,

Amendment  9

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 i (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) – Global Europe, the main financial tool for international development, with a budget of EUR 79.5 billion for 2021-2027,

Amendment  10

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 j (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to its resolution of 24 November 2022 on the future European Financial Architecture for Development1a, which emphasises a coherent and inclusive architecture underpinned by the ‘policy first’ principle and aligned with the SDG goals and EU values, __________________________________ 1a OJ C 167, 11.5.2023, p. 57.

Amendment  11

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 k (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the EU’s Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in External Action (GAP III), EU Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security and the Youth Action Plan in EU external action,

Amendment  12

Motion for a resolution

Recital G

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
G. whereas the context in which the Commission will prepare its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, with the established global and geopolitical order changing quickly and radically and the Union budget needing to change accordingly;	G. whereas the context in which the Commission will prepare its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, with the established global and geopolitical order changing quickly and radically and the Union budget needing to change accordingly while respecting the Treaty provisions and ensuring Parliament’s role in ensuring democratic legitimacy, in setting budgetary priorities, exercising oversight and enhancing transparency, including in EU external action;

Amendment  13

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital G a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ga. whereas in the face of rising global competition and challenges to the multilateral order, the EU must underpin its influence by investing in strategic international partnerships of equals that respect EU values and partners’ interests, are anchored in the rights-based approach and the principle of leaving no one behind and guided by a long-term vision for a more stable, sustainable, and equitable world, taking into account that increasing levels of poverty and inequality between and within countries are a threat to sustainable development worldwide; whereas EU development cooperation must be based on the principles highlighted in Article 21 of the Treaty on the European Union and on the objectives set out in Article 208 TFEU, namely the reduction and, in the long term, the eradication, of poverty as a primary objective;

Amendment  14

Motion for a resolution

Recital G b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Gb. whereas the EU’s development cooperation should prioritise strengthening the resilience and autonomy of partner countries in strategic regions, especially in Africa, by refocusing on key priorities like infrastructure for healthcare, education and renewable energy;

Amendment  15

Motion for a resolution

Recital G c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Gc. whereas development aid is a crucial instrument in addressing the root causes of forced migration by promoting economic opportunities, stability and resilience in partner countries;

Amendment  16

Motion for a resolution

Recital G d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Gd. whereas ensuring rapid and effective responses to crises requires procedures to be streamlined across budgetary instruments and dedicated, adequately-funded flexible budget reserves to be established specifically for humanitarian aid and development needs, without undermining the overall allocations for these crucial policy areas;

Amendment  17

Motion for a resolution

Recital G e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ge. whereas the EU, as the world’s leading contributor to official development assistance, must remain a trustworthy partner and a reference point for effective and impactful aid, tailored to contemporary challenges while respecting its values and building strategic partnerships;

Amendment  18

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital G f (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Gf. whereas the EU’s development cooperation policy requires a reinforced geostrategic approach to counter the growing influence of actors such as China and Russia in developing countries, while remaining faithful to core European values; whereas it is Europe’s long-standing commitment to continue providing and augmenting development aid, especially at a time when the withdrawal of the United States from development cooperation and humanitarian aid is creating a vacuum of responsibility that Europe must fill; whereas the January 2025 decision by the Trump Administration to suspend all foreign assistance programmes and to withdraw from the World Health Organization and the Paris Agreement places immense pressure on the international development and humanitarian sector, causing far-reaching systemic damage that has serious implications for humanitarian, health, education and climate initiatives in the Global South; whereas the EU’s international credibility depends on delivering on its commitments to finance international cooperation, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Paris Agreement; whereas the Global Gateway initiative requires a more strategic and coordinated approach, incorporating strict criteria with the SDGs and the Paris Agreement goals at the core of all its funded projects; whereas investments of the public and the private sector are both essential to tackle the challenges of sustainable development; whereas future EU external financing instruments should ensure alignment with the EU’s commitments to transparency, accountability and inclusive partnerships;

Amendment  19

Motion for a resolution

Recital G g (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Gg. whereas the European Investment Bank plays a central role in implementing the Global Gateway initiative and financing sustainable development and should intensify its collaboration with other international financial institutions and national development banks to maximise the impact of its interventions, while ensuring its activities fully align with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals;

Amendment  20

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives, tackle the growing challenges it faces, manage and repay its debt sustainably, respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs;	1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives, tackle the growing challenges it faces, manage and repay its debt sustainably, respond to shocks and crises. adjust to evolving spending needs and assert the EU’s role as a global leader in sustainable development and humanitarian action, embodying its core values in the face of current geopolitical challenges;

Amendment  21

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
2. Stresses that all spending in the post-2027 MFF must be strategically aligned with the EU’s political aims, adding tangible value for the people of the Union, with discernible net benefits compared to spending at national or sub-national level and leading to real and lasting results;	2. Stresses that all spending in the post-2027 MFF must be strategically aligned with the EU’s political aims, adding tangible value for the people of the Union, with discernible net benefits compared to spending at national or sub-national level and leading to real and lasting results, while respecting the institutional prerogatives of Parliament in the annual budgetary procedure as well as the Treaty provisions;

Amendment  22

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
3. Emphasises that the post-2027 MFF must also become simpler and more transparent and be protected against misuse, fraud and breaches of the principles of the rule of law and the Union’s values;	3. Emphasises that the post-2027 MFF must make it easier to monitor and track Union expenditure, enhance transparency and provide better safeguards against misuse, fraud and breaches of the principles of the rule of law and the Union’s values;

Amendment  23

Motion for a resolution

Subheading 2

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
Competitiveness, strategic autonomy, social, economic and territorial cohesion and resilience	Competitiveness, strategic autonomy, social, economic and territorial cohesion, development and resilience

Amendment  24

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
6. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness, decarbonising the economy and enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society;	6. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness and enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term and stable economic growth and a more resilient economy and society;

Amendment  25

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
9. Stresses that the Union budget must be carefully coordinated with national spending and designed such that it can de-risk, mobilise and leverage private investment effectively, enabling start-ups and SMEs to access funds more readily; calls, therefore, for programmes such as InvestEU, which ensures additionality and follows a market-based, demand-driven approach, to be significantly reinforced in the next MFF; considers that budgetary guarantees are an effective use of resources and calls for them to be simplified;	9. Stresses that the Union budget must be carefully coordinated with national spending and designed such that it can de-risk, mobilise and leverage private investment effectively, enabling start-ups and SMEs, in particular in developing partner countries with high economic development potential to access funds more readily; calls, therefore, for programmes such as InvestEU, which ensures additionality and follows a market-based, demand-driven approach, to be significantly reinforced in the next MFF; considers that budgetary guarantees are an effective use of resources and calls for them to be simplified and extended;

Amendment  26

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending in strategic policy areas, such as climate and, latterly, dual-use defence projects;	10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending in strategic policy areas, such as climate and, latterly, dual-use defence projects in the EU;

Amendment  27

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	10a. Calls on the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group to particularly provide guarantees for both private and public investments in developing countries while ensuring that the EIB’s activities fully align with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, and to intensify its collaboration with other international financial institutions and national development banks; in this respect, recalls the essential importance of predictable guarantees from the EU budget to enable the EIB to continue to deliver operations outside the EU with development additionality;

Amendment  28

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
11. Emphasises that funding for research and innovation should be significantly increased, should be focused on the Union’s strategic priorities and should continue to be determined by the principle of excellence; considers that there should be sufficient resources across the MFF and at national level to fund all high-quality projects;	11. Emphasises that funding for research and innovation should be significantly increased, should be focused on the Union’s strategic priorities and should continue to be determined by the principle of excellence; considers that there should be sufficient resources across the MFF and at national level to fund all high-quality projects, specifically those with a focus on education, health, epidemic preparedness and response capabilities;

Amendment  29

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	16a. Stresses that an increased EU external action budget is a strategic investment that enhances the EU’s influence and strengthens its ability to shape global action both bilaterally and within multilateral forums in a context where other major global players are increasingly successful in marking spheres of influence; underlines that the EU’s external action budget remains a unique instrument to promote the EU’s core values; notes with concern that the current MFF does not allow the EU to mobilise resources at sufficient scale or speed to respond to global challenges in a timely manner;

Amendment  30

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
17. Emphasises that food security is a vital component of strategic autonomy and that the next MFF must continue to support the Union’s farming and fisheries sectors, including small and young farmers and fishers, and help the sectors to better protect the climate and biodiversity; highlights the crucial role of the common agricultural policy in increasing productivity through technical progress, ensuring a fair standard of living for farmers and guaranteeing food security; calls for adequate funding for the common agricultural policy in the next MFF;	17. Emphasises that food security is a vital component of strategic autonomy and that the next MFF must continue to support the Union’s farming and fisheries sectors, including small and young farmers and fishers, and help the sectors to better protect the climate and biodiversity both inside and outside Europe; highlights the crucial role of the common agricultural policy in increasing productivity through technical progress, ensuring a fair standard of living for farmers and guaranteeing food security; calls for adequate funding for the common agricultural policy in the next MFF; stresses the need for targeted programmes to strengthen agricultural capacity in developing countries in order to improve food security worldwide;

Amendment  31

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
25. Recalls that security is the foundation for the Union’s prosperity and social model and that the next MFF must invest significantly more in safeguarding the Union against the myriad threats it faces;	25. Recalls that security, in all its forms, and peace are the foundations for the Union’s prosperity and social model and that the next MFF must invest significantly more in safeguarding the Union against the myriad threats it faces;

Amendment  32

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	25a. Underlines that security should be understood from a human-centred and multi-faceted approach, including social, educational, environmental and cultural dimensions with a focus on strengthening democracy and inclusive access to fundamental rights (both collective and individual); recalls the need to ensure funding for human security both within the Union and with partner countries; underlines that it is essential to strengthen conflict prevention, crisis management and peace building through the MFF programmes;

Amendment  33

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
26. Underlines that, as the Niinistö report makes clear, the fragmenting global order, increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, the security threat posed by Russia, growing tensions globally, hybrid campaigns, which include cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation, disinformation and interference and the instrumentalisation of migration, and health threats are combining to heighten instability and increase the Union’s vulnerability;	26. Underlines that, as the Niinistö report makes clear, the fragmenting global order, increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, the security threat posed by Russia, growing tensions globally, hybrid campaigns, which include cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation, disinformation and interference and the instrumentalisation of migration, and health threats are combining to heighten instability and increase the Union’s vulnerability; highlights that the Niinistö report underlines the inherent connectedness between the EU’s resilience and preparedness to those of its regional and global partner countries; emphasises that official development assistance plays a crucial role in strengthening these shared capacities;

Amendment  34

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 31

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
31. Emphasises that the Union needs to ramp up funding for preparedness across the board; underlines that, in addition to efforts to mitigate climate change through the green transition, significant investment is required to adapt to climate change, in particular to protect against and reduce the impact of natural disasters and severe weather events; considers that support for this purpose must be significantly increased in the next MFF;	31. Emphasises that the Union needs to ramp up funding for preparedness across the board; underlines that, in addition to efforts to mitigate climate change through the green transition, significant investment is required to adapt to climate change both in the EU and in partner countries, in particular to protect against and reduce the impact of natural disasters and severe weather events; considers that support for this purpose must be significantly increased in the next MFF; reiterates that averting and alleviating crises in third countries is an investment in Europe’s own security and stability;

Amendment  35

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 32

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
32. Recalls that the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked economic and social havoc globally and that a key lesson from the experience is that there is a need to invest in preparedness for health threats, in medical research and in the resilience of public health systems in the Union; considers that the next MFF must build on the work done in the current programming period;	32. Recalls that the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked economic and social havoc globally and that a key lesson from the experience is that there is a need to invest in preparedness for health threats, in medical research and in the resilience of public health systems in the Union and abroad given the cross-border nature of health threats; considers that the next MFF must build on the work done in the current programming period;

Amendment  36

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 34

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
34. Underscores the importance of continued funding, in the next MFF, for effective protection of the EU’s external borders; underlines the need to counter trafficking networks and address hybrid attacks and the instrumentalisation of migrants, in particular by a third country or a hostile non-state actor;	34. Underscores the importance of continued funding, in the next MFF, for effective protection of the EU’s external borders; calls therefore for substantial funds to enhance both internal and external security, with a primary focus on securing external borders against the surges in migration that are undermining the sovereignty of Member States as well as respect for human dignity and the rule of law; stresses, furthermore, the urgent need to combat human trafficking and people-smuggling networks, particularly the trafficking of minors (especially where they are at risk of child sex abuse), not to mention the fight against prostitution and drug trafficking, since these phenomena are often linked to transnational organised crime;

Amendment  37

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 34 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	34a. Underscores the importance of ensuring funding for the integration of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in the EU Defence and Security sector in line with the EU Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security; emphasises the need for dedicated funding for gender-related actions within Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions, including for Gender Advisors within civilian CSDP missions;

Amendment  38

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 35

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
35. Insists that, in a context of heightened global instability, the Union must continue to engage constructively with third countries and support peace, stability, prosperity, security, democracy and sustainable development globally, in line with its values;	35. Insists that, in a context of heightened global instability, the Union must continue to engage constructively with third countries and support peace, stability, prosperity, security, democracy and sustainable development globally, in line with its international commitments, while strengthening cooperation, particularly with partner countries with which efficient and sustainable cooperation is possible; underlines that investments in economic development and infrastructure in partner countries are essential in order to combat the causes of migration and instability at an early stage and to prevent displacement;

Amendment  39

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 35 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	35a. Additionally, underscores that EU development cooperation must contribute to the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals;

Amendment  40

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 36

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
36. Regrets the fact that external action in the current MFF has been underfunded, leading to significant recourse to special instruments and substantial reinforcements in the mid-term revision; notes, in particular, that humanitarian aid funding has been woefully inadequate, prompting routine use of the Emergency Aid Reserve;	36. Regrets the fact that external action in the current MFF has not worked in an adequate way despite the funding from Member States and that the budget allocations have not been able to respond to external action priorities because of inadequate financial administration; notes, furthermore, that the low efficiency of implementation of EU support poses a further challenge that needs to be addressed in order to ensure credibility of the EU’s actions in the eyes of its citizens;

Amendment  41

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 37

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
37. Stresses that the next MFF must continue to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change, to providing relief in the event of natural disasters, ensuring global food security, improving healthcare systems, reducing poverty and inequality and boosting competitiveness and the security of global supply chains; emphasises, in particular, the need for support for the Union’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods;	37. Stresses that the next MFF must continue to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from addressing illegal migration, the global learning crisis, fighting and mitigating the impact of climate change, to supporting global food security and human development, and to facilitate stability and security in partner countries, while respecting the principle of policy coherence for development; emphasises, in particular, the need for support for the Union’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods and this support can be achieved through a general reorganisation of the administration’s bureaucratic system while maintaining appropriate allocation of funds for Southern and Eastern neighbourhoods and Sub-Saharan Africa; calls for the strengthening of SMEs in partner countries as an instrument of economic development; underlines the importance of investing in the eradication of poverty through job creation and in human development taking multi-sectoral approaches to programmes such as school meals, which yield results in terms of education, health, economic growth, gender equality and reducing poverty and hunger; notes, furthermore, that effective implementation of EU funding requires strengthened localisation and close cooperation with local actors;

Amendment  42

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 37 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	37a. Underlines the serious impact of the withdrawal of US aid on gender equality and the rights of women and girls; calls for increased funding from the EU on gender equality in its external affairs, including on sexual and reproductive health and rights; recalls that the Gender Action Plan (GAP III) is an important instrument in accelerating progress towards gender equality globally, by making it a priority in all the EU’s external actions with the target of 85 % of all new actions to contribute to gender equality and women’s empowerment by 2025; points out the need to continue and follow-up on these efforts under the post-2027 MFF, with adequate resources dedicated to the implementation of the upcoming GAP IV, in line with the Women, Peace and Security agenda; highlights the urgent need to address the issue of sexual and gender-based violence in conflicts through a gender lens;

Amendment  43

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 37 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	37b. Is of the view that simplification in the post-2027 MFF should respect and reflect the distinct nature of instruments under external action, preserve the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) - Global Europe’, Humanitarian Aid Instrument (HUMA) and Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), as separate instruments, ensuring that their distinct policy goals and programming approaches are safeguarded while permitting proper oversight by Parliament; highlights that these instruments all have specific objectives and must not be merged into a single framework; emphasises that external action instruments have already undergone significant simplification in the current MFF, with external evaluations (such as the mid-term evaluation of the NDICI - Global Europe) confirming their effectiveness; stresses that while flexibility is essential for crisis response, predictable funding is crucial for the delivery of the EU’s long-term objectives and its credibility with partner countries, and therefore flexibility should be additional to the current predictable funding;

Amendment  44

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 37 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	37c. Insists that humanitarian aid must continue to be governed by its own separate regulation; underlines that appropriate ring-fencing for humanitarian aid must be ensured in the next MFF to uphold stability and allow for long-term planning;

Amendment  45

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 38

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
38. Underlines that the budget must uphold the Union’s role as the world’s leading provider of development aid and climate finance in line with the Union’s global obligations and commitments; insists that the budget must continue to support the Union in its efforts to defend the rules-based international order, democracy, multilateralism, human rights and fundamental values;	38. Underlines that the budget must strengthen the Union’s and its Member States’ geopolitical position and must enable the EU to fulfil its international obligations and commitments; insists that the budget must continue to support the Union and its Member States in their efforts to foster mutually beneficial cooperation with EU partner countries, defend the rules-based international order, democracy, multilateralism, human rights and fundamental values; stresses that the Global Gateway initiative must be responsibly funded in the next MFF; underlines that the next MFF must also strike a balance between supporting infrastructure projects under the Global Gateway initiative, traditional development policy and humanitarian aid;

Amendment  46

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 38 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	38a. Expresses its concern that funding for EU Delegations has increasingly proven insufficient, both in relation to the EU’s diplomatic needs and ambitions and with regard to the implementation of development cooperation; highlights in this regard that it is essential not to reduce EU Delegations’ presence in partner countries, because such a cut would be a misstep that would have a long-lasting adverse impact on the EU’s development cooperation, foreign policy and partnerships, and would diminish the EU’s global role, potentially allowing China and Russia to fill the resulting vacuum, which would be counterproductive to the aims of the Global Gateway initiative;

Amendment  47

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 39

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
39. Insists that, given the scale of humanitarian crises and mounting global challenges, humanitarian aid funding must be significantly enhanced and made more predictable in the next MFF, and that its use must remain solely needs-based;	39. Insists that, given the scale of humanitarian crises and mounting global challenges, humanitarian aid funding must be better managed and made more predictable in the next MFF, and stresses the importance of maintaining a distinct humanitarian instrument, governed in line with humanitarian principles to ensure an effective principled response; calls on the Commission to advocate for expanding the donor base of global humanitarian funding;

Amendment  48

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 39 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	39a. Emphasises that a larger proportion of funds should be invested in projects that promote long-term economic independence in crisis regions in order to avoid recurring dependency; stresses the importance of maintaining a spending target of at least 10 % of the EU’s budget for development cooperation to be dedicated to supporting access to quality education in partner countries, which is essential to address root causes of migration and foster integral human development, economic growth and regional prosperity in the Sub-Saharan region; considers that a partnership programme should be established for partner countries that, among other things, promote democratic reform efforts, have strategic importance, and promote access to social protection systems and economic entrepreneurship;

Amendment  49

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 40

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
40. Emphasises that, in a context in which global actors are increasingly using trade interdependence as a means of economic coercion, the Union must bolster its capacity to protect and advance its own strategic interests, develop more robust tools to counter coercion and ensure genuine reciprocity in its partnerships;	40. Emphasises that, in a context in which global actors are increasingly using trade interdependence as a means of economic coercion, the Union must bolster its capacity to protect and advance its own strategic interests, ensure that its trading partners comply with international law and cooperate with the Union in a whole range of areas, including the fight against illegal immigration, develop more robust tools to counter coercion and ensure genuine reciprocity in its partnerships;

Amendment  50

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 40 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	40a. Reiterates that policy coherence is a prerequisite to maintaining trust and ensuring that official development assistance investments are not undermined by inconsistent policies in other areas;

Amendment  51

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 40 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	40b. Reiterates that the EU’s development cooperation policy should prioritise establishing equitable partnerships, recognising partner countries’ ownership and priorities while ensuring mutual benefits and accountability, with special attention given to strategic partnerships such as that with Africa, and with countries that promote democratic reforms, access to social protection systems and economic entrepreneurship; stresses the need for increased transparency and parliamentary oversight in the implementation of these partnerships;

Amendment  52

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 40 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	40c. Recalls that the European Court of Auditors has criticised the EFSD+ for potentially over-stating its ability to leverage private-sector investment; insists that the Global Gateway initiative provides clear and reliable evidence of impact at an early stage, given the size of investments involved;

Amendment  53

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 40 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	40d. Highlights the lack of transparency regarding the functioning of the Global Gateway in EU partner countries and the absence of clear mechanisms for assessing its impact, particularly in fragile contexts where the Global Gateway is not the solution; emphasises that there must be a continuous evaluation of the Global Gateway to assess its effectiveness and strategic direction;

Amendment  54

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 40 e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	40e. Believes that there is confusion among Member States regarding the objectives and implementation of the Global Gateway, with varying levels of interest and engagement, highlighting the need for clearer communication, coordination and alignment with existing EU development policies;

Amendment  55

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 40 f (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	40f. Recognises the potential of the Global Gateway initiative to strengthen partnerships with developing countries by investing in sustainable infrastructure and promoting connectivity; insists that the Global Gateway should always adhere to fundamental EU values, including respect for human rights, good governance, democracy and transparency, and environmental sustainability;

Amendment  56

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 40 g (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	40g. Emphasises the crucial role of the European Investment Bank (EIB) in implementing the Global Gateway initiative and financing sustainable development; stresses that the EIB should intensify its collaboration with other international financial institutions and national development banks to maximise the impact of its interventions, while ensuring its activities fully align with the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);

Amendment  57

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 40 h (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	40h. Recalls that half of the world’s low income countries are either in or at risk of debt distress, which requires special attention and tailored support; is concerned that a significant proportion of low income countries have to prioritise paying back debt over investing in the human development of their populations; urges the Union therefore to adjust its external action financial tools, modalities and approaches to prevent exacerbating debt burdens in partner countries, particularly the most vulnerable ones; emphasises that blending mechanisms and guarantees may contribute to debt accumulation and are not well suited to the needs of the least advantaged partners; recalls that blended finance must meet development effectiveness principles; calls on the Union to prioritise grants, including budget support, as the primary means of delivering development assistance to its most fragile partners; calls on the Commission to implement the recommendations of the external study ‘Report on the EU’s External Action Financing Instruments (2014-2020, 2021-2027)1a’ during preparation of the new MFF legislative proposals, in particular with regards to increased use of grants in LDCs, fragile or conflict-affected countries, and to engage in coordination with relevant stakeholders, including civil society actors; calls, more broadly, for the EU and its Member States to adopt a cautious approach to blended finance and ensure that all finance mobilised through blending meets development effectiveness principles;
	__________________
	1a https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2841/05549.

Amendment  58

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 42

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
42. Points to the need for strategically targeted support for pre-accession and for growth and investment; is of the view that post-2027 assistance should be provided in the form of both grants and loans; believes, in that context, that the future framework should allow for innovative financing mechanisms, including lending to candidate countries backed by the ‘headroom’ (the difference between the own resources and the MFF ceilings);	42. Points to the need for strategically targeted support for pre-accession and for growth and investment; is of the view that post-2027 assistance should be provided in the form of both grants and loans; believes, in that context, that the future framework should allow for innovative financing mechanisms, including lending to candidate countries backed by the ‘headroom’ (the difference between the own resources and the MFF ceilings), which should guarantee that this lending, as well as its associated costs and guarantees, will not drain the resources for other priorities under external action; emphasises the effectiveness of granting loans to projects in partner countries that specifically promote the economy as a development tool;

Amendment  59

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 42 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	42a. Notes the fact that while the EU and its Member States collectively make the single largest financial contribution to the UN system, and are the leading donors of official development assistance globally, tangible impacts of these contributions in enhancing the EU’s geopolitical position and visibility in partner countries remain significantly below expectations; recognises the shared values and objectives of the EU and the UN system and calls for a review of EU visibility rules to make recognisable the EU’s financial contribution to projects implemented by the UN and other agencies; underlines the need to introduce a stronger monitoring and evaluation system for development spending to ensure that funds are used efficiently and actually promote sustainable economic development;

Amendment  60

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 43

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
43. Stresses that financial support must be conditional on the implementation of reforms and adherence to Union values; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a strong governance model that ensures parliamentary accountability, oversight and control;	43. Stresses that financial support must be conditional on the implementation of reforms and adherence to international agreements, in particular cooperation on tackling illegal migration; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a strong governance model that ensures parliamentary accountability, oversight and control;

Amendment  61

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 44

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
44. Underlines that pre-accession support to Ukraine has to be distinct from financial assistance for reconstruction and post-war recovery, where needs are far more substantial and require a concerted international effort, of which support through the Union budget should be an important part;	44. Underlines that pre-accession support to Ukraine has to be distinct from financial assistance for reconstruction and post-war recovery, where needs are far more substantial and require a concerted international effort, of which support through the Union budget should be an important part, while being designed so as not to compete for the same scarce resources as other external action objectives of the Union;

Amendment  62

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 45

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
45. Is convinced that the existing mandatory revision clause in the event of enlargement should be maintained in the next framework; stresses that national envelopes should not be affected in the event of enlargement; underlines that the next MFF will also have to reform key spending areas, such as cohesion and agriculture, and plan for appropriate transitional and phasing-in measures;	45. Is convinced that the existing mandatory revision clause in the event of enlargement should be maintained in the next framework; stresses that national envelopes should not be affected in the event of enlargement; underlines that the next MFF will also have to reform key spending areas, such as cohesion and agriculture, and plan for appropriate transitional and phasing-in measures, including thorough scrutiny of the allocation and use of funds for development cooperation and humanitarian aid, ensuring alignment with the principles of Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development and the EU’s international commitments;

Amendment  63

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 47

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
47. Stresses that instability in neighbouring regions, poverty, underlying trends in economic development and demographic changes continue to generate migration flows towards the Union, placing significant pressure on asylum and migration systems; underlines that the post-2027 MFF must support the full implementation of the Union’s Asylum and Migration Pact, in line with fundamental rights and EU values; underlines, moreover, that, in line with the Pact, cooperation with third countries on migration must abide by EU law and respect international standards;	47. Stresses that instability in neighbouring regions, poverty, underlying trends in economic development and demographic changes continue to generate migration flows towards the Union, placing significant pressure on asylum and migration systems; underlines that the post-2027 MFF needs to address shortcomings in funding aimed at tackling the root causes of migration in North Africa and the Horn of Africa; emphasises the importance of implementing more effective border control mechanisms, combating migrant smuggling; stresses that the post-2027 MFF should focus on ensuring the return of migrants who do not qualify for asylum and should also emphasise better coordination of readmission agreements with third countries; notes that it is also essential to make African countries take responsibility for the management of irregular migration and to make the payment of European Union aid contingent upon their commitment to meaningful cooperation in combating it;

Amendment  64

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 47 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	47a. Urges the Commission to intensify its efforts to support Member States in addressing the root causes of migration effectively and to prevent the departure of migrants; emphasises the importance of fostering equal partnerships in development cooperation, grounded in mutual respect and shared responsibilities; stresses in this context that partner countries must fulfil their obligations regarding tackling irregular migration, including the facilitation of return and readmission processes;

Amendment  65

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 55

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
55. Welcomes the development of a methodology to track gender-based spending and considers that the lessons learnt should be applied in the next MFF; stresses, in the same vein, the need for a significant improvement in climate and biodiversity mainstreaming methodologies;	deleted

Amendment  66

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 56

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
56. Is pleased that the climate mainstreaming target of 30 % is projected to be exceeded in the current MFF; regrets, however, that the Union is not on track to meet the target for biodiversity-related expenditure; considers that the targets in the IIA have been a major factor in driving climate and biodiversity spending; recalls, furthermore, the importance of the ‘do no significant harm’ principle, as defined in the Taxonomy Regulation12 , in implementing the Union budget;	56. Is pleased that the climate mainstreaming target of 30 % is projected to be exceeded in the current MFF; regrets, however, that the Union is not on track to meet the target for biodiversity-related expenditure; recalls that biodiversity loss, particularly in vulnerable regions, fuels conflicts, displacement and migration; insists that dedicated funding for biodiversity must be increased to fulfil the Union’s international commitments; recalls, furthermore, the importance of the ‘do no significant harm’ principle, as defined in the Taxonomy Regulation12, in implementing the Union budget; calls on the Commission to improve the implementation of the principle across the EU budget;
__________________	__________________
12 Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/852/oj).	12 Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/852/oj).

Amendment  67

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 57

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
57. Insists that, post-2027, sufficient financial and staff resources be allocated from the outset so that Union institutions, bodies and decentralised agencies can ensure effective and efficient policy design, delivery and enforcement, continue to attract the best people from all Member States, thus ensuring geographical balance, and have leeway to adjust to changing circumstances;	57. Insists that, post-2027, sufficient financial and staff resources be allocated from the outset so that Union institutions, bodies and decentralised agencies can ensure effective and efficient policy design, delivery and enforcement, continue to attract the best people from all Member States, thus ensuring geographical balance, and have leeway to adjust to changing circumstances; stresses the importance of maintaining adequate funding and resources for EU Delegations in the next MFF to ensure they can effectively fulfil their mandates; emphasises that well-resourced Delegations are essential for effectively implementing EU external policies, fostering strong and long-lasting partnerships, responding to geopolitical challenges and delivering on the Union’s strategic priorities, including effective development cooperation, humanitarian aid, human development and diplomatic engagement;

Amendment  68

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 57 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	57a. Recalls that support for the outermost regions must remain a priority and considers allocating substantial resources to these regions to be one of the EU’s duties;

Amendment  69

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 61

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
61. Calls for genuine simplification where there are overlapping objectives, diverging eligibility criteria and different rules governing aspects that should be uniform across programmes; considers that an assessment of which spending programmes should be included in the next MFF must be based on the above aspects, on the need to focus spending on clearly identified policy objectives and on the policy intervention logic of each programme;	61. Calls for genuine simplification where there are overlapping objectives, diverging eligibility criteria and different rules governing aspects that should be uniform across programmes, while preserving budgets dedicated to specific objectives such as humanitarian action; considers that an assessment of which spending programmes should be included in the next MFF must be based on the above aspects, on the need to focus spending on clearly identified policy objectives and on the policy intervention logic of each programme;

Amendment  70

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 61 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	61a. Points out that simplification should not be at the expense of predictable and strategic programming, which is important especially in development cooperation, as it underpins partner countries’ ability to plan effectively, maintain ownership and achieve long-term progress; recalls the important role of benchmarks and targets in steering funding towards EU development priorities and reiterates that simplification should not do away with targets that provide a clear trajectory to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals;

Amendment  71

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 61 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	61b. Notes that the Commission, in its mid-term evaluation of the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI) – Global Europe, has not provided clear figures on how much investment the EFSD+ is expected to attract from the private sector; calls on the Commission to assess and report on the leverage effect of EU blending instruments under NDICI – Global Europe, following international standards such as those of the OECD; stresses that no evaluation has been provided on private resources mobilised under EFSD and EFSD+; urges the Commission to be more cautious in the use of blending and guarantees in EU development assistance and to ensure full transparency, so that Parliament as one of the budgetary authorities can make informed decisions on the best financing methods;

Amendment  72

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 62

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
62. Insists that a simpler budget must also be a more transparent budget, enabling better control of spending and reducing the risks of double funding; underlines that any reduction in programmes must be offset by a far more detailed breakdown of the budget by budget line, in contrast to some programme mergers in the current MFF, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI – Global Europe), which is an example not to follow; calls, therefore, for a sufficiently detailed breakdown by budget line to enable proper accountability and ensure that decision-making in the annual budgetary procedure is meaningful;	62. Insists that a simpler budget must also be a more transparent budget, enabling better control of spending and reducing the risks of double funding; underlines that any reduction in programmes must be offset by a far more detailed breakdown of the budget by budget line, in contrast to some programme mergers in the current MFF, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI – Global Europe), which, while it successfully provided a more coherent framework, it also limited the transparency of budget lines and Parliament’s oversight; calls, therefore, for a sufficiently detailed breakdown by budget line to enable proper accountability and ensure that decision-making in the annual budgetary procedure is meaningful;

Amendment  73

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 66

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
66. Believes that, while allocating a significant portion of funding to objectives up-front, spending programmes should retain a substantial in-built flexibility reserve, with allocation to specific policy objectives to be decided by the budgetary authority; notes that the NDICI – Global Europe’s emerging challenges and priorities cushion provides a model for such a flexibility reserve, but that the decision-making process for its mobilisation must not be replicated in the future MFF; points to the need for a detailed budgetary breakdown to ensure decisions by the budgetary authority are meaningful;	66. Believes that, while allocating a significant portion of funding to objectives up-front, spending programmes should retain a substantial in-built flexibility reserve, with allocation to specific policy objectives to be decided by the budgetary authority; notes that the NDICI – Global Europe’s emerging challenges and priorities cushion provides a model for such a flexibility reserve, but that the decision-making process for its mobilisation must not be replicated in the future MFF and that a process should be established that allows Parliament meaningful strategic steering and scrutiny; points to the need for a detailed budgetary breakdown to ensure decisions by the budgetary authority are meaningful;

Amendment  74

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 69

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
69. Considers that the post-2027 MFF should include only two special instruments - one dedicated to ensuring solidarity in the event of natural disasters (the successor to the existing European Solidarity Reserve) and one for general-purpose crisis response (the successor to the Flexibility Instrument); insists that both special instruments should be adequately funded from the outset and able to carry over unspent amounts indefinitely over the MFF period; believes that all other special instruments can either be wound up or subsumed into the two special instruments or into existing programmes;	69. Considers that the post-2027 MFF should include only three special instruments – maintaining two solidarity reserves (the existing European Solidarity Reserve and the Emergency Aid Reserve) and one for general-purpose crisis response (the successor to the Flexibility Instrument); insists that the three special instruments should be adequately funded from the outset and able to carry over unspent amounts to each special instrument indefinitely over the MFF period; believes that all other special instruments can either be wound up or subsumed into the three special instruments or into existing programmes;

Amendment  75

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 69 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	69a. Calls for the capacity of the EU to step up humanitarian support when required in response to unexpected crises to be safeguarded and for the corresponding reserves to be designed in a way that does not lead to competition between internal and external needs, as this would risk politicising EU humanitarian action, thereby undermining its humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence and consequently damaging the EU’s credibility and reputation as a principled actor in emergencies;

Amendment  76

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 69 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	69b. Understands the need for greater flexibility within the MFF to respond to unforeseen circumstances, including a substantial increase in the emergency aid reserve to respond effectively to global humanitarian crises, calls for the successor to the Emergency Aid Reserve (EAR) to allocate funds for crises outside Europe; highlights that the EAR has been a vital instrument for providing rapid and effective responses to unexpected events and strengthening humanitarian action based on needs outside the EU; recalls that the EU must ensure that humanitarian aid is delivered in accordance with the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence;

Amendment  77

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 70

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
70. Calls for the future Flexibility Instrument to be heavily front-loaded and subsequently to be fed through a number of additional sources of financing: unspent margins from previous years (as with the current Single Margin Instrument), the annual surplus from the previous year, a fines-based mechanism modelled on the existing Article 5 of the MFF Regulation, and decommitted appropriations;	70. Calls for the future Flexibility Instrument to be heavily front-loaded and subsequently to be fed through a number of additional sources of financing, excluding unspent amounts from other special instruments: unspent margins from previous years (as with the current Single Margin Instrument), the annual surplus from the previous year, a fines-based mechanism modelled on the existing Article 5 of the MFF Regulation, and decommitted appropriations; underlines, however, that for development cooperation, it is important to maintain the principle of decommitments returning to their budget lines of origin, as stipulated in Article 30 of NDICI – Global Europe and taken over from the European Development Fund principles; underlines furthermore that guarantees from the provisioning fund within the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) must be fully reinstated to the original budget lines under NDICI – Global Europe;

Amendment  78

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 72 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	72a. Underlines the need to introduce a stronger monitoring and evaluation system for development aid and investments to ensure that funds are used efficiently and actually promote sustainable economic and human development; emphasises the need for a rigorous evidence-based framework to assess the distributional impact of interventions in partner countries, ensuring they effectively reach the most disadvantaged populations and communities, including the poorest and most vulnerable – such as women, children and people with disabilities; stresses that this framework should also evaluate the impact on sustainable job creation and the development of local enterprises, including SMEs in partner countries; underlines that such an empirical approach enhances transparency in spending and strengthens Parliament’s oversight as part of the budgetary authority;

Amendment  79

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 85

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
85. Recalls its support for the amended Commission proposal on the system of own resources; calls on the Council to adopt this proposal as a matter of urgency; points, furthermore, to the need to explore additional innovative and genuine new own resources, in order to cover the higher spending needs;	85. Recalls its support for the amended Commission proposal on the system of own resources; calls on the Council to adopt this proposal as a matter of urgency; points, furthermore, to the need to explore additional innovative and genuine new own resources and a reinforced guarantee programme for the EIB, in order to cover the higher spending needs;

Amendment  80

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 88

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
88. Emphasises Parliament’s commitment to play its role fully throughout the process; believes that the design of the MFF should be bottom-up and based on the extensive involvement of stakeholders; underlines, furthermore, the need for a strategic dialogue among the three institutions in the run-up to the MFF proposals;	88. Emphasises Parliament’s commitment to play its role fully throughout the process; recalls the importance of Parliament in the legislative process and calls on the Commission to open a fair dialogue between the various stakeholders; believes moreover that the design of the MFF should be bottom-up and based on the extensive involvement of stakeholders; underlines, furthermore, the need for a strategic dialogue among the three institutions in the run-up to the MFF proposals;

 

 

 

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the Chair in his capacity as rapporteur for the opinion received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the opinion, prior to the adoption thereof in committee:

Entity and/or person

ECDPM, CONCORD, VOICE, Aidsfonds, Global Citizen, The ONE Campaign, UNICEF, WFP

European Commission: DG INTPA, DG ECHO

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the Chair in his capacity as rapporteur for the opinion.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the Chair in his capacity as rapporteur for the opinion declares that he has submitted to the concerned natural persons the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

 

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted	31.3.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	13 12 0
Members present for the final vote	Abir Al-Sahlani, Barry Andrews, Robert Biedroń, Udo Bullmann, Niels Geuking, Charles Goerens, György Hölvényi, Murielle Laurent, Reinhold Lopatka, Isabella Lövin, Lukas Mandl, Liudas Mažylis, Ana Miranda Paz, Tiago Moreira de Sá, Leire Pajín, Kristoffer Storm, Marco Tarquinio
Substitutes present for the final vote	Damien Carême, Tomasz Froelich, Paolo Inselvini, Ondřej Kolář, Carolina Morace, Rody Tolassy
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Peter Agius, Kosma Złotowski

 

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

13	+
ECR	Paolo Inselvini, Kristoffer Storm, Kosma Złotowski
ESN	Tomasz Froelich
PPE	Peter Agius, Niels Geuking, Ondřej Kolář, Reinhold Lopatka, Lukas Mandl, Liudas Mažylis
PfE	György Hölvényi, Tiago Moreira de Sá, Rody Tolassy

 

12	-
Renew	Abir Al-Sahlani, Barry Andrews, Charles Goerens
S&D	Robert Biedroń, Udo Bullmann, Murielle Laurent, Leire Pajín, Marco Tarquinio
The Left	Damien Carême, Carolina Morace
Verts/ALE	Isabella Lövin, Ana Miranda Paz

 

0	0

 

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstention

 

 

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGETARY CONTROL (24.3.2025)

for the Committee on Budgets

on a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world

(2024/2051(INI))

Rapporteur for opinion: Dirk Gotink

 

 

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Budgetary Control submits the following to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible:

Amendment  1

Motion for a resolution

Citation 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the discharge procedure and the findings of the European Court of Auditors in its annual reports on the implementation of the EU budget,

Amendment  2

Motion for a resolution

Recital E

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
E. whereas the Union budget, bolstered by NGEU, has been instrumental in alleviating the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 crisis and in responding to the effects of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; whereas the Union budget remains ill-equipped, in terms of size, structure and rules, to fully play its role in adjusting to evolving spending needs, addressing shocks and responding to crises and giving practical effect to the principle of solidarity;	E. whereas the Union budget has been instrumental in alleviating the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 crisis and in responding to the effects of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; whereas the Union budget remains ill-equipped, in terms of structure and rules, to fully play its role in adjusting to evolving spending needs, addressing shocks and responding to crises and giving practical effect to the principle of solidarity;

Amendment  3

Motion for a resolution

Recital H a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ha. whereas the European Court of Auditors, in its 2023 report 1a, concluded that the error rate in EU spending has risen to 5.6 % of the overall budget and warned that increasing European debt is placing growing pressure on the EU budget;
	_________________
	1a European Court of Auditors, ‘2023 Annual reports’.

Amendment  4

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
3. Emphasises that the post-2027 MFF must also become simpler and more transparent and be protected against misuse, fraud and breaches of the principles of the rule of law and the Union’s values;	3. Emphasises that the post-2027 MFF must also become simpler and more democratic, accessible and transparent, improving efficiency and accountability by simplifying and streamlining procedures, and be protected against corruption, misuse, fraud and conflicts of interest, and allowing for immediate action in case of breaches of the principles of the rule of law and the Union’s fundamental values; underlines the importance of protecting the Union’s financial interests; emphasises that simplification should not negatively affect transparency and should primarily benefit final beneficiaries and make application procedures more accessible;

Amendment  5

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	3a. Stresses the importance of the EU anti-fraud architecture in the context of the post-2027 MFF and the crucial role to be played by EU institutions, offices and agencies (European Court of Auditors, Eurojust, Europol, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)); calls for sufficient funding of these bodies and encourages them to enhance their cooperation, particularly in terms of exchanging information on criminal/fraudulent activities in relation to EU funds and providing access to each other’s data; recalls the importance of coordination and enhanced cooperation with the judicial and police systems of the Member States in order to combat fraud, abuse and organised crime more effectively; insists that participation in the EPPO must be compulsory for Member States receiving EU funds under the post-2027 MFF, unless the Member State has a constitutional opt-out; calls for exploring synergies in, and the possible consolidation of, the Union’s anti-fraud architecture; highlights that the current anti-fraud architecture faces challenges such as fragmentation and the lack of an integrated governance framework, overlapping competencies, insufficient resources and unreliable data, which may lead to the underestimation of fraud against EU finances; calls, therefore, on the Commission to (i) create a common governance framework to coordinate all anti-fraud actors, (ii) implement a unified reporting system to consolidate available information, (iii) promote greater use of digital tools to improve data collection, exchange and analysis, and (iv) reinforce financial and human resources to ensure the effectiveness of anti-fraud institutions;

Amendment  6

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
4. Underlines that a simpler, more flexible MFF requires more robust parliamentary accountability;	4. Underlines that a simpler, more flexible MFF requires more transparency and robust parliamentary scrutiny and accountability; recalls that EU citizens must be able to rely on those implementing the EU budget to inform them of how the funds have been spent and of the objectives achieved; recalls that transparency is essential to retain citizens’ trust, and that fraud and misuse of funds are extremely detrimental to maintaining that trust; calls on the Commission to put in place solid anti-fraud mechanisms in all funding instruments for the post-2027 MFF that ensure the protection of the EU budget; recommends advancing towards a publicly accessible database providing real-time information on EU budget allocations and spending outcomes;

Amendment  7

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
6. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness, decarbonising the economy and enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society;	6. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness and Europe’s security, decarbonising the economy and enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society;

Amendment  8

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
8. Points out that Draghi puts the annual investment gap with respect to innovation and infrastructure at EUR 750-800 billion per year between 2025 and 2030; underlines that, while the Union budget cannot cover that shortfall alone, it must play a vital role;	8. Points out that Draghi puts the annual investment gap with respect to innovation and infrastructure at EUR 750-800 billion per year between 2025 and 2030; underlines that, while the Union budget cannot cover that shortfall alone, it should nevertheless support the EU’s competitiveness to the extent possible;

Amendment  9

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
9. Stresses that the Union budget must be carefully coordinated with national spending and designed such that it can de-risk, mobilise and leverage private investment effectively, enabling start-ups and SMEs to access funds more readily; calls, therefore, for programmes such as InvestEU, which ensures additionality and follows a market-based, demand-driven approach, to be significantly reinforced in the next MFF; considers that budgetary guarantees are an effective use of resources and calls for them to be simplified;	9. Calls for the next MFF to be equipped with robust safeguards to prevent corruption and ensure transparency; stresses that the Union budget must be carefully coordinated with national spending and designed such that it can de-risk, mobilise and leverage private investment effectively, enabling start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs to access funds more readily; calls, therefore, for programmes such as InvestEU, which ensures additionality and follows a market-based, demand-driven approach, to be significantly reinforced and aligned with the Union’s priorities and the scale of identified challenges in the next MFF and to be allowed to maintain a less risk-averse approach to truly stimulate innovation; considers that budgetary guarantees are an effective use of resources if coupled with effective anti-corruption measures and calls for them to be simplified;

Amendment  10

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending in strategic policy areas, such as climate and, latterly, dual-use defence projects;	10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending and advisory services in strategic policy areas, such as climate and, latterly, dual-use defence projects;

Amendment  11

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
16. Stresses that, in order to compete with other major global players, the European economy must also become more competitive and resilient on the supply side by investing more in the Union’s open strategic autonomy through enhanced industrial policy and a focus on strategic sectors and critical technologies to reduce dependence on third countries;	16. Stresses that, in order to compete with other major global players, the European economy must also become more competitive and resilient on the supply side by investing more in the Union’s open strategic autonomy through enhanced, targeted and coordinated industrial policy and a focus on strategic sectors and critical technologies to reduce dependence on third countries;

Amendment  12

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
17. Emphasises that food security is a vital component of strategic autonomy and that the next MFF must continue to support the Union’s farming and fisheries sectors, including small and young farmers and fishers, and help the sectors to better protect the climate and biodiversity; highlights the crucial role of the common agricultural policy in increasing productivity through technical progress, ensuring a fair standard of living for farmers and guaranteeing food security; calls for adequate funding for the common agricultural policy in the next MFF;	17. Emphasises that food security is a vital component of strategic autonomy and that the next MFF must continue to support the Union’s farming and fisheries sectors, including small and young farmers and fishers, and help the sectors to better protect the climate and biodiversity; notes the crucial role of the common agricultural policy in increasing productivity through technical progress, ensuring a fair standard of living for farmers and guaranteeing food security; calls for evenly distributed, transparent, traceable and targeted investments in the common agricultural policy in the next MFF;

Amendment  13

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
18. Recalls that social, economic and territorial cohesion is a cornerstone of European integration and is vital in binding the Union together and deepening the single market; underlines that a modernised cohesion policy must follow a decentralised, place-based, multilevel governance approach and be built around the shared management and partnership principle, fully involving local and regional authorities;	18. Recalls that social, economic and territorial cohesion is a cornerstone of European integration and is vital in binding the Union together and deepening the single market, which still has untapped potential, according to the 2025 report on the single market and competitiveness; underlines that a modernised cohesion policy must follow a decentralised, place-based, multilevel governance approach and be built around the shared management and partnership principle, fully involving local and regional authorities as well as other relevant stakeholders; considers that their active participation will ensure effective oversight and contribute to strengthening safeguards against corruption and misuse of funds, thereby reinforcing transparency, accountability and the protection of the Union’s financial interests; recalls the importance of addressing the low absorption rate in the cohesion funds and calls for a more focused approach to the local and regional economic needs, including through the development of smart specialisation strategies for research and innovation;

Amendment  14

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
22. Recalls that the Union is committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, which requires a decarbonisation of the economy through the deployment of clean technologies, improved energy and transport infrastructure and more energy-efficient housing; notes that the Commission estimates additional investment needs to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at 1.5 % of GDP per year compared to the decade 2011-2020 and that, while the Union budget alone cannot cover the gap, it must remain a vital contributor;	22. Notes that the Union is committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, which requires a decarbonisation of the economy through the deployment of clean technologies, improved energy and transport infrastructure and more energy-efficient housing; notes that the Commission estimates additional investment needs to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at 1.5 % of GDP per year compared to the decade 2011-2020; notes the value of performance indicators on achieving climate neutrality in order to monitor the implementation of the EU policies and investments;

Amendment  15

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
25. Recalls that security is the foundation for the Union’s prosperity and social model and that the next MFF must invest significantly more in safeguarding the Union against the myriad threats it faces;	25. Recalls that security is the foundation for the Union’s prosperity and social model and must be highly prioritised in the next MFF considering the myriad threats the EU faces, such as geopolitical conflicts, hybrid and cyber threats, and authoritarian regimes that undermine freedom, democracy and other fundamental European values;

Amendment  16

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 27

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
27. Points out that the Union has played a vital role in achieving lasting peace on its territory and must continue to do so by adjusting to the reality of war on its doorstep and the need to vastly boost defence capabilities and readiness, far beyond the current allocation;	27. Points out that the Union has played a vital role in achieving lasting peace on its territory and must continue to do so by adjusting promptly to the reality of war on its doorstep and the need to vastly boost defence capabilities and readiness, far beyond the current allocation;

Amendment  17

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 28

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
28. Notes that, according to the Commission President, the defence spending gap currently stands at EUR 500 billion for the next decade; underlines that the Union budget alone cannot fill the gap, but has an important role to play;	28 Notes that, according to the Commission President, the defence spending gap currently stands at EUR 500 billion for the next decade; notes that the Union budget alone cannot fill the gap, despite defence and security spending being an EU priority, also in terms of strategic autonomy; invites the Commission to look into enabling private investments and capital flows, and public-private partnerships to fill the spending gap and ensure high transparency, ethical and accountability standards;

Amendment  18

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 30

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
30. Points to the importance of support in the budget for military mobility, which upgrades infrastructure for dual-use military and civilian purposes and thus contributes to the Union’s defence capabilities;	30. Reiterates the importance of coordinated support within the NATO framework in the budget for military mobility, which upgrades infrastructure for dual-use military and civilian purposes and thus contributes to the Union’s defence capabilities;

Amendment  19

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 33

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
33. Underlines that, with technological change, it has become easier for malicious and opportunistic foreign actors to spread disinformation, interfere in elections and mount cyberattacks against the Union’s interests; insists that the next MFF must invest in enhanced cybersecurity; points to the importance of digital and media literacy and critical thinking in this regard, and to the need for continued Union budget support for initiatives in these areas;	33. Underlines that, with technological change, it has become easier for malicious and opportunistic foreign actors to spread disinformation, interfere in elections and mount cyberattacks against the Union’s interests; insists that the next MFF must invest in enhanced cybersecurity; points to the importance of digital and media literacy and critical thinking in this regard, and to the need for continued Union budget support for initiatives in these areas; stresses, furthermore, the need to invest in the education of the general public in order for them to be able to identify cyberthreats and navigate the environment of disinformation in today’s world;

Amendment  20

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 38

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
38. Underlines that the budget must uphold the Union’s role as the world’s leading provider of development aid and climate finance in line with the Union’s global obligations and commitments; insists that the budget must continue to support the Union in its efforts to defend the rules-based international order, democracy, multilateralism, human rights and fundamental values;	38. Underlines that the budget must uphold the Union’s role as the world’s leading provider of development aid and climate finance in line with the Union’s global obligations and commitments; insists that the budget must continue to support the Union in its efforts to defend the rules-based international order, democracy, multilateralism, human rights and fundamental values; stresses the need to improve oversight and reporting of the investments and policies in this area;

Amendment  21

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 43

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
43. Stresses that financial support must be conditional on the implementation of reforms and adherence to Union values; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a strong governance model that ensures parliamentary accountability, oversight and control;	43. Stresses that financial support must be conditional on the implementation of reforms and adherence to Union values, as well as on the implementation of effective measures to protect the financial interests of the Union; recalls the European Court of Auditors’ recommendations to define in advance clear strategic targets on the rule of law measures for each enlargement country and to request the introduction of detailed outputs and results for the pre-accession support, accompanied by a clear methodology to guide decisions on payments; calls on the Commission to introduce reinforced provisions giving the EU institutions greater capacity to check the use of EU funds in the financial agreements with candidate countries; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a strong governance model that ensures parliamentary accountability, oversight and control, and, in particular, a strong and functional anti-fraud structure;

Amendment  22

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 44

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
44. Underlines that pre-accession support to Ukraine has to be distinct from financial assistance for reconstruction and post-war recovery, where needs are far more substantial and require a concerted international effort, of which support through the Union budget should be an important part;	44. Underlines that pre-accession support to Ukraine has to be additional to financial assistance for reconstruction and post-war recovery, where needs are far more substantial and require a concerted international effort, of which support through the Union budget should be an important part;

Amendment  23

Motion for a resolution

Subheading 6

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
Fundamental rights, Union values and the rule of law	Fundamental rights, the rule of law and other Union values

Amendment  24

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 46

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
46. Emphasises the importance of the Union budget in promoting and protecting democracy and the Union’s values, fostering the Union’s common cultural heritage and European integration, enhancing citizen engagement and youth participation and promoting fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the rule of law; points to the importance of independence of justice, the sound functioning of national institutions, support for civil society and de-oligarchisation;	46. Emphasises the importance of the Union budget in promoting and protecting democracy and the Union’s values, as enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, fostering the Union’s common cultural heritage and European integration, enhancing citizen engagement and youth participation and promoting fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the rule of law, while ensuring the protection of the Union’s financial interests through anti-corruption measures and transparent financial management; points to the importance of independence of the judiciary, including prosecution, the sound functioning of European, national and subnational institutions, including free, independent and pluralistic media and a pluralistic and thriving civil society, and de-oligarchisation; stresses the need for robust anti-corruption measures to be a central pillar of the post-2027 MFF; urges the full involvement of Parliament in the process, including its right to access relevant documentation to ensure transparency and accountability throughout the procedure;

Amendment  25

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 48

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
48. Highlights the importance of strong links between respect for the rule of law and access to EU funds under the current MFF; believes that the protection of the Union’s financial interests depends on respect for the rule of law at national level; welcomes, in particular, the positive impact of the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation in protecting the Union’s financial interests in cases of systemic and persistent breaches of the rule of law; calls on the Commission and the Council to apply the regulation strictly, consistently and without undue delay wherever necessary; emphasises that decisions to suspend or reduce Union funding over breaches of the rule of law must be based on objective criteria and not be guided by other considerations, nor be the outcome of negotiations;	48. Considers compliance with the rule of law and other Union values as fundamental to the protection of the EU’s financial interests and therefore a prerequisite to access EU funds; highlights the importance of strong links between respect for the rule of law and access to EU funds under the current MFF; believes that the protection of the Union’s financial interests depends on respect for the rule of law at national level; welcomes, in particular, the positive impact of the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation in protecting the Union’s financial interests in cases of systemic and persistent breaches of the rule of law; calls on the Commission and the Council to apply the regulation strictly, consistently and without undue delay wherever necessary; emphasises that decisions to suspend or reduce Union funding over breaches of the rule of law must be based on objective, non-discriminatory criteria, thus ensuring that the mechanism is not used as a political tool and is not subject to blackmailing tactics of governments seeking to influence Union decisions; calls for an improved procedural framework that guarantees objectivity, transparency, consistency and the protection of final beneficiaries; urges the full involvement of Parliament in the process, including its right to access relevant documentation to ensure transparency and accountability throughout the procedure; recognises the emergence of new types of rule of law violations by national governments and calls on the Commission to address these evolving challenges, to include an assessment of the status of compliance with single market rules in the evaluation of the rule of law in each Member State and to trigger the conditionality mechanism if structural and persistent breaches occur at the national level that negatively impact the protection of the Union’s financial interests; considers that ex ante conditionalities and the permanent monitoring of their fulfilment play a central role in the protection of the EU’s financial interests;

Amendment  26

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 49

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
49. Points to the need for a strong link between the rule of law and the Union budget post-2027 and welcomes the Commission’s intention to bolster links between the recommendations in the annual rule of law report and access to funds through the budget; calls on the Commission to outline, in the annual rule of law report from 2025 onwards, the extent to which identified weaknesses in rule of law regimes potentially pose a risk to the Union budget; welcomes, furthermore, the link between respect for Union values and the implementation of the budget and calls on the Commission to actively monitor Member States’ compliance with this principle;	49. Points to the need for a stronger link between the rule of law as well as other Union values and the Union budget post-2027 and welcomes the Commission’s intention to bolster links between the recommendations in the annual rule of law report and access to funds through the budget; calls on the Commission to outline, in the annual rule of law report from 2025 onwards, the extent to which identified weaknesses in rule of law regimes potentially pose a risk to the Union budget; welcomes, furthermore, the link between respect for Union values and the implementation of the budget and calls on the Commission to actively monitor Member States’ compliance with this principle and to take swift action in the event of non-compliance;

Amendment  27

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 50

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
50. Calls for the consolidation of a robust rule of law toolbox, building on the current conditionality provisions under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the horizontal enabling conditions in the Common Provisions Regulation; underlines the need for far greater transparency and consistency with regard to the application of tools to protect the rule of law and for Parliament’s role to be strengthened in the application and scrutiny of such measures; insists, furthermore, on the need for consistency across instruments when assessing breaches of the rule of law in Member States;	50. Calls for the consolidation of a robust toolbox covering the rule of law and other Union values, building on the current conditionality provisions under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the horizontal enabling conditions in the Common Provisions Regulation1a and the relevant provisions of the Financial Regulation and insists that the toolbox should cover the entire EU budget and ensure no backsliding across any instruments; underlines the need for far greater transparency and consistency with regard to the application of tools to protect the rule of law and for Parliament’s role to be strengthened in the scrutiny of such measures; insists, furthermore, on the need for consistency across instruments when assessing breaches of the rule of law in Member States; ______________ 1a Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy, OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 159, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1060/oj.

Amendment  28

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 51

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
51. Recalls that the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation provides that final recipients should not be deprived of the benefits of EU funds in the event of sanctions being applied to their government; believes that, to date, this provision has not been effective and stresses the importance of applying a smart conditionality approach so that beneficiaries are not penalised because of their government’s actions; calls on the Commission to explore additional ways of ensuring that local and regional authorities, civil society and other beneficiaries can continue to benefit from Union funding in cases of breaches of the rule of law by national governments without weakening the application of the regulation;	51. Recalls that the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation provides that final recipients should not be deprived of the benefits of EU funds in the event of the mechanism being applied to their government; strongly believes that, to date, this provision has been insufficiently enforced and stresses the importance of applying the conditionality mechanism so that beneficiaries are safeguarded from being penalised due to the actions of their government; insists that the Commission propose specific measures to ensure that local and regional authorities, civil society and other beneficiaries can continue to benefit from Union funding in cases of breaches of the rule of law by national governments without weakening the application of the regulation;

Amendment  29

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 51 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	51a. Acknowledges the crucial role of horizontal enabling conditions in the Common Provisions Regulation in ensuring the systematic application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights; underlines the need to strengthen monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to enhance the practical enforcement of these conditions, ensuring enhanced transparency and stakeholder participation in the monitoring committee;

Amendment  30

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 55

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
55. Welcomes the development of a methodology to track gender-based spending and considers that the lessons learnt should be applied in the next MFF; stresses, in the same vein, the need for a significant improvement in climate and biodiversity mainstreaming methodologies;	deleted

Amendment  31

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 56 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	56a. Acknowledges the importance of a clear monitoring framework for horizontal, cross-cutting EU objectives and ensuring that funding instruments are designed to achieve such EU objectives; notes the Commission’s efforts to enhance the tracking of and reporting on such horizontal priorities, but calls for stronger safeguards and clearer milestones for the completion of these measures; calls for a closer link between disbursements and the achievement of objectives in future funding instruments, along with proactive steps to mitigate the risks of non-completion;

Amendment  32

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 56 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	56b. Calls on the Commission to establish a framework for monitoring and evaluating horizontal EU priorities; stresses the importance of robust performance monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track the contribution of investments to meeting horizontal targets; calls on the Commission to strengthen its commitment to Better Regulation principles to ensure that future funding instruments deliver measurable results;

Amendment  33

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 57

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
57. Insists that, post-2027, sufficient financial and staff resources be allocated from the outset so that Union institutions, bodies and decentralised agencies can ensure effective and efficient policy design, delivery and enforcement, continue to attract the best people from all Member States, thus ensuring geographical balance, and have leeway to adjust to changing circumstances;	57. Recalls that an effective European public administration is a public good; insists that, post-2027, sufficient financial and staff resources be allocated from the outset so that Union institutions, bodies and decentralised agencies can ensure effective and efficient policy design, delivery and enforcement as well as the protection of the financial interests of the Union, continue to attract the best people from all Member States, thus ensuring geographical balance, and have leeway to adjust to changing circumstances;

Amendment  34

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 59

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
59. Stresses that up-front investment in interoperable IT infrastructure and data mining can also generate longer-term cost savings and hugely enhance policy delivery and tracking of spending;	59. Emphasises that, if properly managed, digitalisation can make public administration more efficient, reliable and secure, while also contributing to the protection of the EU’s financial interests; stresses that the increased focus on performance requires a more robust monitoring framework and effective use of IT tools such as EDES and ARACHNE to enhance transparency, data-driven oversight and governance under the post-2027 MFF; stresses the importance of up-front investment in interoperable IT infrastructure and data mining as a prerequisite for implementing the key components of the protection of the Union’s financial interests in the next MFF and highlights that they can also generate longer-term cost savings and hugely enhance policy delivery and tracking of spending; calls on the Commission to enhance interoperability between digital tools for the supervision and audits of EU funds, and to provide support and tools to upgrade the digital skills of public administration staff, both EU and national, involved in the management of EU funds;

Amendment  35

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 59 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	59a. Emphasises that the cybersecurity preparedness of the EU institutions and bodies is insufficient given the growing threats, making them vulnerable to increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks; highlights the lack of a common legal framework, insufficient resources and training, unequal cybersecurity investments, and gaps in cooperation and information sharing on security incidents; recalls the importance of recital 14 and Article 6(7) of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2023/28411a and calls on the Commission to continue making adequate investments in cybersecurity to meet the longer-term indicative target of at least 10 % of total IT spending; calls on the Commission to (i) introduce binding cybersecurity rules for all EU institutions and bodies, (ii) increase resources for CERT-EU and ENISA, (iii) enhance interinstitutional cooperation, (iv) prioritise support for less cyber-mature entities, and (v) ensure mandatory cybersecurity training for staff and decision-makers; further stresses the need to improve incident reporting and coordination to strengthen the EU’s overall cyber resilience; ______________ 1a Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2023/2841 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2023 laying down measures for a high common level of cybersecurity at the institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the Union, OJ L, 2023/2841, 18.12.2023, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/2841/oj.

Amendment  36

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 60

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
60. Stresses that the next MFF must be designed so as to simplify the lives of beneficiaries, harmonise rules wherever possible and cut unnecessary red tape and must be implemented as close to people as possible;	60. Stresses that the next MFF must be designed so as to simplify the procedures for final beneficiaries, develop digitalisation, harmonise rules wherever possible and cut unnecessary red tape and must be implemented as close to people as possible; is of the opinion that cutting red tape and effective budgetary control can go hand in hand; insists, therefore, that the financial oversight of Union funds should be conducted through more synchronised and digitalised reporting mechanisms, with a view to strengthening financial supervision, enabling advanced data analytics, identifying risk indicators, and facilitating comparative assessments among Member States;

Amendment  37

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 61

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
61. Calls for genuine simplification where there are overlapping objectives, diverging eligibility criteria and different rules governing aspects that should be uniform across programmes; considers that an assessment of which spending programmes should be included in the next MFF must be based on the above aspects, on the need to focus spending on clearly identified policy objectives and on the policy intervention logic of each programme;	61. Calls for genuine simplification where there are overlapping objectives, diverging eligibility criteria and different rules governing aspects that should be uniform across programmes; considers that an assessment of which spending programmes should be included in the next MFF must be based on the above aspects, on the need to focus spending on clearly identified policy objectives and on the policy intervention logic of each programme; points out that transparency must be ensured and improved through a centralised, real-time, publicly accessible database of all recipients of EU funds, including final beneficiaries of cohesion and agricultural funding, in order to prevent fraud and misuse;

Amendment  38

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 61 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	61a. Expresses serious concern over the conclusion of the European Court of Auditors, in its 2023 report1a, that the error rate in EU spending has risen to 5.6 % of the overall budget; underlines the European Court of Auditors’ warning that increasing European debt is placing growing pressure on the EU budget; urges the Commission to thoroughly consider the findings of the European Court of Auditors and fully implement the recommendations from both its annual and special reports to enhance the efficiency, transparency and accountability of EU budgetary spending;
	_________________
	1a European Court of Auditors, ‘2023 Annual reports’.

Amendment  39

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 61 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	61a. Believes that, alongside strong control mechanisms, the next MFF should have a specific focus on a further simplification of the procedures for applicants and/or beneficiaries, in particular smaller beneficiaries; is of the opinion that the Commission’s deregulation priorities should also be felt by applicants for EU funding; reiterates that such simplification should not be to the detriment of sufficient controls, sound financial management and transparency;

Amendment  40

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 62

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
62. Insists that a simpler budget must also be a more transparent budget, enabling better control of spending and reducing the risks of double funding; underlines that any reduction in programmes must be offset by a far more detailed breakdown of the budget by budget line, in contrast to some programme mergers in the current MFF, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI – Global Europe), which is an example not to follow; calls, therefore, for a sufficiently detailed breakdown by budget line to enable proper accountability and ensure that decision-making in the annual budgetary procedure is meaningful;	62. Insists that a simpler budget must also be a more transparent budget, enabling better control of spending and reducing the risks of double funding, misuse and fraud,  without undermining the necessary complementarity between EU funds; underlines that any reduction in programmes must be offset by a far more detailed breakdown of the budget by budget line, in contrast to some programme mergers in the current MFF, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI – Global Europe), which is an example not to follow; calls, therefore, for a sufficiently detailed breakdown by budget line to enable proper accountability and ensure that decision-making in the annual budgetary procedure is meaningful;

Amendment  41

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 62 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	62b. Emphasises, in particular, the risk of double funding, which increases with the introduction of instruments based on financing not linked to costs (FNLC) and is higher when different EU funding programmes with different delivery models, rules and governance and accountability frameworks are used to finance similar measures and actions during the same time frame; calls on the Commission to align rules, governance and accountability frameworks; stresses the ex ante need to prevent double funding through a clear demarcation of which kinds of actions can be funded by which instruments; re-emphasises, in this regard, the increased need for the detection of double funding through a single, integrated, interoperable information and monitoring system, as envisaged in the Financial Regulation;

Amendment  42

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 62 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	62c. Regrets the Commission’s rejection of recommendations to clarify the definition of double funding under FNLC models and to strengthen control requirements; considers that both the cost and performance dimensions must be addressed to effectively mitigate risks; urges the Commission to formalise minimum control requirements and ensure their consistent application at the beneficiary level to safeguard EU funds and enhance oversight across Member States;

Amendment  43

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 62 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	62d. Acknowledges the importance of coordination among funding programmes and instruments on account of the complexities introduced by the RRF and FNLC models; calls on the Commission to address these challenges proactively in the post-2027 MFF by establishing robust data-sharing mechanisms and aligning reporting across funding instruments to strengthen oversight and accountability;

Amendment  44

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 62 e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	62e. Calls on the Commission to reform audit mechanisms with a view to strengthening the role of the European Court of Auditors in the implementation of MFF programmes and in its interaction with national audit offices, with a focus on timing, lessons learnt and subsidiarity;

Amendment  45

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 62 f (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	62f. Calls on the Commission to increase the transparency, and citizens’ awareness, of the MFF by gathering and setting up a real-time, publicly accessible digital dashboard detailing fund allocation, project purposes, outcomes and final beneficiaries;

Amendment  46

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 62 g (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	62g. Notes that the Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) is looking into the existence of grant agreements containing detailed lobbying activities, funded by the MFF LIFE programme; notes that the Commission adopted guidance on funding activities related to the development, implementation, monitoring and enforcement of Union legislation and policy clarifying that funding is in line with the EU acquis, while stating that this could entail a reputational risk for the Union; calls on the Commission to ensure full transparency on the final recipients of EU funds across different policy areas as well as to review all other MFF programmes to make sure they comply with the measures that have been taken by the Commission;

Amendment  47

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 63

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
63. Reiterates its long-standing position that all EU-level spending should be brought within the purview of the budgetary authority; calls, therefore, for the full budgetisation of (partially) off-budget instruments such as the Social Climate Fund, the Innovation Fund and the Modernisation Fund, or their successors;	63. Reiterates its long-standing position that all EU-level spending should be brought within the purview of the budgetary authority; calls, therefore, for the full budgetisation of (partially) off-budget instruments such as the Social Climate Fund, the Innovation Fund and the Modernisation Fund, or their successors, in order to ensure Parliament’s oversight and the Court of Auditors’ audit rights; reiterates the call for public audit mandates for all financing instruments supporting EU policies, including those outside the EU legal framework;

Amendment  48

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 63 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	63a. Insists on the introduction of automatic corrective measures in the next MFF, particularly in cases where serious deficiencies in national control mechanisms are identified; calls on the Commission to adopt a stringent approach in such cases, immediately suspending funding where structural and persistent deficiencies threaten the proper financial implementation of the EU budget, thereby safeguarding the Union’s financial interests; emphasises the deterrent effect of such a system and points, in that regard, to net-financial corrections that protect the EU’s financial interests, and result in a direct loss for the Member State concerned; calls for sufficient internal guidance on flat-rate corrections for deficiencies in Member States’ control systems, including in performance-based instruments; urges the Commission to strengthen its focus on using flat-rate corrections for systemic irregularities to better safeguard the Union’s financial interests; stresses the importance of addressing weaknesses in recovery mechanisms to ensure irregularities are properly identified and managed; highlights the need to include robust recovery provisions and safeguards in future funding instruments to mitigate the risks of incomplete measures, double funding or unlawful actions;

Amendment  49

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 63 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	63b. Calls on the Commission to provide detailed, transparent and publicly accessible information on established irregular expenditure and the corrective measures taken; emphasises that sufficient and transparent reporting is essential for effective oversight and accountability; highlights the critical need to align disbursements with the completion of milestones and objectives under instruments such as the RRF; emphasises the need for enhanced mechanisms to give assurance on the absence of double funding, especially in simplified financing models such as FNLC, by expanding audit coverage to include both cost and performance dimensions;

Amendment  50

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 63 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	63d. Deplores the release of EU funds to a Member State involved in a procedure under the rule of law conditionality mechanism despite significant deficiencies in its judicial independence and anti-corruption frameworks; urges the Commission to ensure that EU funds effectively reach the population; calls on the Commission to systematically suspend EU funds through all instruments at its disposal in cases of severe and persistent breaches of the rule of law, corruption, misuse of EU funds, or structural and persistent deficiencies that endanger the sound financial implementation of the EU budget;

Amendment  51

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 64

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
64. Points out that, traditionally, the MFF has not been conceived with a crisis response or flexibility logic, but rather has been designed primarily to ensure medium-term investment predictability; underlines that, in a rapidly changing political, economic and social context, such an approach is no longer tenable; insists on sufficient in-built crisis response capacity in the next MFF;	64. Points out that, traditionally, the MFF has not been conceived with a crisis response or flexibility logic, but rather has been designed primarily to ensure medium-term investment predictability; recalls that, as a result, the EU’s financial landscape has become fragmented, with instruments featuring varying sources of funding and governance arrangements; underlines that, in a rapidly changing political, economic and social context, such an approach is no longer tenable; insists on sufficient in-built crisis response capacity in the next MFF; emphasises that, while responding to crises is crucial, it must be done in full adherence to transparency requirements, and that instruments introduced under urgent circumstances should integrate into their design the respective assessment criteria for which funds are disbursed; calls for a sufficient prior assessment of all financial instruments (re-)introduced in the post-2027 MFF, with a focus on their design, necessity and alignment with EU objectives; calls for full parliamentary scrutiny over off-budget instruments and special funds, ensuring that all EU expenditure is subject to democratic oversight and that no financial instruments bypass parliamentary control;

Amendment  52

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 67

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
67. Underlines that the MFF must have sufficient margins under each heading to ensure that new instruments or spending objectives agreed over the programming period can be accommodated without eroding funding for other policy objectives or eating into crisis response capacity;	deleted

Amendment  53

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 67 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	67a. Notes that different programmes and projects could have varying timelines for implementation; warns against excessively burdensome administrative obligations associated with changing such programmes or projects; underlines the need for flexibility of funding destinations to ensure that funding can be reallocated if it is not spent on an envisaged project (‘use or lose’);

Amendment  54

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 69 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	69a. Highlights that the EU’s crisis response mechanisms have revealed gaps in monitoring, accountability and long-term planning; urges the Commission to enhance transparency and performance tracking, ensuring harmonised indicators and real-time oversight; stresses the need for stronger parliamentary scrutiny over crisis funds and clearer conditionalities to align emergency measures with the EU’s strategic long-term objectives;

Amendment  55

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 71 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	71a. Calls, in this regard, for the length of the MFF budget to be shortened from 7 to 5 years to increase flexibility and accountability and to be more synchronised with the mandate of the EU institutions;

Amendment  56

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 71 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	71a. Considers that, given the significant changes and simplifications envisaged, there is an increased need to adjust the Financial Regulation to an entirely new way of working in the post-2027 MFF, in parallel with the adoption of the MFF regulation; expects the Commission to ensure that the next MFF, including the spending programmes, remains aligned with the Financial Regulation (recast); highlights, in that context, the requirement laid down in the recast of the Financial Regulation for the Commission and the Member States, in the implementation of the EU budget, to ensure compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights and to respect the values on which the Union is founded, enshrined in Article 2 TFEU;

Amendment  57

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 72 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	72a. Calls on the Commission to focus more closely on results and outcomes in the post-2027 MFF, alongside outputs and costs, and to place greater emphasis on cross-border EU added value; warns against embedding political objectives in a performance-based system, justifying the need to focus on results and outcomes;

Amendment  58

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 72 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	72b. Considers that any shift to a more performance-based approach needs to be based on a clear and reliable performance framework where EU expenditure is clearly attributed to the objectives being pursued therewith, both ex ante on the basis of estimates, and ex post on the basis of actual expenditure, and that this should be clearly disclosed in the Commission’s progress and performance reports; considers that this should be reflected in the legal bases for the post-2027 MFF to allow the Commission to collect this information from the Member States;

Amendment  59

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
75. Points out that any application of an RRF-style delivery model in the next MFF would have to correct the RRF’s fundamental flaws, by involving regional and local authorities from design to delivery through a place-based and multilevel governance approach, ensuring the cross-border dimension of investment projects, focusing on results and impact rather than outputs, guaranteeing full transparency in relation to final recipients of Union spending and safeguarding Parliament’s role as legislator, budgetary and discharge authority and in holding the executive to account;	75. Points out that any application of an RRF-style delivery model in the next MFF would have to correct the RRF’s fundamental flaws, by allowing for a more flexible programming framework guaranteeing robust public procurement and grant procedures, implementing the partnership principle, involving regional and local authorities and other relevant stakeholders from design to delivery through a place-based and multilevel governance approach, ensuring the cross-border dimension of investment projects and cross-border projects per se, focusing on results and impact rather than outcomes, ensuring the availability of data relevant for performance measurement and a single audit trail, guaranteeing full transparency in relation to final recipients of Union spending and safeguarding Parliament’s role as legislator, budgetary and discharge authority and in holding the executive to account; recalls the importance of a clear definition of the milestones and objectives;

Amendment  60

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	75a. Considers that transparency is key to ensuring that EU funds achieve their objectives and reach their intended final beneficiaries and/or recipients; emphasises the need to identify and report on the real final beneficiaries of all EU funds to maintain public trust and enable Parliament to effectively fulfil its discharge authority role; reiterates the concern about the Commission and the Member States’ interpretation of what a ‘final recipient’ of RRF funding represents, which is not in line with the agreement of the REPowerEU negotiations, and maintains that ministries, public authorities and other contracting authorities cannot be listed as final recipients of RRF funding; expresses further concern about the findings of the Court of Auditors concerning the risk of irregular and double funding and financing of recurring budgetary expenditure, which are not in line with the RRF legal basis; stresses that a robust mechanism to prevent double funding and ensure accountability must be centrally integrated into and be applicable to all funding instruments, especially under the RRF and the FNLC delivery model;

Amendment  61

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	75b. Reiterates its position that the involvement of regional and local authorities, as well as other relevant stakeholders, is key in the design and implementation of any national approach to the next MFF;

Amendment  62

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	75a. Notes the Commission’s intention to increase the focus on a performance-based implementation of the EU budget, which requires careful choice and definition of indicators clearly linked to the funding objectives, based on thorough ex ante impact assessments, monitoring and ex post evaluations; is of the opinion that any shift to a performance-based approach based on the RRF requires the issues identified in its implementation acknowledged by the Commission to be addressed, and that it otherwise cannot be used as a blueprint; notes that these issues include limited accountability and limited insight at EU level into compliance with (EU) rules and regulations in the implementation of EU funds, limited transparency with regard to final recipients, limited EU added value on account of, in particular, the limited number of cross-border projects, and the limited involvement of subnational entities, in particular local and regional authorities, in the design and implementation of the instrument; calls for a continued and increased focus on performance, which, at the same time, should not come at the expense of controls and sound financial management; stresses the need for more centralised, integrated and interoperable IT solutions to automate reporting and guarantee the reliability and accuracy of data without creating additional administrative burdens; underscores the importance of monitoring the regularity of expenditure under the new MFF as well in order to combat misuse and fraud; is therefore of the opinion that, even if there is a shift to a more results- and impact-focused system, there must be a check on expenditure regularity; underlines that ensuring the full protection of the Union’s financial interests under performance-based budgeting will require careful balancing of auditing and control requirements with the administrative burden imposed on Member States and beneficiaries; points out that implementing the single audit approach and having one single contact point at the Commission for Member States and the European Court of Auditors, such as FENIX, would enable the administrative burden to be reduced while consolidating and coordinating audit responsibilities;

Amendment  63

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	75c. Underlines the need for tailor-made approaches for Member States; considers it of the utmost importance that the Commission maintain a strong horizontal approach to prevent the ‘nationalisation’ of Union policies, resulting in 27 national approaches that together do not form a Union approach and where Member States are treated differently on similar issues; notes that the experience so far with national recovery and resilience plans has not been positive, as it has not always been possible to quantify each Member State’s contribution to EU objectives due to a lack or incomparability of available data, and larger Member States with more budgetary resources have been treated differently from smaller ones with tighter budgets; considers that Parliament should be involved in defining such national approaches;

Amendment  64

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	75d. Notes that, in the case of existing performance-based instruments implemented under direct management, there is no obligation for Member States to report cases of suspected fraud in the Irregularity Management System (IMS), as is the case for funds implemented under shared management; calls on the Commission to mitigate this information gap for future performance-based instruments, either by requiring the use of the IMS or by defining new reporting obligations that would give EU-level anti-fraud organisations access to such information from Member States;

Amendment  65

Motion for a resolution

Subheading 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	A long-term budget that demonstrates performance

Amendment  66

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75 e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	75e. Notes the Commission’s wish to put the post-2027 MFF on a stronger performance-based footing; notes the experience in the current and previous MFFs with performance frameworks that had to define, measure and report on performance; recalls the reports of the Court of Auditors that looked into performance frameworks from a compliance or performance perspective and repeatedly found similar shortcomings, regardless of the policy area; recalls that this concerned the poor definition of performance indicators and/ or objectives, a lack of available performance data to measure achievements on indicators or objectives, the poor quality of performance data and a lack of comparability between providers (e.g. Member States); calls on the Commission to address these issues in a performance monitoring and evaluation framework for the post-2027 MFF that is linked to the political priorities of the Commission, while bearing in mind the potential costs and administrative burdens on Member States, stakeholders and project promoters;

Amendment  67

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75 f (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	75f. Understands that defining and agreeing on indicators and/or objectives between the Commission and the Member States constitutes a process of negotiation and may therefore result in politicised compromises; is concerned that this may result in differences in treatment among Member States, notably between larger and smaller Member States; stresses, however, the importance of clear and measurable ex ante definitions, since the outcome of the entire implementation process relies on it; stresses therefore the ex ante need to define clear and measurable indicators and/or objectives; notes that indicators and objectives can be defined at various levels, including as input, output, results and impacts, and that measuring the actual contribution from Union activities varies per level, with inputs and outputs having a relatively strong link, while results and outcomes are more difficult to attribute to Union policies; stresses the need for the post-2027 MFF to have in place methodologies for identifying the link between the activities deployed under Union policies and the results and impacts observed; stresses the need to align definitions across Union policy areas, and therefore the need for an effective performance monitoring and evaluation framework;

Amendment  68

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75 g (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	75g. Regards identifying and defining performance data, once indicators and objectives have been established, as a more technical undertaking requiring major improvements in the post-2027 MFF; stresses that performance data, both existing and new, should be accurate and consistent to avoid an unnecessary administrative burden and to ensure data comparability between Member States; calls on the Commission to make full use of the data and knowledge available in Eurostat and the Joint Research Centre; calls on the Commission to identify baselines for indicators and objectives before the start of the post-2027 MFF;

Amendment  69

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75 h (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	75h. Notes that for performance-based instruments, where payments are based on the achievement of indicators/ objectives defined ex ante, the verification of the actual achievement of these objectives is of the utmost importance; considers that agreed verification mechanisms can provide clarity on the actions and deliverables that are necessary to determine whether an objective has been achieved and a linked payment can be made; recalls the need to properly consult with all relevant Commission services when verifying the achievements made, and to document the process;

Amendment  70

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 78

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
78. Underlines that, to date, the Union budget has been required only to repay interest related to NGEU and that, from 2028 onwards, the budget will also have to repay the capital; underscores that the total costs for NGEU capital and interest repayments are projected to be around EUR 20-30 billion a year from 2028;	78. Expresses its concern that outstanding debt from borrowing amounted to EUR 458.5 billion at the end of 2023, representing 2.7 % of total EU GDP; underlines that, to date, the Union budget has been required only to repay interest related to NGEU, but that, from 2028 onwards, the budget will also have to repay the capital; underscores that the total costs for NGEU capital and interest repayments are projected to be around EUR 20-30 billion a year from 2028; notes that higher indebtedness makes the Union budget more vulnerable to interest rate increases; stresses therefore that new borrowing should be avoided as far as possible;

Amendment  71

Motion for a resolution

Subheading 13

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
A long-term budget that is properly resourced and sustainably financed	A long-term budget that is properly resourced, sustainably financed and effectively protected

Amendment  72

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 82

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
82. Underlines that, as described above, the budgetary needs post-2027 will be significantly higher than the amounts allocated to the 2021-2027 MFF; insists, therefore, that the Union will only be able to tackle the significant challenges it faces and deliver on its policy objectives if the next MFF is endowed with the resources necessary to meet the increasing budgetary needs;	82. Underlines that, as described above, the budgetary needs post-2027 will be significantly higher than the amounts allocated to the 2021-2027 MFF; insists, therefore, that the Union will only be able to tackle the significant challenges it faces and deliver on its policy objectives if the next MFF is endowed with the resources necessary to meet the Union’s challenges;

Amendment  73

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 84

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
84. Reiterates the need for sustainable and resilient revenue for the Union budget; points to the legally binding roadmap towards the introduction of new own resourcesin the IIA, in which Parliament, the Council and the Commission undertook to introduce sufficient new own resources to at least cover the repayment of NGEU debt;	84. Is concerned by the fact that the Union’s debt continues to rise, with a large share of this increase attributed to the NGEU temporary recovery instrument; is concerned that the increased debt and the associated higher interest costs will have long-term consequences on the EU’s fiscal stability, potentially leading to greater financial strain and a reduced capacity to respond to future challenges or invest in key strategic areas; encourages the Commission to explore options to reduce the overall debt burden;

Amendment  74

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 86

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
86. Calls on the Commission to design a modernised budget with a renewed spending focus, driven by the need for fairness, greater simplification, a reduced administrative burden and more transparency, including on the revenue side; underlines that existing rebates and corrections automatically expire at the end of the current MFF;	86. Calls on the Commission to design a modernised budget with a renewed spending focus, driven by the need for fairness, greater simplification and digitalisation, a reduced administrative burden, anti-fraud protection and more transparency, including on the revenue side; points out that simplification cannot be achieved at the expense of control and reporting activities and should go hand in hand with efficient systems for detecting and reporting fraud; underlines that existing rebates and corrections automatically expire at the end of the current MFF;

Amendment  75

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 88

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
88. Emphasises Parliament’s commitment to play its role fully throughout the process; believes that the design of the MFF should be bottom-up and based on the extensive involvement of stakeholders; underlines, furthermore, the need for a strategic dialogue among the three institutions in the run-up to the MFF proposals;	88. Emphasises Parliament’s commitment to play its role fully throughout the process; believes that the design of the MFF should be bottom-up and based on the extensive involvement of all relevant stakeholders and local and regional authorities; underlines, furthermore, the need for a strategic dialogue among the three institutions in the run-up to the MFF proposals; stresses that all EU institutions involved in the negotiations of the MFF must ensure high transparency and accountability standards;

 

 

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteur for the opinion declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

 

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted	18.3.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	22 6 2
Members present for the final vote	Georgios Aftias, Arno Bausemer, Gilles Boyer, Olivier Chastel, Caterina Chinnici, Tamás Deutsch, Dick Erixon, Daniel Freund, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Niclas Herbst, Monika Hohlmeier, Virginie Joron, Kinga Kollár, Giuseppe Lupo, Marit Maij, Claudiu Manda, Csaba Molnár, Fidias Panayiotou, Jacek Protas, Julien Sanchez, Jonas Sjöstedt, Carla Tavares, Tomáš Zdechovský
Substitutes present for the final vote	Maria Grapini, Erik Marquardt, Bert-Jan Ruissen, Annamária Vicsek
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Andrzej Halicki, Valentina Palmisano, Georgiana Teodorescu

 

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

22	+
ECR	Bert-Jan Ruissen, Georgiana Teodorescu
NI	Fidias Panayiotou
PPE	Georgios Aftias, Caterina Chinnici, Andrzej Halicki, Niclas Herbst, Monika Hohlmeier, Jacek Protas, Tomáš Zdechovský
Renew	Gilles Boyer, Olivier Chastel, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy
S&D	Maria Grapini, Giuseppe Lupo, Marit Maij, Claudiu Manda, Csaba Molnár, Carla Tavares
The Left	Jonas Sjöstedt
Verts/ALE	Daniel Freund, Erik Marquardt

 

6	-
ECR	Dick Erixon
ESN	Arno Bausemer
PfE	Tamás Deutsch, Virginie Joron, Julien Sanchez, Annamária Vicsek

 

2	0
PPE	Kinga Kollár
The Left	Valentina Palmisano

 

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstention

 

 

 

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC AND MONETARY AFFAIRS (01.04.2025)

for the Committee on Budgets

on a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world

(2024/2051(INI))

Rapporteur for opinion: Damian Boeselager

 

 

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs submits the following to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible:

Amendment  1

Motion for a resolution

Citation -1 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Commission communication of 10 February 2025 entitled ‘The Clean Industrial Deal: A joint roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation’ (COM(2025)0085),

Amendment  2

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Commission communication of 11 December 2019 entitled ‘The European Green Deal’  (COM(2019)0640) and the Paris Agreement, adopted on 12 December 2015 at the UN Climate Change Conference,

Amendment  3

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Antwerp Declaration for a European Industrial Deal, signed on 20 February 2024,

Amendment  4

Motion for a resolution

Citation 18 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Commission communication of 29 January 2025 entitled ‘A Competitiveness Compass for the EU’ (COM(2025)0030),

Amendment  5

Motion for a resolution

Citation 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the discharge procedure and the findings of the European Court of Auditors in their annual reports on the implementation of the EU budget,

Amendment  6

Motion for a resolution

Citation 19 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 6 March 2025 on European defence,

Amendment  7

Motion for a resolution

Recital A a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	A a. whereas Article 3(3) of the Treaty on European Union defines the internal market as a competitive social market economy;

Amendment  8

Motion for a resolution

Recital B a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	B a. whereas growth in Europe has fallen behind other regions of the world; whereas, the gap between the gross domestic product (GDP) of the United States and that of the EU widened from 17 % in 2002 to 30 % in 2023;

Amendment  9

Motion for a resolution

Recital C

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
C. whereas spending through the Union budget, if effectively targeted, aligned with the Union’s political priorities and coordinated with spending at national level, helps to avoid fragmentation in the single market and to boost the overall impact of public investment; whereas public investment is essential to incentivise private investment;	C. whereas spending through the Union budget, if effectively targeted, aligned with the Union’s political priorities and coordinated with spending at national level, helps to avoid fragmentation in the single market and to boost the overall impact of public investment; whereas public investment, if used efficiently and in a targeted manner, should serve as a catalyst for incentivising private investment and should fill investment gaps, to enable the Union to regain its leading position;

Amendment  10

Motion for a resolution

Recital C a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	C a. whereas unlocking private investment in the Union remains a priority; whereas the completion of the savings and investments union is crucial for mobilising private investment, in particular facilitating market access for retail investors, addressing the fragmentation of the internal market, improving access to equity financing for European businesses and supporting the EU’s industrial strategy;

Amendment  11

Motion for a resolution

Recital D

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
D. whereas the NextGenerationEU recovery instrument (NGEU) established in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic enabled significant additional investment capacity of EUR 750 billion in 2018 prices, prompting a swift recovery and return to growth and supporting the green and digital transitions; whereas NGEU will not be in place post-2027;	D. whereas the NextGenerationEU recovery instrument (NGEU), with a one-off investment capacity of EUR 750 billion in 2018 prices, established in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic enabled additional investment and reforms, prompting a swift recovery and return to growth and supporting the green and digital transitions; whereas NGEU will not be in place post-2027; whereas repayment of the NGEU debt has to start as of 2028;

Amendment  12

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	D a. whereas the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) plays a role in boosting investment across the EU, mitigating contractionary effects by maintaining substantial levels of public investment; whereas the RRF is a temporary instrument that will expire in 2026; whereas a timely debate is needed to ensure appropriate levels of public investment beyond 2026 to adequately finance common EU priorities and to ensure continued reforms;

Amendment  13

Motion for a resolution

Recital E

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
E. whereas the Union budget, bolstered by NGEU, has been instrumental in alleviating the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 crisis and in responding to the effects of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; whereas the Union budget remains ill-equipped, in terms of size, structure and rules, to fully play its role in adjusting to evolving spending needs, addressing shocks and responding to crises and giving practical effect to the principle of solidarity;	E. whereas the Union budget and NGEU have been instrumental in alleviating the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 crisis and in responding to the effects of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; whereas the Union budget remains ill-equipped, in terms of size, structure and rules, to fully play its role in adjusting to evolving reforms and investment needs, addressing shocks and responding to crises, giving practical effect to the principle of solidarity and, in particular, addressing growing European security threats and rapidly increasing defence obligations;

Amendment  14

Motion for a resolution

Recital E a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	E a. whereas in a rapidly shifting European security landscape, the EU budget must include defence as a specific priority, reflecting the EU added value that fully supports Member States on fulfilling their mutual defence commitments effectively, in accordance with Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union;

Amendment  15

Motion for a resolution

Recital F

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
F. whereas, since the adoption of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF), the political, economic and social context has changed beyond recognition, compounding underlying structural challenges for the Union and leading to a substantial revision of the MFF in 2024;	F. whereas, since the adoption of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF), multiple crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, have highlighted the need for flexibility in order to address serious socio-economic challenges; whereas it needs to be taken into consideration that the political, environmental, economic and social context has changed beyond recognition, compounding underlying structural challenges for the Union and leading to a substantial revision of the MFF in 2024;

Amendment  16

Motion for a resolution

Recital G

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
G. whereas the context in which the Commission will prepare its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, with the established global and geopolitical order changing quickly and radically and the Union budget needing to change accordingly;	G. whereas the context in which the Commission will prepare its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, with the established global and geopolitical order changing quickly and radically, the planet’s sustainability remaining a key concern, the EU facing increasing annual financing needs, as underlined in the Draghi report, and the Union budget needing to change accordingly;

Amendment  17

Motion for a resolution

Recital H a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	H a. whereas the Budapest Declaration of 8 October 2024 on the new European competitiveness deal committed the Union and its Member States to achieving the objective to spend at least 3 % of the Union’s GDP on research and development by 2030, an objective first set for 2010 under the Lisbon Strategy;

Amendment  18

Motion for a resolution

Recital H b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	H b. whereas the European Court of Auditors, in its 2024 report, concluded that the error rate for EU spending has risen to 5.6 % of the overall budget;

Amendment  19

Motion for a resolution

Recital H c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	H c. whereas the EU budget needs to stick to the socio-economic objectives of the Union laid down in Article 3(3) of the Treaty on European Union;

Amendment  20

Motion for a resolution

Recital H d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	H d. whereas the Letta report proposed a State aid contribution mechanism;

Amendment  21

Motion for a resolution

Recital H e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	H e. whereas the well-being of families and individuals should be kept as the central guiding principle in all aspects of the Union budget;

Amendment  22

Motion for a resolution

Recital H f (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	H f. whereas Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis is tasked with implementing the review of the system of national accounts, to better integrate well-being and sustainability concerns;

Amendment  23

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives, tackle the growing challenges it faces, manage and repay its debt sustainably, respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs;	1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to adequately invest, incentivise public investment and deliver on its policy objectives, strengthen its competitiveness at international level, tackle the growing challenges it faces, manage and repay its debt sustainably, respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs; recalls that the MFF and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) amount to almost EUR 2 trillion for the current period and that high inflation rates have decreased the impact of EU spending; calls for the size of the post-2027 budget to sufficiently address the significant investment gap identified in the Draghi report;

Amendment  24

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
2. Stresses that all spending in the post-2027 MFF must be strategically aligned with the EU’s political aims, adding tangible value for the people of the Union, with discernible net benefits compared to spending at national or sub-national level and leading to real and lasting results;	2. Stresses that all spending in the post-2027 MFF must be strategically aligned with the EU’s political aims of sustainable competitiveness and resilience, adding tangible value for the people of the Union, with discernible net benefits compared to spending at national or sub-national level and leading to real and lasting results; asks, in particular, that the funding of common European public goods be prioritised in policy areas where public provision is more efficient at the EU level as a result of economies of scale, thereby generating savings for EU taxpayers;

Amendment  25

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
3. Emphasises that the post-2027 MFF must also become simpler and more transparent and be protected against misuse, fraud and breaches of the principles of the rule of law and the Union’s values;	3. Emphasises that the post-2027 MFF must also become simpler and more transparent and be protected against misuse, fraud and breaches of the principles of the rule of law and the Union’s values in line with the recommendations issued by the European Court of Auditors in its successive reports;

Amendment  26

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	3 a. Stresses the importance of upholding the principle of subsidiarity in the next MFF; calls for those policy areas where public expenditure is more efficient at national and subnational levels to be explored;

Amendment  27

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
4. Underlines that a simpler, more flexible MFF requires more robust parliamentary accountability;	4. Underlines that a simpler, more flexible MFF requires sufficient transparency and more robust parliamentary accountability; underlines the need for any future budget to fully respect Parliament’s role as budgetary authority and its co-decision rights, as defined in the Treaties, as regards the design, scrutiny, allocation and evaluation of the budget; notes, in this respect, that national parliaments should be empowered to fulfil their oversight role and exercise their rights in holding the executive accountable when making commitments with the EU; underlines, further, the need to increase parliamentary oversight over the European Semester process, in line with the provisions of the Treaties;

Amendment  28

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	4 a. Recalls that EU citizens must be able to count on those implementing the EU budget informing them about how the funds have been spent and the objectives achieved; recalls that transparency is essential to retain citizens’ trust, and that fraud and misuse of funds are extremely detrimental to that trust; calls on the Commission to put in place solid anti-fraud mechanisms in all funding instruments for the post-2027 MFF, to ensure the protection of the EU budget;

Amendment  29

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
6. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness, decarbonising the economy and enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society;	6. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness, decarbonising the economy, strengthening our security and defence, strengthening territorial, regional and social cohesion, enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity and digitalisation are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term, sustainable, green and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society; points out, however, that these priorities cannot be achieved through additional spending alone;

Amendment  30

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
7. Underlines that, as spelt out in the Letta and Draghi reports, the European economy and social model are under intense strain, with the productivity, competitiveness and skills gap having knock-on effects on the quality of jobs and on living standards for Europeans already grappling with high housing, energy and food prices; is concerned that a lack of job opportunities and high costs of living increase the risk of a brain drain away from Europe;	7. Underlines that, as spelt out in the Letta and Draghi reports, the European economic and social model based on the principle of a social market economy is under intense strain, with the productivity, competitiveness and skills gap having knock-on effects on the strength of our economy and the quality of jobs, and on living standards and economic and social prosperity for Europeans already grappling with high housing, energy and food prices; is concerned that a lack of opportunities for creating new businesses and jobs, as well as the high costs of living and the declining quality and accessibility of the provision of services of general interest, increases the risk of a brain drain away from Europe; stresses, furthermore, that the threat of deindustrialisation exacerbates these challenges, having an adverse impact on workers;

Amendment  31

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	7 a. Recalls that, in accordance with the recommendations made in the Letta and Draghi reports, all Commissioners were tasked, in their mission letters, with ensuring that existing rules are fit for purpose and with focusing on reducing administrative barriers and burdens and simplifying legislation; calls on the Commission to make sure that no legislative proposal should be introduced without a thorough impact assessment and competitiveness check;

Amendment  32

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
8. Points out that Draghi puts the annual investment gap with respect to innovation and infrastructure at EUR 750-800 billion per year between 2025 and 2030; underlines that, while the Union budget cannot cover that shortfall alone, it must play a vital role;	8. Points out that Draghi puts the annual private and public investment gap with respect to innovation and infrastructure at EUR 750-800 billion per year between 2025 and 2030; underlines that the Union budget must play a vital role in covering that shortfall; calls on the Commission, in this context, to establish a target for the funding that should be allocated to start-ups and SMEs; recalls that the new Commission’s self-imposed goal is to be an  ‘investment Commission’ and to unlock the public and private financing needed for the green, digital and social transitions, among other things; recalls, furthermore, that the budget should be better leveraged to pursue European objectives and increase the European economy’s competitiveness; acknowledges Draghi’s assessment that much of the productive investment will be undertaken by the private sector and points out that the Union budget contains tools to de-risk and leverage private investments;

Amendment  33

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	8 a. Underlines the need for a modernised budget to bolster the future of Europe’s strategic autonomy; takes note of the Commission’s announcement of a European competitiveness fund to provide financial support to key sectors to match their investment needs under the competitiveness coordination tool; recalls that the European competitiveness fund should also pursue the integrity of the single market; stresses the need to prioritise investment with European added value, such as cross-border projects and Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI); underlines that, while investment in clean and strategic technologies and support for IPCEIs are essential, actions aimed at effectively strengthening Europe’s competitiveness require a comprehensive approach that also includes targeted measures to bridge the skills gap through education, (re)qualification and training, thus ensuring that the EU workforce remains adaptable and future-ready; stresses that, for the fund to have a real impact, it must be backed by ‘fresh money’ rather than relying solely on the reallocation of existing resources;

Amendment  34

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	8 b. Emphasises that the Union budget should focus on jointly agreed strategic goals and objectives, streamlining its budget structure to achieve sufficient scale and support for strategic goals,  and simplifying access to beneficiaries, and underlines, in addition, that the creation of a savings and investments union will be key to complementing more efficient public funding;

Amendment  35

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
9. Stresses that the Union budget must be carefully coordinated with national spending and designed such that it can de-risk, mobilise and leverage private investment effectively, enabling start-ups and SMEs to access funds more readily; calls, therefore, for programmes such as InvestEU, which ensures additionality and follows a market-based, demand-driven approach, to be significantly reinforced in the next MFF; considers that budgetary guarantees are an effective use of resources and calls for them to be simplified;	9. Stresses that the Union budget must be carefully coordinated with national spending and designed such that it contains elements to de-risk, mobilise and leverage private investment effectively, ensuring fair opportunities for all Member States, particularly smaller economies, to attract capital and drive sustainable growth, and enabling start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs to access funds more readily; recognises financial instruments and budgetary guarantees as powerful tools to achieve critical EU policy goals; calls, therefore, for programmes such as InvestEU and the European Innovation Council, which ensure additionality and follow a market-based, demand-driven approach, to be significantly reinforced in the next MFF and to be allowed to follow a less risk-adverse approach to truly stimulate innovation in order to build up Europe’s venture capital ecosystem; considers that budgetary guarantees can be an effective use of resources and calls for them to be simplified and streamlined, reducing unnecessary complexity and burdens for beneficiaries and implementing partners;

Amendment  36

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending in strategic policy areas, such as climate and, latterly, dual-use defence projects;	10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending in strategic policy areas under the mandate of the EIB; calls, in this respect, for a reinforced investment partnership to ensure that every euro is used in the most efficient manner at the European level; welcomes, in that regard, the launch on 13 February 2023 of the European Tech Champions Initiative, which channels late-stage growth capital to European innovators; highlights the fact that the severe instability of the current geopolitical situation requires the defence industry’s access to private funding to be strengthened, via the EIB, among other bodies, without losing the triple A status; highlights the crucial role played by the EIB, particularly in addressing areas where private financing is lacking, and calls for its risk appetite to be increased and for its efforts to be stepped up, especially in the area of venture capital;

Amendment  37

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	10 a. Calls on the Commission to prioritise the legislative proposals to complete the savings and investments union and the banking union; notes the importance of increased funding for financial literacy in the Union as a way to ensure that EU citizens have the knowledge and skills they need to make good financial decisions;

Amendment  38

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
11. Emphasises that funding for research and innovation should be significantly increased, should be focused on the Union’s strategic priorities and should continue to be determined by the principle of excellence; considers that there should be sufficient resources across the MFF and at national level to fund all high-quality projects;	11. Stresses that the innovation gap is at the root of the Union’s slowing productivity growth; emphasises that funding for research and innovation should be significantly increased, should be focused on the Union’s strategic priorities and should continue to be determined by the principle of excellence; considers that there should be sufficient resources across the MFF and at national level to fund all high-quality projects, including public-private partnerships; proposes the establishment of an experimental unit with fast-track funding for testing innovative programmes and instruments; calls, in that regard, for the research and development programmes within the competitiveness fund to be granted greater autonomy under increased expert oversight;

Amendment  39

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
12. Stresses that the next MFF should include much greater funding for energy, transport and digital infrastructure, with priority given to cross-border connections and national links with European added value; considers that such infrastructure goes hand in hand with a deepening of the single market;	12. Stresses that the next MFF should better allocate and include much greater funding for energy, transport, defence and digital infrastructure, with priority given to cross-border connections and national links with European added value; asks for a fixed allocation from the EU budget to be dedicated to cross-border public infrastructure; considers that such infrastructure goes hand in hand with a deepening of the single market;

Amendment  40

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	12 a. Highlights the need for infrastructure investment to also take into account the changed geopolitical situation and therefore the need for EU funding to support the efforts to enhance the resilience of both new and existing infrastructure;

Amendment  41

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
13. Considers that the Union must develop a competitiveness framework in line with its own values and political aims and that competitiveness must therefore be understood as encompassing not only economic growth, but also social, economic and territorial cohesion and environmental sustainability;	13. Considers that the Union must develop a competitiveness framework in line with its own values and political aims, fulfilling the ambitions of the internal market, as laid down in Article 3(3) of the Treaty on European Union, working for the sustainable development of Europe based on balanced economic growth and price stability, a highly competitive, social market economy, aiming at full employment and social progress, a high level of protection for and improvement of the quality of the environment, as well as territorial cohesion; acknowledges that cross-border cooperation between countries and regions is essential to achieving these objectives, fostering synergies and ensuring balanced and sustainable development across the Union;

Amendment  42

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	13 a. Stresses that, in order to compete with other major global players, the European economy must also become more competitive and resilient on the supply side by investing more in the Union’s open strategic autonomy through enhanced industrial policy, with a focus on strategic sectors and critical technologies, to reduce dependence on third countries;

Amendment  43

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
14. Underlines that a more competitive, productive and socially inclusive economy helps to generate high-quality, well-paid jobs, thus enhancing people’s standard of living; emphasises that, through programmes such as the European Social Fund+ and Erasmus+, the Union budget can play an important role in supporting education and training systems, boosting workforce adaptability through reskilling and upskilling, and thus preparing people for employment in a modern economy;	14. Underlines that a more competitive, productive, sustainable and socially inclusive economy helps to generate high-quality, well-paid jobs, thus enhancing people’s well-being and their standard of living; emphasises that, through programmes such as the European Social Fund+ and Erasmus+, the Union budget can play an important role in supporting education and training systems, boosting workforce adaptability through reskilling and upskilling, and thus preparing people for employment in a modern economy; stresses the need for targeted reskilling and upskilling initiatives for workers in sectors in crisis, such as the automotive industry, to ensure a just transition and prevent mass job losses and deindustrialisation in Europe; underlines the importance of adult learning and encourages the Member States, in this regard, to incentivise companies to allocate resources to training;

Amendment  44

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
16. Stresses that, in order to compete with other major global players, the European economy must also become more competitive and resilient on the supply side by investing more in the Union’s open strategic autonomy through enhanced industrial policy and a focus on strategic sectors and critical technologies to reduce dependence on third countries;	16. Stresses that, in order to compete with other major global players and improve the ability of European companies to compete in global markets, the European social market economy must also become more competitive, resource-efficient, innovative and resilient on the supply side by completing the savings and investments union and investing more in the Union’s open strategic autonomy through an integrated, coordinated, targeted and horizontal industrial policy, which is vital for increasing investment in the EU’s innovation capacity, across strategic sectors and critical technologies, to reduce dependence on third countries, as emphasised in the Commission communication on the Clean Industrial Deal; underlines that such policies should be pursued taking into account regional balances in the EU and in accordance with competition policy, to avoid market entry barriers;

Amendment  45

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	16 a. Underlines that competitiveness requires an urgent policy shift towards new industries and innovation, making the EU a more attractive place to do business, which will need to build on increased access to ideas, capital and talent as well as improved digital and physical infrastructure, an efficient administration, strict competition rules and international trade;

Amendment  46

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19 a. Recalls particular regional, economic, social and security challenges that specific EU regions are prone to; invites the Commission to issue an impact assessment on developing alternative indicators for the allocation of major funding under the upcoming MFF that takes this into account; deems that a debate is needed on the creation of dedicated funding aimed at making up for the economic disadvantages faced by EU citizens and businesses based on their geographical access to the EU single market;

Amendment  47

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
20. Points out that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has had substantial economic and social consequences, in particular in Member States bordering Russia; insists that the next MFF provide support to these regions;	20. Points out that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has had substantial long-term economic and social consequences, in particular in Member States bordering Russia and Belarus; insists that the next MFF provide support to Ukraine and these regions, including to promote security by developing infrastructure (including dual-use infrastructure) and improve overall conditions for investment and a vibrant business environment; holds, furthermore, that the MFF should foster, in addition, the integration of Ukraine into the EU’s internal market; highlights, similarly, the challenging situations, such as the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, that affect the socio-economic development of the Union, especially in nearby Member States, and insists that the next MFF take this into account and support these regions as well;

Amendment  48

Motion for a resolution

Subheading 3

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
The green and digital transitions	The green, digital and social transitions

Amendment  49

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
21. Highlights that the green and digital transitions are inextricably linked to competitiveness, the modernisation of the economy and the resilience of society and that, therefore, the post-2027 MFF must continue to support the twin transitions;	21. Highlights that the green, digital and social transitions are inextricably linked to competitiveness, the modernisation of the economy and the resilience of society and that, therefore, the post-2027 MFF must continue to support these transitions, to ensure the EU’s leadership in sustainable and digital innovation, among other areas; notes that economic progress cannot be measured simply in terms of economic growth;

Amendment  50

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
22. Recalls that the Union is committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, which requires a decarbonisation of the economy through the deployment of clean technologies, improved energy and transport infrastructure and more energy-efficient housing; notes that the Commission estimates additional investment needs to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at 1.5 % of GDP per year compared to the decade 2011-2020 and that, while the Union budget alone cannot cover the gap, it must remain a vital contributor;	22. Recalls that the Union is committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, which requires a decarbonisation of the economy through the deployment of clean technologies, improved energy and transport infrastructure and more energy-efficient housing; notes that the Commission estimates additional investment needs to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at 1.5 % of GDP per year compared to the decade 2011-2020 and that, while the Union budget alone cannot cover the gap, it must remain a vital contributor and be better leveraged to be able to substantially contribute to covering the gap;

Amendment  51

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
25. Recalls that security is the foundation for the Union’s prosperity and social model and that the next MFF must invest significantly more in safeguarding the Union against the myriad threats it faces;	25. Stresses that peace and security are fundamental for the Union’s prosperity and social model and that the next MFF must increase its investment significantly to safeguard the Union against the myriad threats it faces, and to support Member States to effectively fulfil their mutual defence commitments in accordance with Article 42(7) of the Treaty on European Union;

Amendment  52

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
26. Underlines that, as the Niinistö report makes clear, the fragmenting global order, increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, the security threat posed by Russia, growing tensions globally, hybrid campaigns, which include cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation, disinformation and interference and the instrumentalisation of migration, and health threats are combining to heighten instability and increase the Union’s vulnerability;	26. Underlines that, as the Niinistö report makes clear, the fragmenting global order, increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, the security threat posed by Russia and Belarus, growing tensions globally, hybrid campaigns, which include cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation, disinformation and interference and the instrumentalisation of migration, and health threats are combining to heighten instability and increase the Union’s vulnerability;

Amendment  53

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 28

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
28. Notes that, according to the Commission President, the defence spending gap currently stands at EUR 500 billion for the next decade; underlines that the Union budget alone cannot fill the gap, but has an important role to play;	28. Notes that, according to the Commission President, the defence spending gap currently stands at EUR 500 billion for the next decade; underlines that the Union budget alone cannot fill this gap, but, if it is better leveraged, it can have an important role to play in unlocking additional public and private investment and increasing public-private partnerships; considers, at the same time, that this should not come at the expense of social and environmental spending;

Amendment  54

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 29

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
29. Underscores the importance of a competitive and resilient European defence technological and industrial base and considers that joint EU-level investment in defence can generate economies of scale, and thus significant savings for Member States, and help ensure the interoperability of equipment and systems; points to the need to direct support towards the defence industry within the Union, thus creating quality high-skilled jobs;	29. Underscores the importance of a competitive and resilient European defence technological and industrial base and considers that joint EU-level investment in defence can generate economies of scale, and thus significant savings for Member States, and help ensure the interoperability of equipment and systems; underlines that, to this end, the EU needs to invest in the new disruptive technologies that redefine the new security and defence paradigm; calls on the Commission to comprehensively map the challenges to defence financing and present a package of legislative and non-legislative measures strengthening the possibilities for financing the defence industry, benefiting all Member States equally, with enhanced provision for the eastern front line and for Member States with higher defence investment; points to the need to direct support towards the defence industry within the Union, thus creating quality high-skilled jobs; underlines the need to build on economies of scale by leveraging synergies in common procurement and multiannual planning;

Amendment  55

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 31

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
31. Emphasises that the Union needs to ramp up funding for preparedness across the board; underlines that, in addition to efforts to mitigate climate change through the green transition, significant investment is required to adapt to climate change, in particular to protect against and reduce the impact of natural disasters and severe weather events; considers that support for this purpose must be significantly increased in the next MFF;	31. Emphasises that the Union needs to ramp up funding for preparedness across the board; underlines that, in addition to efforts to mitigate climate change through the green transition, significant investment is required to adapt to climate change and potential socio-economic consequences, in particular to protect against and reduce the impact of natural disasters and severe weather events; underlines the impact of climate change on Europe’s water resilience, on which the environment, industry and livelihoods depend; considers that support for this purpose must be significantly increased in the next MFF;

Amendment  56

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 33

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
33. Underlines that, with technological change, it has become easier for malicious and opportunistic foreign actors to spread disinformation, interfere in elections and mount cyberattacks against the Union’s interests; insists that the next MFF must invest in enhanced cybersecurity; points to the importance of digital and media literacy and critical thinking in this regard, and to the need for continued Union budget support for initiatives in these areas;	33. Underlines that, with technological change, it has become easier for malicious and opportunistic foreign actors to spread disinformation, interfere in elections and mount cyberattacks against the Union’s interests; insists that the next MFF must invest in enhanced cybersecurity and provide sufficient resources to prevent, mitigate and counter hybrid warfare, as well as foreign disinformation campaigns; points to the importance of digital and media literacy and critical thinking in this regard, and to the need for continued Union budget support for initiatives in these areas;

Amendment  57

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 36

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
36. Regrets the fact that external action in the current MFF has been underfunded, leading to significant recourse to special instruments and substantial reinforcements in the mid-term revision; notes, in particular, that humanitarian aid funding has been woefully inadequate, prompting routine use of the Emergency Aid Reserve;	36. Regrets the fact that external action in the current MFF has been underfunded, especially as regards funding towards the Global South, leading to significant recourse to special instruments and substantial reinforcements in the mid-term revision; notes, in particular, that humanitarian aid funding has been woefully inadequate, prompting routine use of the Emergency Aid Reserve; remarks that investing in the Global South can strengthen the economies of both donor and beneficiary countries;

Amendment  58

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 37

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
37. Stresses that the next MFF must continue to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change, to providing relief in the event of natural disasters, ensuring global food security, improving healthcare systems, reducing poverty and inequality and boosting competitiveness and the security of global supply chains; emphasises, in particular, the need for support for the Union’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods;	37. Stresses that the next MFF must continue to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change and biodiversity loss, to providing relief in the event of natural disasters, ensuring global food security, improving healthcare systems, reducing poverty and inequality and boosting competitiveness, job creation and the security of global supply chains; emphasises, in particular, the need for support for the Union’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods;

Amendment  59

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 39

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
39. Insists that, given the scale of humanitarian crises and mounting global challenges, humanitarian aid funding must be significantly enhanced and made more predictable in the next MFF, and that its use must remain solely needs-based;	39. Insists that, given the scale of humanitarian crises and mounting global challenges, humanitarian aid funding must be significantly enhanced and made more predictable in the next MFF, and that its use must remain solely needs-based; takes note of the additional challenges arising from the US administration’s decision to withdraw from international responsibilities regarding the Paris Agreement, the World Health Organization (WHO) and development aid, and stresses that the EU must step up its efforts, including financial commitments, and take a leading role in global governance to support the world’s most vulnerable people and regions;

Amendment  60

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 40

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
40. Emphasises that, in a context in which global actors are increasingly using trade interdependence as a means of economic coercion, the Union must bolster its capacity to protect and advance its own strategic interests, develop more robust tools to counter coercion and ensure genuine reciprocity in its partnerships;	40. Emphasises that, in a context in which global actors are increasingly using trade interdependence as a means of economic coercion, the Union must bolster its capacity to protect and advance its own strategic interests, develop more robust tools to counter coercion and ensure genuine reciprocity in its partnerships; stresses that the EU must have in place the required budgetary tools to counter the economic impact that any eventual trade war with its traditional trading partners might have;

Amendment  61

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 43

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
43. Stresses that financial support must be conditional on the implementation of reforms and adherence to Union values; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a strong governance model that ensures parliamentary accountability, oversight and control;	43. Stresses that financial support must be conditional on the implementation of reforms and adherence to Union values; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a strong governance model that ensures parliamentary accountability, oversight and control of the assistance provided;

Amendment  62

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 44

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
44. Underlines that pre-accession support to Ukraine has to be distinct from financial assistance for reconstruction and post-war recovery, where needs are far more substantial and require a concerted international effort, of which support through the Union budget should be an important part;	44. Underlines that pre-accession support to Ukraine has to be distinct from financial assistance for reconstruction and post-war recovery, where needs are far more substantial and require a concerted international effort, of which support through the Union budget should be an important part; believes that the Commission should assess the potential for using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine in fulfilling its commitments to the EU;

Amendment  63

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 45

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
45. Is convinced that the existing mandatory revision clause in the event of enlargement should be maintained in the next framework; stresses that national envelopes should not be affected in the event of enlargement; underlines that the next MFF will also have to reform key spending areas, such as cohesion and agriculture, and plan for appropriate transitional and phasing-in measures;	45. Is convinced that the existing mandatory revision clause in the event of enlargement should be maintained in the next framework; underlines that the next MFF should also seek to improve key spending areas, including cohesion and agriculture, and plan for appropriate transitional and phasing-in measures;

Amendment  64

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 50

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
50. Calls for the consolidation of a robust rule of law toolbox, building on the current conditionality provisions under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the horizontal enabling conditions in the Common Provisions Regulation; underlines the need for far greater transparency and consistency with regard to the application of tools to protect the rule of law and for Parliament’s role to be strengthened in the application and scrutiny of such measures; insists, furthermore, on the need for consistency across instruments when assessing breaches of the rule of law in Member States;	50. Calls for the consolidation of a robust and harmonised rule of law toolbox, building on the current conditionality provisions under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the horizontal enabling conditions in the Common Provisions Regulation1a, as well as the relevant provisions of the Financial Regulation; insists that the toolkit should cover the entire EU budget and ensure none of the instruments used allows backsliding and creates loopholes; underlines the need for far greater transparency and consistency with regard to the application of tools to protect the rule of law and for Parliament’s role to be strengthened in the application and scrutiny of such measures; calls for the introduction of a no-fallback clause to prevent reforms from being undone and to make sure that improvements are not revoked once the programme is implemented and funded; insists, furthermore, on the need for consistency across instruments when assessing breaches of the rule of law in Member States;
	_________________
	1a Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 159, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1060/oj).

Amendment  65

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 51

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
51. Recalls that the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation provides that final recipients should not be deprived of the benefits of EU funds in the event of sanctions being applied to their government; believes that, to date, this provision has not been effective and stresses the importance of applying a smart conditionality approach so that beneficiaries are not penalised because of their government’s actions; calls on the Commission to explore additional ways of ensuring that local and regional authorities, civil society and other beneficiaries can continue to benefit from Union funding in cases of breaches of the rule of law by national governments without weakening the application of the regulation;	51. Recalls that the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation provides that final recipients should not be deprived of the benefits of EU funds in the event of sanctions being applied to their government; believes that, to date, this provision has not been effective and stresses the importance of applying a smart conditionality approach so that beneficiaries are not penalised because of their government’s actions; calls on the Commission to explore additional ways of ensuring that local and regional authorities, civil society and other beneficiaries can continue to benefit from Union funding in cases of breaches of the rule of law by national governments without weakening the application of the regulation; calls, in this regard, for the introduction of a simplified and streamlined mechanism to ensure direct funding for cities and communes in the next MFF;

Amendment  66

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 52

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
52. Stresses that a long-term budget that is fully aligned with the Union’s strategic aims requires that key objectives be mainstreamed across the budget through a set of horizontal principles, building on the lessons from the current MFF;	52. Stresses that a long-term budget that is fully aligned with the Union’s strategic aims requires that key objectives be mainstreamed across the budget through a set of horizontal principles, building on the lessons from the current MFF; welcomes, in this regard, the recently proposed Competitiveness Compass for the EU in order to safeguard the EU’s future as an economic powerhouse, an investment destination and a manufacturing centre; highlights the importance of aligning the budget with the objectives set out in the Competitiveness Compass in order to regain Europe’s competitiveness and secure its prosperity;

Amendment  67

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 53

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
53. Underlines, therefore, that the next MFF must ensure that, across the board, spending programmes pursue climate and biodiversity objectives, promote and protect rights and equal opportunities for all, including gender equality, support competitiveness and bolster the Union’s preparedness against threats;	53. Underlines, therefore, that the next MFF must ensure that, across the board, spending programmes are people-centred, pursue climate and biodiversity objectives, promote and protect rights and equal opportunities for all, including gender equality, support competitiveness and bolster the Union’s preparedness against threats, while also ensuring that the budget is simpler and more flexible in order to allow Member States to react better and faster in response to emerging challenges;

Amendment  68

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 56 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	56a. Takes note, in this regard, of the methodology being developed for green financing reporting;

Amendment  69

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 56 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	56b. Believes that, in view of Europe’s need to strengthen its competitive edge and enhance its open strategic autonomy, the mainstreaming of competitiveness, defence and support for SMEs should, at a minimum, be included in the IIA; calls for the integration of these aspects into the Financial Regulation to ensure that spending programmes systematically contribute to fostering innovation, enhancing Europe’s global competitiveness, strengthening defence capabilities and supporting the growth of SMEs;

Amendment  70

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 57 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	57a. Underlines the importance of robust, dedicated and targeted funding for EU agencies and their staff to ensure efficient financial and economic management of EU policies; notes that appropriate staffing at this level of EU supervision is an essential prerequisite for achieving agreed policy targets and safeguarding and increasing investment levels in the EU; recalls, furthermore, in line with the European Court of Auditors’ Special Report 22/2020, that the rationale for existing agencies should be reassessed at different stages to determine their continued necessity and coherence with other agencies’ actions; calls on the Commission to ensure an efficient allocation of financial resources by identifying synergies and exploring potential structural adjustments, including mergers where appropriate, in response to evolving needs;

Amendment  71

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 60

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
60. Stresses that the next MFF must be designed so as to simplify the lives of beneficiaries, harmonise rules wherever possible and cut unnecessary red tape and must be implemented as close to people as possible;	60. Stresses that the next MFF must be designed so as to simplify the procedures for beneficiaries, harmonise rules wherever possible and cut unnecessary red tape and must be implemented as close to people as possible in order to increase the absorption rate; believes that, to ensure that any potential horizontal policies or mainstreaming efforts set out for the MFF are implemented effectively and do not create unnecessary administrative complexity for the final recipients of Union funds, their programme-specific implementation should be left to sectoral legislation; calls for the introduction of a single rule book, with a uniform set of financial rules, for all EU programmes, to function as a unified framework across multiple programmes for simplified implementation for partners such as the European Investment Bank (EIB), allowing them to focus on differing objectives rather than diverging definitions, without undermining project goals and relevant standards;

Amendment  72

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 61

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
61. Calls for genuine simplification where there are overlapping objectives, diverging eligibility criteria and different rules governing aspects that should be uniform across programmes; considers that an assessment of which spending programmes should be included in the next MFF must be based on the above aspects, on the need to focus spending on clearly identified policy objectives and on the policy intervention logic of each programme;	61. Calls for genuine simplification where there are overlapping objectives, diverging eligibility criteria and different rules governing aspects that should be uniform across programmes; highlights, in this regard, the importance of further simplifying and tackling bureaucratic hurdles while reducing administrative burdens, particularly for SMEs; considers that an assessment of which spending programmes should be included in the next MFF must be based on the above aspects, on the need to focus spending on clearly identified policy objectives and on the policy intervention logic of each programme;

Amendment  73

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 61 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	61a. Underlines that simplification should be designed primarily to reduce complexity, delays in implementation and the reporting burden for final beneficiaries and implementers, in particular smaller beneficiaries; regrets that innovation is hampered by the disproportional administrative burden and time lags for start-ups and SMEs; believes that the use of de minimis clauses and the stringent implementation of the once-only principle for reporting is necessary to further unlock the potential of European innovators; calls for an initiative to speed up administrative procedures for start-ups and SMEs; reiterates that such simplification should not be to the detriment of sufficient controls, sound financial management and transparency;

Amendment  74

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 61 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	61b. Expresses serious concern about the European Court of Auditors’ conclusion, in its 2024 report, that the error rate for EU spending has risen to 5.6 % of the overall budget; urges the Commission to thoroughly consider the findings of the European Court of Auditors and implement the recommendations from both its annual and its special reports, in order to enhance the efficiency, transparency and accountability of EU budgetary spending;

Amendment  75

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 62

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
62. Insists that a simpler budget must also be a more transparent budget, enabling better control of spending and reducing the risks of double funding; underlines that any reduction in programmes must be offset by a far more detailed breakdown of the budget by budget line, in contrast to some programme mergers in the current MFF, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI – Global Europe), which is an example not to follow; calls, therefore, for a sufficiently detailed breakdown by budget line to enable proper accountability and ensure that decision-making in the annual budgetary procedure is meaningful;	62. Insists that a simpler budget must also be a more transparent budget, enabling better control of spending and reducing the risks of double funding; underlines that any reduction in programmes must be offset by a far more detailed breakdown of the budget by budget line, in contrast to some programme mergers in the current MFF, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI – Global Europe), which is an example not to follow; calls, therefore, for a sufficiently detailed breakdown by budget line to enable proper accountability and ensure that decision-making in the annual budgetary procedure is meaningful; insists that performance reviews and budgetary discussions must be transparent, with information made publicly accessible;

Amendment  76

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 62 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	62a. Calls for future performance-based instruments to be complemented by a single audit trail to trace budget contributions to the projects funded and the final recipients, namely the private entities benefiting from public procurement or programmes; underlines the need for project-level auditing to mitigate reputational risks in the eyes of the general public; highlights the added benefit of publicly labelling EU-funded projects; underlines the need to reduce increasing administrative bottlenecks and bureaucratic burdens; underscores that reimbursements can be based on indicative costing, if transparency and auditing standards for actual expenditures are publicly available ex post; highlights the need to link reforms and investments to achieve long-term structural changes; requests a clear methodology for the partial fulfilment of milestones and sub-level milestones;

Amendment  77

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 63 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	63a. Notes that the Commission is responsible for the implementation of the budget and that many funds under shared management are implemented by Member States; stresses, therefore, the importance of a robust system of financial corrections to enable intervention in the event of serious deficiencies in the management and control systems of Member States; emphasises that such a system must be sufficiently deterrent;

Amendment  78

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 67 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	67a. Notes that different programmes and projects could have varying timelines for implementation; warns against excessively burdensome administrative obligations associated with changing such programmes or projects; underlines the need for flexibility of the budget to cover evolving needs;

Amendment  79

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 68

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
68. Calls for a root-and-branch reform of the existing special instruments to bolster crisis response capacity; underlines that the current instruments are both inadequate in size and constrained by excessive rigidity, with several effectively ring-fenced according to crisis type; points out that enhanced crisis response capacity will ensure that cohesion policy funds are not called upon for that purpose and can therefore be used for their intended investment objectives;	68. Calls for a root-and-branch reform of the existing special instruments to bolster crisis response capacity; underlines that the current instruments are both inadequate in size and constrained by excessive rigidity, with several effectively ring-fenced according to crisis type; points out that enhanced crisis response capacity and flexibility in reviewing national programmes in the event of asymmetric shocks will ensure that cohesion policy funds are not called upon for that purpose and can therefore be used for their intended investment objectives;

Amendment  80

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 68 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	68a. Recalls that the RRF replaced the proposals on the Budgetary Instrument for Competitiveness and Convergence (BICC) and on the Reform Support Programme 2021 – 2027 (RSP); highlights the fact that effective fiscal coordination among Member States remains vital, post-RRF, for implementing an appropriate fiscal stance;

Amendment  81

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 68 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	68b. Highlights the fact that EU funding instruments have ensured macroeconomic stabilisation at the EU level in the face of multiple crises since 2019, in part establishing the euro area budget, and also enhancing internal and external resilience and supporting Member States in financing essential and strategic investment within the Union;

Amendment  82

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 68 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	68d. Calls for EU-level investment instruments and tools designed to minimise the cost for EU taxpayers and maximise efficiency in the provision of public goods in the EU;

Amendment  83

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 69

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
69. Considers that the post-2027 MFF should include only two special instruments - one dedicated to ensuring solidarity in the event of natural disasters (the successor to the existing European Solidarity Reserve) and one for general-purpose crisis response (the successor to the Flexibility Instrument); insists that both special instruments should be adequately funded from the outset and able to carry over unspent amounts indefinitely over the MFF period; believes that all other special instruments can either be wound up or subsumed into the two special instruments or into existing programmes;	69. Highlights the need for the post-2027 MFF to include fewer special instruments, for example, one dedicated to ensuring solidarity in the event of natural disasters (the successor to the existing European Solidarity Reserve) and one for general-purpose crisis response (the successor to the Flexibility Instrument); insists that both special instruments should be adequately funded from the outset and able to carry over unspent amounts indefinitely over the MFF period;

Amendment  84

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 72

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
72. Emphasises that, in order to maximise impact, it is imperative that spending under the next MFF be much more rigorously aligned with the Union’s strategic policy aims and carefully coordinated with spending at national level;	72. Emphasises that, in order to maximise impact, it is imperative that spending under the next MFF be much more rigorously aligned with the Union’s strategic policy aims and carefully coordinated with spending at national level; remarks, therefore, that the Union’s strategic policy priorities and local specificities must be balanced; reiterates its position that the involvement of regional and local authorities, as well as relevant civil society organisations, is key in the design and implementation of any national approach for the next MFF;

Amendment  85

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 72 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	72a. Calls on the Commission to focus more closely on results and outcomes in the post-2027 MFF, alongside outputs and costs, and to place greater emphasis on European cross-border added value;

Amendment  86

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 73

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
73. Considers that the RRF, with its focus on performance and links between reforms and investments and budgetary support, has helped to drive national investments and reforms that would not otherwise have taken place;	73. Considers that the RRF, with its focus on performance and links between reforms and investments and budgetary support, has helped to drive national investments and reforms that would not otherwise have taken place; calls for a necessary detailed assessment of the true impact on economic growth and job creation of the reforms and investments under this mechanism, for both the EU as a whole and each of the Member States; calls, in this regard, for lessons to be learnt from the deficiencies of the RRF and stresses that future performance-based instruments should be designed primarily based on results and impacts rather than on mere outputs; calls for a detailed repayment plan for this instrument;

Amendment  87

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 74

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
74. Underlines that the RRF can help to inform the delivery of Union spending under shared management; recalls, however, that the RRF was agreed in the very specific context of the COVID-19 pandemic and cannot, therefore, be replicated wholesale for future investment programmes;	74. Underlines that the RRF offers valuable lessons on leveraging public investment; recalls, however, that the RRF was agreed as a temporary instrument in the very specific context of the COVID-19 pandemic; notes that, to some extent, the RRF failed to fund investment in common European projects;

Amendment  88

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
75. Points out that any application of an RRF-style delivery model in the next MFF would have to correct the RRF’s fundamental flaws, by involving regional and local authorities from design to delivery through a place-based and multilevel governance approach, ensuring the cross-border dimension of investment projects, focusing on results and impact rather than outputs, guaranteeing full transparency in relation to final recipients of Union spending and safeguarding Parliament’s role as legislator, budgetary and discharge authority and in holding the executive to account;	75. Takes note of the RRF’s fundamental flaws, for example, not involving regional and local authorities from design to delivery through a place-based and multilevel governance approach, not ensuring the cross-border dimension of investment projects with positive spill-over effects and strong European added value, not developing a clear methodology for milestones, targets and disbursements, not focusing on results and impact rather than outputs, not conducting impact assessments of the reforms and investment under these funds, not ensuring a single audit trail, not guaranteeing a common definition and full transparency in relation to final recipients of Union spending and not safeguarding Parliament’s role as legislator, budgetary and discharge authority and in holding the executive to account; remarks that high-level ownership by national and regional authorities is essential when it comes to ensuring the successful absorption of EU funding;

Amendment  89

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	75a. Recalls that only through a rapid, transparent and effective implementation of the RRF by the Member States, as well as the fulfilment of the milestones and objectives within the agreed time frames, will these funds have the promised and expected impact on the GDP of the Union and of each of its Member States; emphasises that their success will depend on the rapid and effective deployment of the funds in the real economy, productive sectors and companies;

Amendment  90

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	75b. Calls for a more responsive budget with enhanced feedback mechanisms between performance information and programme design or adjustment, thanks to better measurement and data availability; highlights the need for better dissemination of best practice across programmes and Member States; insists that a more effective budget requires comprehensive impact assessments across multiple programmes;

Amendment  91

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 77 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	77a. Notes with concern that country-specific recommendations (CSRs) have been gaining importance in the economic and budgetary architecture of the Union over time, and that mechanisms linked to CSRs, or any increase in the discretionary power of the Commission in this regard, should be accompanied by greater democratic accountability;

Amendment  92

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 78

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
78. Underlines that, to date, the Union budget has been required only to repay interest related to NGEU and that, from 2028 onwards, the budget will also have to repay the capital; underscores that the total costs for NGEU capital and interest repayments are projected to be around EUR 20-30 billion a year from 2028;	78. Notes that, to date, the Union budget has been required only to repay interest related to NGEU and that, from 2028 onwards, the budget will also have to start repaying principal amounts; underscores that the total costs for NGEU capital and interest repayments are projected to be around EUR 20-30 billion a year from 2028; calls on the Commission to present a plan for an effective approach to the final stage of the NGEU programme, which will ensure effective deployment of funds, robust scrutiny of implementation and increased transparency regarding final beneficiaries; notes that the higher debt burden makes the Union budget more vulnerable to interest rate hikes and can lead to a reduced capacity to respond to future challenges; encourages the Commission to explore options to reduce the overall debt burden;

Amendment  93

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 82

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
82. Underlines that, as described above, the budgetary needs post-2027 will be significantly higher than the amounts allocated to the 2021-2027 MFF; insists, therefore, that the Union will only be able to tackle the significant challenges it faces and deliver on its policy objectives if the next MFF is endowed with the resources necessary to meet the increasing budgetary needs;	82. Underlines that, as described above, the budgetary needs post-2027 will be significantly higher than the amounts allocated to the 2021-2027 MFF; insists, therefore, that the Union will only be able to tackle the significant challenges it faces and deliver on its policy objectives if the next MFF is endowed with the resources necessary to meet the Union’s challenges; underlines the need for a thorough evaluation of expenditure and a healthy budgetary balance; underlines the specific regional economic, social and security challenges that need to be reflected in the future MFF; underlines the need to ensure upward socio-economic convergence within the EU;

Amendment  94

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 83

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
83. Considers that all instruments and tools should be explored in order to provide the Union with those resources, in line with its priorities and identified needs;	83. Considers that all instruments and tools should be explored in order to provide the Union with those resources, in line with its priorities and identified needs; underlines that, in this matter, the EU must mobilise new own resources, after conducting an impact assessment;

Amendment  95

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 84 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	84a. Stresses the need to ensure adequate funding in the next MFF; stresses that the introduction of new own resources that fulfil the criteria of simplicity, transparency, predictability and fairness, after a careful impact assessment to ensure a fair and balanced approach for all Member States, are an essential means of financing EU priorities; considers it therefore necessary to enhance coordination on matters of taxation and duties also at the level of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; notes the need for fair and proportionate allocation between national contributions and EU spending for policy areas related to European public goods;

Amendment  96

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 85

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
85. Recalls its support for the amended Commission proposal on the system of own resources; calls on the Council to adopt this proposal as a matter of urgency; points, furthermore, to the need to explore additional innovative and genuine new own resources, in order to cover the higher spending needs;	85. Recalls its support for the amended Commission proposal on the system of own resources; reiterates that the promise of new own resources was a condition for the agreement on NGEU and points out that the absence of new own resources will put a considerable strain on the Union’s budget in light of the refinancing obligations under NGEU; reiterates the need for a careful assessment beforehand, to ensure a fair and balanced approach; calls on the Council to adopt this proposal as a matter of urgency; points, furthermore to the need, after an impact assessment, to explore additional innovative and genuine new own resources, in order to cover the higher spending needs; calls on the Member States and the Commission to increase the overall VAT revenues by combating fraud, improving efficiency, boosting economic growth and driving digitalisation, while ensuring that changes in VAT rates or exemptions do not disproportionately affect Member States with unique geographical constraints; calls on the Council to ensure that any VAT contribution increases above the current 0.3 % rate remain proportional to GDP and account for geographical limitations, safeguarding fairness for isolated or geographically disadvantaged Member States;

Amendment  97

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 86 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	86a. Highlights the continuing uncertainty surrounding the repayment of the NGEU borrowing costs, as no repayment plan has been agreed;

Amendment  98

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 91

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
91. Expects the Commission, as part of the package of MFF proposals, to put forward a new IIAin line with the realities of the new budget, including with respect to the management of contingent liabilities;	91. Expects the Commission, as part of the package of MFF proposals, to put forward a new IIA in line with the realities of the new budget, including with respect to the management of contingent liabilities and the mainstreaming of competitiveness, SMEs and defence;

Amendment  99

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 91 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	91a. Stresses the importance of parliamentary scrutiny of the implementation of the Union budget under the MFF and of compliance with sectoral legislation;

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR OPINION HAS RECEIVED INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for opinion declares that he received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the draft opinion:

Entity and/or person

European Commission - DG BUDG

European Commission - Secretariat General

Institut Jacques Delors

European Commission - DG ECFIN

European Commission - Secretariat General REFORM

ECA

EIB

Climate Strategy

 

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur for the opinion.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur for opinion declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

 

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted	31.3.2025
Result of final vote	+ : 37 - : 10 0 : 1
Members present for the final vote	Georgios Aftias, Rasmus Andresen, Francisco Assis, René Aust, Stefan Berger, Damian Boeselager, Gilles Boyer, Giovanni Crosetto, Fabio De Masi, Engin Eroglu, Marco Falcone, Markus Ferber, Jonás Fernández, Claire Fita, Dirk Gotink, Enikő Győri, Michalis Hadjipantela, Eero Heinäluoma, Billy Kelleher, Tomáš Kubín, Aurore Lalucq, Rada Laykova, Siegfried Mureşan, Fernando Navarrete Rojas, Denis Nesci, Luděk Niedermayer, Ľudovít Ódor, Nikos Papandreou, Gaetano Pedulla', Kira Marie Peter-Hansen, Pierre Pimpie, Friedrich Pürner, Evelyn Regner, René Repasi, Jussi Saramo, Paulius Saudargas, Marie Toussaint, Anouk Van Brug, Lara Wolters, Roberts Zīle
Substitutes present for the final vote	Paolo Borchia, Regina Doherty, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Angelika Winzig
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Reinis Pozņaks, Sebastiaan Stöteler, Roberto Vannacci

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

37	+
ECR	Crosetto Giovanni, Nesci Denis, Poznaks Reinis, Zile Roberts
PPE	Aftias Georgios, Berger Stefan, Doherty Regina, Falcone Marco, Ferber Markus, Gotink Dirk, Hadjipantela Michalis, López-Istúriz White Antonio, Muresan Siegfried, Navarrete Rojas Fernando, Niedermayer Ludek, Saudargas Paulius, Winzig Angelika
Renew	Boyer Gilles, Eroglu Engin, Gerbrandy Gerben-Jan, Kelleher Billy, Ódor Ludovít, Van Brug Anouk
S&D	Assis Francisco, Fernández Jonás, Fita Claire, Heinäluoma Eero, Lalucq Aurore, Papandreou Nikos, Regner Evelyn, Repasi René, Wolters Lara
The Left	Saramo Jussi
Verts/ALE	Andresen Rasmus, Boeselager Damian, Peter-Hansen Kira Marie, Toussaint Marie

 

10	-
ESN	Aust René, Laykova Rada
NI	De Masi Fabio, Pürner Friedrich
PfE	Borchia Paolo, Gyori Eniko, Kubín Tomás, Pimpie Pierre, Stöteler Sebastiaan, Vannacci Roberto

 

1	0
The Left	Pedulla' Gaetano

 

Key:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstentions

 

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS (1.4.2025)

for the Committee on Budgets

on a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world

(2024/2051(INI))

Rapporteur for opinion: Romana Tomc

 

 

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs submits the following to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible:

Amendment  1

 

Motion for a resolution

Citation 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to its resolution of 11 March 2025 on the European Social Fund Plus post-20271a,   ______________ 1a Texts adopted, P10­_TA(2025)0027.

Amendment  2

 

Motion for a resolution

Citation 11 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to its resolution of 21 January 2021 on access to decent and affordable housing for all1a,   ______________ 1a OJ C 456, 10.11.2021, p. 145.

Amendment  3

 

Motion for a resolution

Citation 11 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to its resolution of 24 November 2020 on tackling homelessness in the EU1a,   ______________ 1a OJ C 425, 20.10.2021, p. 2.

Amendment  4

 

Motion for a resolution

Citation 11 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to its resolution of 23 November 2023 on job creation – the just transition and impact investments1a,   ______________ 1a OJ C C/2024/4224, 24.7.2024, ELI:http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/4224/oj.

Amendment  5

 

Motion for a resolution

Citation 11 e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to its resolution of 18 June 2020 on the European Disability Strategy post-20201a,   ______________ 1a OJ C 362, 8.9.2021, p.8.

Amendment  6

 

Motion for a resolution

Citation 11 f (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to its resolution of 13 December 2022 towards equal rights for persons with disabilities1a,   ______________ 1a OJ C 177, 17.5.2023, p.13.

Amendment  7

 

Motion for a resolution

Citation 11 g (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to its resolution of 21 January 2021 on the EU Strategy for Gender Equality1a,   ______________ 1a OJ C 456, 10.11.2021, p. 208.

Amendment  8

 

Motion for a resolution

Citation 11 h (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the special report of the European Court of Auditors of 26 May 2021 entitled ‘Gender mainstreaming in the EU budget: time to turn words into action’,

Amendment  9

 

Motion for a resolution

Citation 11 i (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to its resolution of 5 July 2022 towards a common European action on care1a,   ______________ 1a OJ C 47, 7.2.2023, p.60.

Amendment  10

 

Motion for a resolution

Citation 17 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Commission communication of 9 December 2021 entitled ‘Building an economy that works for people: an action plan for the social economy’ (COM(2021)9778),

Amendment  11

 

Motion for a resolution

Citation 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Liège Declaration of 5 March 2024 entitled ‘Affordable, decent and sustainable housing for all’,

Amendment  12

 

Motion for a resolution

Citation 19 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the La Hulpe Declaration of 16 April 2024 on the Future of the European Pillar of Social Rights,

Amendment  13

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital A

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
A. whereas, under Article 311 TFEU, the Union is required to provide itself with the means necessary to attain its objectives and carry through its policies;	A. whereas the Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities (Union values); whereas the Union’s aim is to promote peace, its values and the well-being of its peoples; whereas, under Article 311 TFEU, the Union is required to provide itself with the means necessary to attain its objectives and carry through its policies;

Amendment  14

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital C

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
C. whereas spending through the Union budget, if effectively targeted, aligned with the Union’s political priorities and coordinated with spending at national level, helps to avoid fragmentation in the single market and to boost the overall impact of public investment; whereas public investment is essential to incentivise private investment;	C. whereas spending through the Union budget, which is primarily the instrument for social and territorial cohesion, if effectively targeted, aligned with the Union’s political priorities and the priorities and strategies of the Member States, and in accordance with their economic and social development, may contribute to mitigating the asymmetric impacts of the single market, offsetting the risk of inequalities and boosting the overall impact of public investment; whereas public investment is essential to incentivise private investment;

Amendment  15

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital E

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
E. whereas the Union budget, bolstered by NGEU, has been instrumental in alleviating the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 crisis and in responding to the effects of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; whereas the Union budget remains ill-equipped, in terms of size, structure and rules, to fully play its role in adjusting to evolving spending needs, addressing shocks and responding to crises and giving practical effect to the principle of solidarity;	E. whereas dedicated funding for protecting and promoting rights and values as enshrined in the Treaties, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the applicable international human rights conventions is important; whereas the Union budget, and in particular cohesion policy funding, such as the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), bolstered by NGEU, as well as the SURE instrument, have been instrumental in alleviating the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 crisis and in responding to the effects of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; whereas the Union budget remains ill-equipped, in terms of size, structure and rules, to fully play its role in adjusting to evolving spending needs, addressing shocks and responding to crises and giving practical effect to the principle of solidarity; whereas to make up for these shortcomings, cohesion policy de facto became the first-choice source of emergency funding to address any challenge or unforeseen event during the previous term, which resulted in constant changes to the regulatory framework and eroded the policy’s strategic focus;

Amendment  16

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital E a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ea. whereas the ESF+ is the only EU fund primarily focused on social policies, and is therefore unique and strongly effective in achieving social inclusion, together with cohesion policy; whereas the ESF+ aims to support the Member States and regions in achieving high employment levels, fair social protection and a skilled and resilient workforce ready for the future world of work, as well as inclusive and cohesive societies aiming to eradicate poverty; whereas the ESF+ is the primary instrument for strengthening the social dimension of the EU by supporting the full implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, its action plan and its headline targets;

Amendment  17

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital E b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Eb. Whereas the EU budget, and in particular cohesion policy and the ESF+, have played a fundamental role in reducing social, economic and territorial disparities and inequalities and in building a more social and inclusive Europe – in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights – by supporting the most vulnerable groups; whereas despite progress made, convergence has been uneven across the regions and socio-economic disparities persist with challenges such as poverty, inequality and lack of opportunities;

Amendment  18

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital E c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ec. whereas one child in four is still at risk of poverty and social exclusion in the EU1a; whereas the European Child Guarantee aims to prevent and combat child poverty and the social exclusion of children by guaranteeing effective and free access to high-quality early childhood education and care, education and healthcare, and effective access to healthy nutrition and adequate housing;
	_________________
	1a https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20240719-1.

Amendment  19

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital F

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
F. whereas, since the adoption of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF), the political, economic and social context has changed beyond recognition, compounding underlying structural challenges for the Union and leading to a substantial revision of the MFF in 2024;	F. whereas, since the adoption of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF), the political, economic and social context has changed beyond recognition, and the consequences of climate change have been more frequent and intense, compounding underlying structural challenges for the Union and leading to a substantial revision of the MFF in 2024;

Amendment  20

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital G

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
G. whereas the context in which the Commission will prepare its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, with the established global and geopolitical order changing quickly and radically and the Union budget needing to change accordingly;	G. whereas the context in which the Commission is preparing its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, with the established global and geopolitical order changing quickly and radically in a challenging economic and social landscape, as well as the exacerbating climate and biodiversity crisis, and the Union budget needing to change accordingly;

Amendment  21

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives, tackle the growing challenges it faces, manage and repay its debt sustainably, respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs;	1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives enshrined in the EU Treaties, while tackling the growing challenges it faces, managing its debt sustainably, preparing and responding to shocks and crises and adjusting to evolving spending needs, all while ensuring social, economic and territorial cohesion and solidarity among its Member States in line with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, the European Pillar of Social Rights and the La Hulpe Declaration;

Amendment  22

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
2. Stresses that all spending in the post-2027 MFF must be strategically aligned with the EU’s political aims, adding tangible value for the people of the Union, with discernible net benefits compared to spending at national or sub-national level and leading to real and lasting results;	2. Stresses that all spending in the post-2027 MFF must be strategically aligned with the EU’s political aims, all being equally and mutually valuable as per the TFEU, adding tangible value for the people in all regions of the Union, with discernible net benefits compared to spending at national or sub-national level and leading to real and lasting results;

Amendment  23

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
3. Emphasises that the post-2027 MFF must also become simpler and more transparent and be protected against misuse, fraud and breaches of the principles of the rule of law and the Union’s values;	3. Emphasises that the post-2027 MFF must also become more effective, democratic, accessible, transparent and be protected against misuse, fraud and breaches of the principles of the rule of law, while enhancing the enforcement of EU legislation, social and environmental conditionalities, and the Union’s fundamental rights and values; stresses that the EU budget must include social conditionality, with the social dimension of EU spending becoming a cross-cutting criterion for all policy areas, including the development of a methodology for tracking social expenditure;

Amendment  24

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	3a. Calls for the EU’s long-term budget to fully harness the development potential of each country through public investment, by supporting and modernising productive and strategic sectors, investing in and boosting the efficiency of public services, creating jobs with rights and promoting full employment, combating poverty, social exclusion and inequality, conserving and restoring ecosystems, mitigating and adapting to climate change, and seeking to forge external relations rooted in solidarity, cooperation, mutual respect and peace;

Amendment  25

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
4. Underlines that a simpler, more flexible MFF requires more robust parliamentary accountability;	4. Underlines that a leaner, more efficient MFF requires more robust resources, spent as closely as possible to people and local administrations, as well as parliamentary accountability;

Amendment  26

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
5. Considers that, in view of the structural challenges facing the Union, the post-2027 MFF should adjust its spending focus to ensure that the Union can meet its strategic policy aims as detailed below;	5. Considers that, in view of the structural challenges and geopolitical context facing the Union, the post-2027 MFF should adjust its spending focus to ensure that the Union can meet its strategic policy aims as detailed below;

Amendment  27

 

Motion for a resolution

Subheading 2

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
Competitiveness, strategic autonomy, social, economic and territorial cohesion and resilience	Competitiveness, strategic autonomy, social, economic and territorial cohesion, and resilience and technological development

Amendment  28

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
6. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness, decarbonising the economy and enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society;	6. Is convinced that boosting social, economic and territorial cohesion is indispensable in order to face challenges linked to eradicating poverty, reducing inequalities, creating quality jobs, improving quality of life and well-being, enhancing the Union’s strategic autonomy and supporting the Union’s innovation capacity, as well as a sustainable, fair and inclusive social Europe, and that these are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy, environment and society; stresses that all spending in the post-2027 MFF must be aligned with the Member States’ development needs;

Amendment  29

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
7. Underlines that, as spelt out in the Letta and Draghi reports, the European economy and social model are under intense strain, with the productivity, competitiveness and skills gap having knock-on effects on the quality of jobs and on living standards for Europeans already grappling with high housing, energy and food prices; is concerned that a lack of job opportunities and high costs of living increase the risk of a brain drain away from Europe;	7. Acknowledges the importance of maintaining the central role of economic, social and territorial cohesion; underlines that, as spelt out in the Letta and Draghi reports, the European economy and social model are under intense strain, with the productivity, competitiveness, investment and skills gap having knock-on effects on the quality of jobs and on living standards for Europeans already grappling with high housing, energy and food prices, as well as the direct and indirect impacts of climate change; insists on the importance of combating discrimination; highlights the fact that the availability and universal access of all people to quality public and essential services are necessary conditions for ensuring equal opportunities, improving employment levels, improving living and working conditions and fighting poverty and social exclusion; calls for EU programmes to give priority to projects that promote and uphold the creation of jobs; is concerned that a lack of quality job opportunities, including decent working conditions, quality services and high costs of living, increase the risk of poverty and social exclusion and further exacerbate discrepancies among regions and Member States; highlights that rising job insecurity, platform work and non-standard forms of employment contribute to economic instability and increased social vulnerability; encourages, for the next MFF to reinforce programmes aimed at enhancing labour protections, supporting collective bargaining and ensuring fair wages and social security coverage for all workers;

Amendment  30

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	7a. Highlights the fact that the main objective of the EU’s economic policies must be to preserve and develop the European social and economic model, with a dignified life for all people, social justice, quality jobs, a strong and reliable social welfare system and a cohesive society where no one is left behind, targeting the groups that are in the most vulnerable situations, as well as universal access to public services, in particular to education, healthcare, sustainable mobility, preserving the environment for future generations and implement the EU’s long-term targets regarding climate neutrality and sustainable development in a fair way; underlines that cohesion policy should continue to be a key pillar of the MFF post 2027, with an allocation that is not lower than the current share, shaping a more resilient and competitive Europe and avoiding fragmentation and dilution into broader strategic priorities; underlines that the competitiveness of the European economy must be pursued with these overriding social objectives in mind; calls for significantly increasing the budget for cohesion policies, including for the ESF+ within the MFF framework;

Amendment  31

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	7b. Takes the view that companies that fail to meet the highest social and labour standards – particularly those whose organisational model is based on precarious employment relationships or which close down and dismiss workers for no apparent reason – should be barred from accessing funds from the EU budget; considers that access should be barred to groups of companies established in tax havens and actively contributing to tax avoidance, evasion schemes and money laundering;

Amendment  32

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
8. Points out that Draghi puts the annual investment gap with respect to innovation and infrastructure at EUR 750-800 billion per year between 2025 and 2030; underlines that, while the Union budget cannot cover that shortfall alone, it must play a vital role;	8. Points out that Draghi puts the annual investment gap with respect to innovation and infrastructure at EUR 750-800 billion per year between 2025 and 2030; underlines that, while the Union budget cannot cover that shortfall alone, it must play a vital role and gather additional resources in order to support EU long-term competitiveness, as well as social, economic and territorial cohesion, leaving no one and no region behind; underlines that new own resources can contribute to filling the remaining gap;

Amendment  33

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
9. Stresses that the Union budget must be carefully coordinated with national spending and designed such that it can de-risk, mobilise and leverage private investment effectively, enabling start-ups and SMEs to access funds more readily; calls, therefore, for programmes such as InvestEU, which ensures additionality and follows a market-based, demand-driven approach, to be significantly reinforced in the next MFF; considers that budgetary guarantees are an effective use of resources and calls for them to be simplified;	9. Stresses that the Union budget must be carefully coordinated with national spending and designed such that it can de-risk, mobilise and leverage public and private investment effectively, enabling start-ups and SMEs, including the social economy, to access funds more readily when they contribute to social and environmental objectives benefiting society at large; calls, therefore, for programmes such as InvestEU, which ensures additionality and follows a market-based, demand-driven approach, to be significantly reinforced in the next MFF; considers that budgetary guarantees are an effective use of resources and calls for them to be simplified and extended;

Amendment  34

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending in strategic policy areas, such as climate and, latterly, dual-use defence projects;	10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending in strategic policy areas, such as climate, sustainable, decent and affordable housing for all and, latterly, dual-use defence projects; stresses that the EU needs a coherent, integrated public investment policy that is able to address the multiple challenges that Europe is now facing; underlines that this integrated policy needs to be built around cohesion policy, as the EU’s principle tool for social, economic and territorial cohesion;

Amendment  35

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
11. Emphasises that funding for research and innovation should be significantly increased, should be focused on the Union’s strategic priorities and should continue to be determined by the principle of excellence; considers that there should be sufficient resources across the MFF and at national level to fund all high-quality projects;	11. Emphasises that funding for research and innovation should be significantly increased, focus on the Union’s strategic priorities and continue to be determined by the principle of excellence; considers that there must be sufficient resources across the MFF used in synergy with the national level to fund all high-quality projects;

Amendment  36

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
12. Stresses that the next MFF should include much greater funding for energy, transport and digital infrastructure, with priority given to cross-border connections and national links with European added value; considers that such infrastructure goes hand in hand with a deepening of the single market;	12. Stresses that the next MFF must include much greater funding for sustainable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable, affordable and accessible transport and digital infrastructure, with priority given to projects that enhance social and territorial cohesion, to rural areas and less connected and developed regions, and cross-border connections and national links with European added value; considers that investment in this infrastructure should be subject to criteria and targets aimed at economic cohesion and meeting social needs;

Amendment  37

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
13. Considers that the Union must develop a competitiveness framework in line with its own values and political aims and that competitiveness must therefore be understood as encompassing not only economic growth, but also social, economic and territorial cohesion and environmental sustainability;	13. Considers that the Union must develop a competitiveness framework in line with its own values and political aims; stresses that economic, social, and territorial cohesion, higher skills and innovation levels, as well as environmental sustainability are essential conditions for competitiveness; recalls, in this context, that the Semester process is based on delivering the European Pillar of Social Rights, including through the upward social convergence framework, and does not exert pressure on wages and collective bargaining;

Amendment  38

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	13a. Stresses the importance of a stronger and just Social Europe that supports employment policies, the creation of quality jobs that result in equal opportunities, equal access to the labour market, decent working conditions, fair wages, as well as social protection and inclusion;

Amendment  39

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
14. Underlines that a more competitive, productive and socially inclusive economy helps to generate high-quality, well-paid jobs, thus enhancing people’s standard of living; emphasises that, through programmes such as the European Social Fund+ and Erasmus+, the Union budget can play an important role in supporting education and training systems, boosting workforce adaptability through reskilling and upskilling, and thus preparing people for employment in a modern economy;	14. Underlines that a more competitive, sustainable and socially inclusive economy with reduced inequalities helps to generate high-quality, well-paid jobs and provides financing for high quality services, thus enhancing people’s standard of living and well-being in the long run; insists that a self-standing, strong and reinforced ESF+ must continue to be the key and primary instrument for supporting the Member States, people and regions in strengthening the social dimension of the Union; urges the Commission, in line with the two general objectives of the ESF+ and to reflect their importance equally, to raise earmarking for social inclusion beyond the current 25 % and earmarking for food aid and basic material assistance for the most deprived persons to 5 %, in response to rising living and food costs; expresses strong concerns over attempts to split or merge the ESF+ with other funds, since that would create serious risks for the implementation of its objectives; insists that the full implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, its action plan and its headline targets must be safeguarded and promoted, and it should continue to promote quality employment, but also contribute to the eradication of poverty, create better opportunities for all, with special attention paid to young people, children and people in vulnerable situations, as well as better health and mental health outcomes; emphasises that, through programmes such as the ESF+ and Erasmus+, the Union budget plays an important role in supporting social inclusion and social mobility, lifting people out of poverty, enhancing the right to education and training, including non-formal and informal learning, boosting workforce adaptability through vocational education and training reskilling and upskilling, especially in the context of the twin transitions and the changing economic climate, and thus preparing people for employment in a modern and digitalised economy; stresses the need to support the commercial sector, particularly traditional trade, with a view to modernising the sector, and to support the cooperative sector with a view to safeguarding its social function; stresses that reskilling and upskilling should mostly be prioritised in regions in need; underlines the need for the European Competitiveness Fund also to prioritise upskilling and reskilling in order to future-proof the EU’s workforce;

Amendment  40

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
15. Insists that the Union budget should continue to support important economic and job-creating sectors where the Union is already a world leader, such as tourism and the cultural and creative industries;	15. Insists that the Union budget should continue to support important economic and job-creating sectors that are important for a resilient society where the Union is already a world leader, such as care, research and innovation, tourism and the cultural and creative industries, and to invest in sectors and industries that are essential to strengthening the EU’s strategic autonomy and the digital and green transitions and contribute significantly to the EU’s competitiveness, while respecting social conditionalities;

Amendment  41

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
16. Stresses that, in order to compete with other major global players, the European economy must also become more competitive and resilient on the supply side by investing more in the Union’s open strategic autonomy through enhanced industrial policy and a focus on strategic sectors and critical technologies to reduce dependence on third countries;	16. Stresses that, in order to compete with other major global players, the European economy must also become more competitive and resilient on the supply side, without negatively impacting existing social protection and rights, by investing in the Union’s open strategic autonomy through enhanced clean industrial policy and a focus on strategic sectors and resource efficiency, clean and affordable energy and critical technologies to reduce dependence on third countries while creating green jobs within the EU;

Amendment  42

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	16a. Considers that, to this end, the EU must engage in a comprehensive political debate to define the type of industrial policy needed at EU level, the role of public investments and how to link this policy to European upward social convergence, economic security, strategic autonomy, as well as decarbonisation objectives and environmental protection; considers that the Union must develop a competitiveness framework in line with its own integrated values and political aims in a holistic and broadly comprehensive approach;

Amendment  43

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
18. Recalls that social, economic and territorial cohesion is a cornerstone of European integration and is vital in binding the Union together and deepening the single market; underlines that a modernised cohesion policy must follow a decentralised, place-based, multilevel governance approach and be built around the shared management and partnership principle, fully involving local and regional authorities;	18. Highlights the vital role of EU programmes in the employment and social fields, in particular the ESF+, the European Globalisation Fund, the Just Transition Fund, the Social Climate Fund and the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), in supporting the Union’s social and territorial cohesion and fostering economic resilience; warns that inflation impacts the real value of projects and may jeopardise their implementation; recalls that social, economic and territorial cohesion is a cornerstone of European integration and is vital in binding the Union together and deepening the single market; underlines that a modernised, reinforced cohesion policy must follow a decentralised, place-based, multilevel governance approach and be built around the shared management and partnership principle, fully involving local and regional authorities and social partners at all levels; underlines that an increased budgetary allocation for the Just Transition Fund could provide more robust support to regions and workers in the twin green and digital transitions, but could also mitigate negative social consequences, such as, inter alia, unemployment, energy or transport poverty; underlines that cohesion policy must remain a long-term policy, based on the objectives set out in Articles 174 and 175 TFEU; expresses its concern that the Union’s cohesion policy, including as provided for by the ESF+, is often used as an emergency response tool; calls, in this regard, for the Union budget to provide enough flexibility to cover possible emergency situations in a fast and effective way without undermining the policy objectives agreed at the onset; insists that the post-2027 MFF must significantly enhance investment in sustainable, decent and affordable housing, including through cohesion funds, InvestEU and the EIB, to support Member States in addressing these structural challenges;

Amendment  44

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
19. Stresses that cohesion policy funding must tackle the key challenges the Union faces, such as demographic change and depopulation, and target the regions and people most in need; highlights, in particular, the importance of enhanced support to address the EU-wide housing crisis affecting millions of families and young people;	19. Stresses that cohesion policy funding must tackle the key challenges the Union faces, such as demographic change, depopulation, growing social inequality, the cost of living and housing crises, social inclusion and poverty, including child poverty, and target the regions and people most in need; emphasises the lack of policy responses to the impact of demographic challenges, with an ageing population because of declining fertility rates, and extended life expectancies; calls for favourable treatment for the Union’s and the Member States’ expenditures aimed at countering demographic decline;

Amendment  45

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19a. Calls for adequate funding to eradicate poverty and social exclusion, particularly in marginalised communities and less-developed regions; underlines the need to increase financial support for a just green and digital transition, the creation of high-quality jobs and support for the most deprived people by strengthening funding for organisations and social services addressing basic needs such as food aid, emergency housing and essential healthcare; highlights the fact that the Just Transition Fund has contributed to initiating the changes needed for the restructuring of the local economies in regions dependent on fossil fuels; stresses, however, that the objective of a fair and just transition will not be achieved by the end of the current programme and emphasises the need to continue post 2027; underlines the crucial role played by the SURE instrument to protect workers and mitigate the severely negative socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; stresses the need to support short-time work schemes during periods of asymmetric shocks, building on the experience of SURE; calls for a reinforced SURE mechanism, as it believes that supporting such employment-protection measures in times of crises can stabilise public expenditure dedicated to employment policies and just transition measures to mitigate the immediate impacts on jobs of the necessary transformation of the EU economy, and for a European industrial policy for quality jobs and the reinforcement of the EU’s economic and social resilience; calls on the Commission to assess the number of quality jobs created in the affected regions;

Amendment  46

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19b. Highlights, in particular, the importance of enhanced support to address the EU-wide housing crisis driven by, for example, rising rents, housing speculation, mass tourism and insufficient social housing, which is exacerbating social inequalities and disproportionately affects low- and middle-income households, young people as well as older people, and other vulnerable groups, pushing them into precarious living conditions and homelessness; underlines, therefore, the importance of addressing housing insecurity; believes that all Member States must invest a sufficient amount of their ESF+ resources into tackling homelessness with a view to its eradication by 2030, and asks the Commission to propose significant earmarking for this;

Amendment  47

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19c. Welcomes the Commission’s plan to address the European housing crisis and the nomination of a Commissioner responsible for housing, including the use of EU financing for socially inclusive and sustainable housing systems; stresses that, in line with the political guidelines of the new Commission, tackling the housing crisis and homelessness, for instance, by applying the housing-first principle in Europe, is key and calls therefore on the Commission and the Member States, within the framework of the next MFF, to assume a stronger role in supporting housing policies that would guarantee the right to sustainable, decent and affordable housing for all through investment and regulatory measures; calls, therefore, for the EIB to expand its investments beyond social housing and energy-efficient renovations, supporting a broader range of projects that promote sustainable, well-planned and quality housing developments for all;

Amendment  48

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19d. Stresses, furthermore, that the green transition requires investment in households that cannot otherwise access the benefits of the transition, in particular by providing support for the renovation of worst-performing buildings;

Amendment  49

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19e. Points out that, at the end of 2023, around 20 million children were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, which is roughly one quarter of all children in the EU; repeatedly demands that the ESF+ include a dedicated budget of at least EUR 20 billion for the European Child Guarantee to ensure that every child in the EU has effective and free access to high-quality early childhood education and care, education and school-based activities, at least one healthy meal each school day, healthcare, effective access to adequate housing and healthy nutrition; stresses the importance of ensuring increased access to affordable and high-quality childcare facilities across the EU to support children’s early development and enable parents, particularly women, to make flexible career choices; insists that all Member States should allocate at least 5 % of their ESF+ resources to the European Child Guarantee and at least 10 % should be allocated by those Member States with a higher portion of children at risk of poverty or social exclusion; insists that this effort constitutes a central component of the review of the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan and the upcoming anti-poverty strategy; calls for a strengthening of efforts to support the implementation of the Youth Guarantee with increased earmarking for all Member States that dedicate at least 15 % of their ESF+ resources to support the targeted actions and structural reforms to support quality youth employment, vocational education and training, in particular traineeships and apprenticeships, and the transition from school to work, pathways to reintegrate into education or training and second-chance education;

Amendment  50

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
21. Highlights that the green and digital transitions are inextricably linked to competitiveness, the modernisation of the economy and the resilience of society and that, therefore, the post-2027 MFF must continue to support the twin transitions;	21. Highlights that the green and digital transitions are inextricably linked to competitiveness, the just transition, the modernisation of the economy and the resilience of society and that, therefore, the post-2027 MFF must continue to support the twin transitions; insists that the twin transitions must be socially fair and just, based on meaningful and effective social dialogue ensuring the anticipation and effective management of changes in the world of work with job-to-job transition plans for all sectors;

Amendment  51

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
23. Underlines that industry will be central in the transition to net zero and that support will be needed in helping some industrial sectors and their workers to adapt; stresses that the transition must leave no one behind, requiring investment in regions that are heavily fossil-fuel dependent and increased support for households, in particular through the Social Climate Fund;	23. Underlines that reinforcing the industrial sector will be central in the transition to net zero and that support will be needed to help certain industrial sectors and their workers to adapt; highlights, in this regard, the need for strong support for decent working conditions, skilling, reskilling and lifelong learning as ways to improve the EU’s workforce and labour market adaptation; stresses that the transition must be just, leaving no one behind, including those indirectly affected by it, and requires investment in regions that are heavily fossil-fuel dependent, as well as increased support for vulnerable households, in particular through the Social Climate Fund and the Just Transition Fund; draws attention to the measures taken under cohesion policy for social and territorial cohesion and for stimulating sustainable growth and underlines that cohesion policy should continue to be a key contributor to supporting a socially just transition;

Amendment  52

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
24. Points to the profound technological shift under way, with new technologies such as artificial intelligence both creating opportunities, in terms of economic potential and improvements to the citizens’ lives, and posing reliability and ethical challenges; stresses that the next MFF must support the development and safe application of such technologies and help people to hone the skills they need to work with and use them;	24. Points to the profound technological shift under way, with new technologies such as artificial intelligence both creating opportunities, in terms of economic potential and improvements to the citizens’ lives, and posing reliability, ethical and social risks, as well as serious environmental challenges and which already greatly impact the world of work; stresses that the next MFF must support the development and safe application of such technologies and help people to hone the skills they need to work with, use and benefit from them;

Amendment  53

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
25. Recalls that security is the foundation for the Union’s prosperity and social model and that the next MFF must invest significantly more in safeguarding the Union against the myriad threats it faces;	25. Recalls that security is the foundation for the Union’s prosperity and that the next MFF must therefore invest significantly more in its social model, safeguarding the Union against the myriad threats it faces;

Amendment  54

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
26. Underlines that, as the Niinistö report makes clear, the fragmenting global order, increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, the security threat posed by Russia, growing tensions globally, hybrid campaigns, which include cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation, disinformation and interference and the instrumentalisation of migration, and health threats are combining to heighten instability and increase the Union’s vulnerability;	26. Underlines that, as the Niinistö report makes clear, the fragmenting global order, increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, the security threat posed by Russia, growing tensions globally, hybrid campaigns, which include cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation, disinformation and interference and the instrumentalisation of migration, health threats and healthcare workforce shortages are combining to heighten instability and increase the Union’s vulnerability;

Amendment  55

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 28

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
28. Notes that, according to the Commission President, the defence spending gap currently stands at EUR 500 billion for the next decade; underlines that the Union budget alone cannot fill the gap, but has an important role to play;	28. Notes that, according to the Commission President, the defence spending gap currently stands at EUR 500 billion for the next decade; underlines that the Union budget alone cannot fill the gap, but has an important role to play; considers, at the same time, that defence spending cannot be at the detriment of social and environmental spending, and also should not lead to a reduction in funding for long-standing Union policies that have proved their worth over time, such as cohesion policy;

Amendment  56

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 31

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
31. Emphasises that the Union needs to ramp up funding for preparedness across the board; underlines that, in addition to efforts to mitigate climate change through the green transition, significant investment is required to adapt to climate change, in particular to protect against and reduce the impact of natural disasters and severe weather events; considers that support for this purpose must be significantly increased in the next MFF;	31. Emphasises that the Union needs to ramp up funding for preparedness across the board; underlines that, in addition to efforts to mitigate climate change through the green transition, significant investment is required to adapt to climate change, in particular to protect against and reduce the impact of natural disasters and severe weather events; stresses that the long-term financing of key preparedness investment must be significantly increased in the next MFF; underlines that funding for emergency needs should not weaken funding for the EU’s long-term objectives; calls, therefore, on the Commission to protect the budget allocation of the ESF+ so that it can be used for its main objectives and beneficiaries, and to propose a financial reserve instrument that enables the EU to respond rapidly and in a flexible manner to social emergencies and crises, complementing the ESF+ and other cohesion funds;

Amendment  57

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 32

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
32. Recalls that the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked economic and social havoc globally and that a key lesson from the experience is that there is a need to invest in preparedness for health threats, in medical research and in the resilience of public health systems in the Union; considers that the next MFF must build on the work done in the current programming period;	32. Recalls that the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked economic and social havoc globally and that a key lesson from the experience is that there is a need to invest in preparedness for health threats, in medical research, in the resilience of public health systems in the Union and to tackle healthcare workforce shortages; considers that the next MFF must build on the work done in the current programming period and increase the budget for health;

Amendment  58

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 37

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
37. Stresses that the next MFF must continue to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change, to providing relief in the event of natural disasters, ensuring global food security, improving healthcare systems, reducing poverty and inequality and boosting competitiveness and the security of global supply chains; emphasises, in particular, the need for support for the Union’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods;	37. Stresses that the next MFF must continue to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change, to providing relief in the event of natural disasters, ensuring global food security, improving healthcare systems, including reducing healthcare workforce shortages, eradicating poverty, reducing inequality and boosting competitiveness and the security of global supply chains; emphasises, in particular, the need for support for the Union’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods;

Amendment  59

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 46

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
46. Emphasises the importance of the Union budget in promoting and protecting democracy and the Union’s values, fostering the Union’s common cultural heritage and European integration, enhancing citizen engagement and youth participation and promoting fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the rule of law; points to the importance of independence of justice, the sound functioning of national institutions, support for civil society and de-oligarchisation;	46. Emphasises the importance of the Union budget in promoting and protecting democracy and the Union’s values, fostering the Union’s common cultural heritage and European integration, enhancing citizen engagement and youth participation and promoting fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the rule of law; points to the importance of independence of justice, the sound functioning of national institutions, support for civil society and de-oligarchisation; recalls that a democratisation of the budgetary process must ensure the full involvement of Parliament; recommends the meaningful involvement of social partners, regional and local authorities and civil society, which must be guaranteed in the design, implementation, follow-up and evaluation of funds at all levels, including technical assistance (under the Technical Support Instrument), with consistent financial resources allocated for capacity building, in order to empower social dialogue both at European and national level, in order to enhance social partners’ potential and the role of social dialogue, including in neighbourhood policies, enlargement and development cooperation;

Amendment  60

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 50

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
50. Calls for the consolidation of a robust rule of law toolbox, building on the current conditionality provisions under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the horizontal enabling conditions in the Common Provisions Regulation; underlines the need for far greater transparency and consistency with regard to the application of tools to protect the rule of law and for Parliament’s role to be strengthened in the application and scrutiny of such measures; insists, furthermore, on the need for consistency across instruments when assessing breaches of the rule of law in Member States;	50. Calls for the consolidation of a robust rule of law toolbox, building on the current conditionality provisions under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the horizontal enabling conditions in the Common Provisions Regulation, especially the partnership principle; underlines the need for far greater transparency and consistency with regard to the application of tools to protect the rule of law and for Parliament’s role to be strengthened in the application and scrutiny of such measures; insists, furthermore, on the need for consistency across instruments when assessing breaches of the rule of law in Member States;

Amendment  61

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 53

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
53. Underlines, therefore, that the next MFF must ensure that, across the board, spending programmes pursue climate and biodiversity objectives, promote and protect rights and equal opportunities for all, including gender equality, support competitiveness and bolster the Union’s preparedness against threats;	53. Underlines, therefore, that the next MFF must ensure that, across the board, spending programmes pursue climate and biodiversity objectives, promote and protect rights and equal opportunities for all, including gender equality, the rights of persons with disabilities and the inclusion of marginalised groups, support the European Social Model through the implementation of the principles under the European Pillar of Social Rights and through reinforcing competitiveness and social rights, enhance social fairness and the lawful implementation of legislation and collective bargaining and bolster the Union’s preparedness against threats and crises, including healthcare preparedness, by investing in healthcare workforce capacity building and development; calls for a stronger integration of social innovation across EU programmes to foster inclusive economic growth and develop new models of service delivery that address demographic change, digitalisation and labour market transformations;

Amendment  62

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 55

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
55. Welcomes the development of a methodology to track gender-based spending and considers that the lessons learnt should be applied in the next MFF; stresses, in the same vein, the need for a significant improvement in climate and biodiversity mainstreaming methodologies;	55. Underlines that Article 8 TFEU provides that ‘in all its activities, the Union shall aim to eliminate inequalities and to promote equality’; recognises the importance of a methodology to track gender-based spending and considers that the lessons learnt should be applied in the next MFF; reiterates the need to further develop and improve the EU’s gender tracking methodology; calls for links to be established between the targets included in the upcoming gender equality strategy and the MFF as a key vehicle to implement the strategy, and for consistent and sustainable budgeting for all gender-related activities in the next MFF in line with the mainstreaming commitments; underlines the need for improved collection, reporting and evaluation of comparable gender-disaggregated data and the development of horizontal EU definitions in order to facilitate gender impact assessments in Union policy areas; stresses, in the same vein, the need for a significant improvement in climate and biodiversity mainstreaming methodologies;

Amendment  63

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 55 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	55a. Calls for the principle of economic, social and territorial cohesion to be defined in the post-2027 MFF as a horizontal principle in the EU’s long-term budget, making an assessment of the impact on cohesion across and within Member States of all expenditure, policies or actions a requirement, with the aim of promoting effective convergence in economic and social progress;

Amendment  64

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 56 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	56a. Recalls that, in line with Article 33(2) of the Financial Regulation, programmes and activities under the next MFF should be implemented in order to achieve their set objectives while respecting working and employment conditions under applicable national law, Union law, International Labour Organization conventions and collective agreements; stresses the importance of this principle and expects the Commission to make concrete proposals on how the principle should be applied to all spending programmes under the next MFF;

Amendment  65

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 57

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
57. Insists that, post-2027, sufficient financial and staff resources be allocated from the outset so that Union institutions, bodies and decentralised agencies can ensure effective and efficient policy design, delivery and enforcement, continue to attract the best people from all Member States, thus ensuring geographical balance, and have leeway to adjust to changing circumstances;	57. Recalls that an effective European public administration is of key importance; insists that, post-2027, sufficient financial and staff resources be allocated from the outset so that Union institutions, bodies and decentralised agencies can ensure effective and efficient policy design, high quality delivery, also through technical assistance and enforcement, as well as the protection of the financial interest of the Union, continue to attract the best people from all Member States, thus ensuring geographical balance, and have leeway to adjust to changing circumstances; appreciates the high-quality work performed by the agencies working in the area of employment, social affairs and inclusion – Eurofound, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, the European Training Foundation and the European Labour Authority; recalls the particular mandates of these agencies and the specific composition of their management bodies based on the tripartite principle, thus including representatives of national authorities and social partners; stresses the importance, autonomy and added value of these five agencies in their field of expertise; reiterates the need to equip these agencies, at a level commensurate with their assigned tasks, with a sufficient number of staff, employed in a stable manner and with sufficient material resources;

Amendment  66

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 60

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
60. Stresses that the next MFF must be designed so as to simplify the lives of beneficiaries, harmonise rules wherever possible and cut unnecessary red tape and must be implemented as close to people as possible;	60. Stresses that the next MFF and the relevant sectoral programmes must be designed so as to simplify the access of beneficiaries to funds, especially SMEs and civil society organisations, in particular by harmonising rules on accessing and applying for funds, wherever possible including on reporting and other cross-cutting measures, such as fraud, and cut unnecessary red tape in accessing funding, and thus must be implemented as close to people as possible and ensure that beneficiaries are consulted on the design of the simplification measures; highlights the necessity of prioritising women, children, young people, older people, persons with disabilities, families and persons in vulnerable situations, advocating targeted measures to combat unemployment and precariousness; reiterates its call to allocate sufficient resources to achieve its objective of combating child poverty;

Amendment  67

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 61

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
61. Calls for genuine simplification where there are overlapping objectives, diverging eligibility criteria and different rules governing aspects that should be uniform across programmes; considers that an assessment of which spending programmes should be included in the next MFF must be based on the above aspects, on the need to focus spending on clearly identified policy objectives and on the policy intervention logic of each programme;	61. Calls for genuine simplification and harmonisation where there are overlapping objectives, diverging eligibility criteria and different rules governing aspects that should be uniform across programmes; considers that an assessment of which spending programmes should be included in the next MFF must be based on the above aspects, on the need to focus spending on clearly identified policy objectives and on the policy intervention logic of each programme; considers, however, that spending programmes under the next MFF must be based on Union policy and the Treaty objectives and principles; insists that cohesion policy should be maintained as a separate MFF sub-heading;

Amendment  68

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 62

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
62. Insists that a simpler budget must also be a more transparent budget, enabling better control of spending and reducing the risks of double funding; underlines that any reduction in programmes must be offset by a far more detailed breakdown of the budget by budget line, in contrast to some programme mergers in the current MFF, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI – Global Europe), which is an example not to follow; calls, therefore, for a sufficiently detailed breakdown by budget line to enable proper accountability and ensure that decision-making in the annual budgetary procedure is meaningful;	62. Insists that a more efficient budget must also be a more transparent budget, enabling better control of spending and reducing the risks of double funding; underlines that a far more detailed breakdown of the budget by budget line should be provided for each EU programme, in particular for the larger programmes merging different policy objectives; considers that, while detailed budget breakdowns enhance accountability, transparency and budget control, they cannot justify or compensate for the merging of funds with distinct purposes; notes that this is in contrast to some programme mergers in the current MFF, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI – Global Europe), which is an example not to follow; underlines, therefore, that a sufficiently detailed breakdown by budget line is necessary to enable proper accountability, including better control by the co-legislators of the objectives and governance of the programmes, and ensure that decision-making in the annual budgetary procedure is meaningful;

Amendment  69

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 64

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
64. Points out that, traditionally, the MFF has not been conceived with a crisis response or flexibility logic, but rather has been designed primarily to ensure medium-term investment predictability; underlines that, in a rapidly changing political, economic and social context, such an approach is no longer tenable; insists on sufficient in-built crisis response capacity in the next MFF;	64. Points out that, traditionally, the MFF has not been conceived with a crisis response or flexibility logic, but rather has been designed primarily to ensure medium-term investment predictability; underlines that, in a rapidly changing political, economic and social context under pressure, for instance, because of climate change, such an approach is no longer tenable; insists on ensuring an in-built crisis response capacity in the next MFF to allow for a faster and more effective response to emergencies, as well as to invest more in rebuilding better and while not compromising the specific objectives and amounts allocated for funds and programmes, particularly in terms of social, economic and territorial cohesion;

Amendment  70

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 65

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
65. Underscores that the current MFF has been beset by a lack of flexibility and an inability to adjust to evolving spending priorities; considers that the next MFF needs to strike a better balance between investment predictability and flexibility to adjust spending focus; highlights that spending in certain areas requires greater stability than in others where flexibility is more valuable; stresses that recurrent redeployments are not a viable way to finance the Union’s priorities as they damage investments and jeopardise the delivery of agreed policy objectives;	65. Underscores that the current MFF has been beset by a lack of specific funds and tools designed to tackle emergencies and an inability to adjust to evolving spending priorities; considers that the next MFF needs to strike a better balance between investment predictability and flexibility to adjust spending focus and respond to evolving needs and emerging crises; highlights that spending in certain areas requires greater stability than in others where flexibility is more valuable; stresses that recurrent redeployments are not a viable way to finance the Union’s priorities as they damage investments and jeopardise the delivery of agreed policy objectives;

Amendment  71

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 66

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
66. Believes that, while allocating a significant portion of funding to objectives up-front, spending programmes should retain a substantial in-built flexibility reserve, with allocation to specific policy objectives to be decided by the budgetary authority; notes that the NDICI – Global Europe’s emerging challenges and priorities cushion provides a model for such a flexibility reserve, but that the decision-making process for its mobilisation must not be replicated in the future MFF; points to the need for a detailed budgetary breakdown to ensure decisions by the budgetary authority are meaningful;	66. Underlines that, within the framework of co-decision, Parliament and the Council may, on a case-by-case basis, include an in-built flexibility reserve in a programme, and warns that this in-built flexibility reserve is not relevant for all programmes; notes that in such cases the mobilisation of this reserve should be decided through co-decision via, at least, a delegated act;

Amendment  72

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 68

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
68. Calls for a root-and-branch reform of the existing special instruments to bolster crisis response capacity; underlines that the current instruments are both inadequate in size and constrained by excessive rigidity, with several effectively ring-fenced according to crisis type; points out that enhanced crisis response capacity will ensure that cohesion policy funds are not called upon for that purpose and can therefore be used for their intended investment objectives;	68. Calls for a root-and-branch reform of the existing special instruments to bolster crisis response capacity and to endow the MFF with flexibility linked to evolving needs; underlines that the current instruments are both inadequate in size and constrained by excessive rigidity, with several effectively ring-fenced according to crisis type; points out that enhanced crisis response capacity will ensure that cohesion policy funds already allocated for other investments are not called upon for that purpose and can therefore be used for their intended investment objectives;

Amendment  73

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 69

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
69. Considers that the post-2027 MFF should include only two special instruments - one dedicated to ensuring solidarity in the event of natural disasters (the successor to the existing European Solidarity Reserve) and one for general-purpose crisis response (the successor to the Flexibility Instrument); insists that both special instruments should be adequately funded from the outset and able to carry over unspent amounts indefinitely over the MFF period; believes that all other special instruments can either be wound up or subsumed into the two special instruments or into existing programmes;	69. Considers that the post-2027 MFF should include special instruments to ensure solidarity in the event of natural disasters (the successor to the existing European Solidarity Reserve), to provide support for redundant workers in the event of major restructuring events (the continuation of the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers) and one for general-purpose crisis response (the successor to the Flexibility Instrument); insists that special instruments should be adequately funded from the outset and able to carry over unspent amounts indefinitely over the MFF period; believes that the amounts earmarked for strengthening these instruments should not be the result of a reduction in other funds or programmes; believes that all other special instruments can either be wound up or subsumed into the two special instruments or into existing programmes;

Amendment  74

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 70

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
70. Calls for the future Flexibility Instrument to be heavily front-loaded and subsequently to be fed through a number of additional sources of financing: unspent margins from previous years (as with the current Single Margin Instrument), the annual surplus from the previous year, a fines-based mechanism modelled on the existing Article 5 of the MFF Regulation, and decommitted appropriations;	70. Calls for the future Flexibility Instrument to be heavily front-loaded and subsequently to be fed through a number of additional sources of financing: unspent margins from previous years (as with the current Single Margin Instrument), the annual surplus from the previous year, a fines-based mechanism modelled on the existing Article 5 of the MFF Regulation, and decommitted appropriations, which should be re-entered in the original programmes’ budget envelope in order to deploy their full potential, fulfil their objectives and reach as many beneficiaries as possible;

Amendment  75

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 72

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
72. Emphasises that, in order to maximise impact, it is imperative that spending under the next MFF be much more rigorously aligned with the Union’s strategic policy aims and carefully coordinated with spending at national level;	72. Emphasises that, in order to maximise impact, it is imperative that spending under the next MFF be much more rigorously aligned with the Union’s strategic policy aimed at territorial and upward social convergence;

Amendment  76

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 74

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
74. Underlines that the RRF can help to inform the delivery of Union spending under shared management; recalls, however, that the RRF was agreed in the very specific context of the COVID-19 pandemic and cannot, therefore, be replicated wholesale for future investment programmes;	74. Underlines that the RRF can help to inform the delivery of Union spending under shared management; recalls, however, that the RRF was agreed in the very specific context of the COVID-19 pandemic and cannot, therefore, be replicated wholesale for future investment programmes as it is built based on a centralised Member State-level approach with single national plans; warns that centralised Member State-level programming through single national plans undermines subsidiarity, contradicts the multilevel governance approach and the partnership principle, and would not be the most efficient or inclusive method for delivering Union spending on long-term policies; highlights that strict performance metrics cannot be used as efficiently for certain objectives, such as employment and social policy priorities;

Amendment  77

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
75. Points out that any application of an RRF-style delivery model in the next MFF would have to correct the RRF’s fundamental flaws, by involving regional and local authorities from design to delivery through a place-based and multilevel governance approach, ensuring the cross-border dimension of investment projects, focusing on results and impact rather than outputs, guaranteeing full transparency in relation to final recipients of Union spending and safeguarding Parliament’s role as legislator, budgetary and discharge authority and in holding the executive to account;	75. Points out that integrating lessons learnt from the RRF-style delivery model in the next MFF would have to correct the RRF’s fundamental flaws, respecting the ordinary legislative procedure, namely institutional codecision, for each regulation, by involving regional and local authorities from design to delivery through a place-based and multilevel governance approach, ensuring the cross-border dimension of investment projects, focusing on results and impact rather than outcome, or sometimes outputs in the definition of performance, and ensuring the availability of data relevant for performance measurement, guaranteeing full transparency in relation to final recipients of Union spending and safeguarding Parliament’s role as legislator, budgetary and discharge authority and in holding the executive to account; underlines the need to build on the specificities of cohesion policy while preserving its cornerstone principles of long-term and structural measures and reforms;

Amendment  78

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	75a. Stresses the role of technical assistance in ensuring the maximum quality of projects, as well as additionality of investments, and in enabling the timely implementation of expenditure; recalls, in this regard, the essential role of concentrated technical knowledge as provided, for example, by the EIB advisory hub;

Amendment  79

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 81

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
81. Calls, therefore, on the Commission to design a sound and durable architecture that enables sustainable management of all non-discretionary costs and liabilities, fully preserving Union programmes and the budget’s flexibility and response capacity;	81. Calls, therefore, on the Commission to design a sound and durable architecture that enables sustainable management of all non-discretionary costs and liabilities, without reducing the amounts allocated to programmes and funds and while preserving the budget’s flexibility and response capacity;

Amendment  80

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 84

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
84. Reiterates the need for sustainable and resilient revenue for the Union budget; points to the legally binding roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources in the IIA, in which Parliament, the Council and the Commission undertook to introduce sufficient new own resources to at least cover the repayment of NGEU debt;	84. Reiterates the need for sustainable and resilient revenue for the Union budget; points to the legally binding roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources in the IIA, in which Parliament, the Council and the Commission undertook to introduce sufficient new own resources to meet both known and unforeseen needs and ensure the long-term financing of the EU budget, which is essential to sustain the Union’s initiatives benefiting all Member States and to prevent any further burden on workers and people hit by the transitions;

 

 

 

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteur for the opinion declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

 

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted	31.3.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	41 7 4
Members present for the final vote	Maravillas Abadía Jover, Grégory Allione, Nikola Bartůšek, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, Rachel Blom, Andrzej Buła, Estelle Ceulemans, Leila Chaibi, Henrik Dahl, Johan Danielsson, Marie Dauchy, Mélanie Disdier, Elena Donazzan, Gheorghe Falcă, Chiara Gemma, Niels Geuking, Isilda Gomes, Alicia Homs Ginel, Sérgio Humberto, Irena Joveva, Martine Kemp, Katrin Langensiepen, Miriam Lexmann, Marit Maij, Idoia Mendia, Maria Ohisalo, João Oliveira, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Dennis Radtke, Liesbet Sommen, Villy Søvndal, Pál Szekeres, Georgiana Teodorescu, Romana Tomc, Jana Toom, Raffaele Topo, Brigitte van den Berg, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, Mariateresa Vivaldini, Petar Volgin, Jan-Peter Warnke, Séverine Werbrouck
Substitutes present for the final vote	Borys Budka, Andi Cristea, Klára Dobrev, Estrella Galán, Rudi Kennes, Pierfrancesco Maran, Benedetta Scuderi, Andrea Wechsler, Angelika Winzig
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Salvatore De Meo

 

 

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

41	+
NI	Jan-Peter Warnke
PPE	Maravillas Abadía Jover, Borys Budka, Andrzej Buła, Henrik Dahl, Salvatore De Meo, Gheorghe Falcă, Niels Geuking, Sérgio Humberto, Martine Kemp, Miriam Lexmann, Dennis Radtke, Liesbet Sommen, Romana Tomc, Andrea Wechsler, Angelika Winzig
Renew	Grégory Allione, Irena Joveva, Jana Toom, Brigitte van den Berg, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne
S&D	Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, Estelle Ceulemans, Andi Cristea, Johan Danielsson, Klára Dobrev, Isilda Gomes, Alicia Homs Ginel, Marit Maij, Pierfrancesco Maran, Idoia Mendia, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Raffaele Topo
The Left	Leila Chaibi, Estrella Galán, Rudi Kennes, João Oliveira
Verts/ALE	Katrin Langensiepen, Maria Ohisalo, Benedetta Scuderi, Villy Søvndal

 

7	-
ESN	Petar Volgin
PfE	Nikola Bartůšek, Rachel Blom, Marie Dauchy, Mélanie Disdier, Pál Szekeres, Séverine Werbrouck

 

4	0
ECR	Elena Donazzan, Chiara Gemma, Georgiana Teodorescu, Mariateresa Vivaldini

 

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstention

 

 

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE AND FOOD SAFETY (9.4.2025)

for the Committee on Budgets

on a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world

(2024/2051(INI))

Rapporteur for opinion: Michalis Hadjipantela

 

 

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety presents to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, the following:

Amendment  1

 

Motion for a resolution

Citation 22 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Commission communication of 11 December 2019 entitled ‘The European Green Deal’ (COM(2019)0640);

Amendment  2

 

Motion for a resolution

Citation 22 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to its resolution of 15 January 2020 on the European Green Deal1a;
	__________________
	1a OJ C 270, 7.7.2021, p. 2.

Amendment  3

 

Motion for a resolution

Citation 22 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Commission communication of 11 March 2020 entitled ‘A new Circular Economy Action Plan For a cleaner and more competitive Europe’ (COM(2020)0098);

Amendment  4

 

Motion for a resolution

Citation 22 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to its resolution of 10 February 2021 on the New Circular Economy Action Plan1a;
	__________________
	1a OJ C 465, 17.11.2021, p. 11.

Amendment  5

 

Motion for a resolution

Citation 22 e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Commission communication of 26 February 2025 entitled ‘The Clean Industrial Deal: A joint roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation’ (COM(2025)0085);

Amendment  6

 

Motion for a resolution

Citation 22 f (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Antwerp Declaration for a European Industrial Deal of 20 February 2024;

Amendment  7

 

Motion for a resolution

Citation 22 g (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the ‘Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’, adopted in December 2022 at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity;

Amendment  8

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital A a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Aa. whereas a healthy environment underpins the well-being of all people and is an environment in which biodiversity is conserved, ecosystems thrive and nature is protected and restored, leading to increased resilience to climate change, weather- and climate-related disasters and other environmental risks; whereas the dependence on virgin raw materials and critical minerals poses a threat to the environment and our economies; whereas climate change, pollution, including air pollution, and biodiversity loss need to be tackled to safeguard the Union’s security and prosperity; whereas, as highlighted by the European Environment Agency, the implications of climate change affect the whole continent, but disproportionately affect vulnerable populations due to socio-economic factors and in particular in less developed regions; whereas the European Central Bank highlights that climate-related risks have an impact on macroeconomic indicators such as inflation, economic growth, financial stability and monetary policy transmission and that the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of natural ecosystems are likely to amplify climate-related risks1a; whereas intergenerational responsibility and young people’s needs have to be prioritised;
	__________________
	1a https://www.ecb.europa.eu/ecb/climate/managing_mitigating_climatel_risk/html/index.en.html

Amendment  9

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Da. whereas the 8th Environment Action Programme (8EAP) provides that by 2050 the EU’s natural environment is to be restored, resilient and adequately protected and that all pollution reduced to levels no longer considered harmful to human health and natural ecosystems; whereas the Zero Pollution Action Plan sets out specific targets to reduce air, water and soil pollution, including the goal of reducing ‘the health impacts of air pollution (premature deaths) by more than 55 %’ and ‘nutrient losses by at least 50 %’ by 2030; whereas air pollution remains the leading environmental threat to health in Europe; whereas the Declaration of the Seventh Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health recognises the importance of planning and investing in health-promoting and equitable environments to achieve resilient and healthy communities; whereas healthy soils can provide ecosystem services that are vital to humans and the environment; whereas it is estimated that 60-70 % of the soils in the Union are deteriorated; whereas a significant amount of water is lost due to the outdated water and irrigation network, and given climate and demographic change, the strategic importance of sufficient quantity and quality of water as a resource for citizens, industry, ecosystems and agri-food production will increase;

Amendment  10

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital F

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
F. whereas, since the adoption of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF), the political, economic and social context has changed beyond recognition, compounding underlying structural challenges for the Union and leading to a substantial revision of the MFF in 2024;	F. whereas, since the adoption of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF), the political, economic, environmental and social context has changed beyond recognition, compounding underlying structural challenges for the Union and leading to a substantial revision of the MFF in 2024;

Amendment  11

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital G

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
G. whereas the context in which the Commission will prepare its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, with the established global and geopolitical order changing quickly and radically and the Union budget needing to change accordingly;	G. whereas the context in which the Commission will prepare its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, with the established global and geopolitical order changing quickly and radically in a challenging economic and social landscape, as well as the consequences of overrun planetary boundaries, and the Union budget needing to change accordingly;

Amendment  12

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives, tackle the growing challenges it faces, manage and repay its debt sustainably, respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs;	1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives, tackle the growing challenges it faces, manage and repay its debt sustainably, respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs, while ensuring social, economic, environmental and territorial cohesion;

Amendment  13

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	1a. Highlights the potential of synergies among EU programmes and funds; calls for the development of arrangements to maximise synergies under the post-2027 MFF funding programmes, ensure regulatory stability and promote simplification and harmonisation where appropriate in the use of EU funds and to minimise administrative burdens for all actors;

Amendment  14

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	1b. Welcomes the Commission’s commitment to phase out all fossil fuel subsidies and environmentally harmful subsidies in the next MFF; considers that this should be done to support the transition towards the European Green Deal objectives of climate neutrality and zero pollution while boosting the competitiveness of the European economy, mitigating the cost-of-living crisis, and promoting a just transition; calls on the Commission to come forward with its planned roadmap in this regard, well ahead of its proposal for the next MFF; emphasises the importance of the Just Transition Fund for the economic and social transition of regions with a high dependence on fossil fuels and other polluting operations;

Amendment  15

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
6. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness, decarbonising the economy and enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society;	6. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness, decarbonising the economy and strengthening the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF in achieving the Union’s climate and environmental objectives and are vital to ensure long-term sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society;

Amendment  16

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
8. Points out that Draghi puts the annual investment gap with respect to innovation and infrastructure at EUR 750-800 billion per year between 2025 and 2030; underlines that, while the Union budget cannot cover that shortfall alone, it must play a vital role;	8. Points out that Draghi puts the annual investment gap with respect to innovation and infrastructure, including industrial decarbonisation, at EUR 750-800 billion per year between 2025 and 2030 without considering the investment gap relating to climate adaptation, zero pollution, biodiversity and circularity objectives; underlines that the Union budget cannot cover that shortfall alone, but must play a vital role in covering it; recalls the role of the MFF in strategically attracting private capital and unlocking the financing needed for the green, digital and social transitions; stresses the use of InvestEU in tackling the investment gap and scaling up green and decarbonisation technologies with a higher financial risk; highlights that EU funding needs to bring true additionality and not replace Member States’ commitments;

Amendment  17

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending in strategic policy areas, such as climate and, latterly, dual-use defence projects;	10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending in strategic policy areas, such as climate, environment, biodiversity and the just transition and, latterly, dual-use defence projects; highlights that climate-related investments must be approached in a comprehensive and efficient way and be streamlined across all economic and security priorities;

Amendment  18

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	10a. Emphasizes the need for investments in the field of nature restoration; calls for innovative financing mechanisms that prioritise nature-based solutions across European structural funds, drawing on the strategic lessons from InvestEU;

Amendment  19

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
12. Stresses that the next MFF should include much greater funding for energy, transport and digital infrastructure, with priority given to cross-border connections and national links with European added value; considers that such infrastructure goes hand in hand with a deepening of the single market;	12. Stresses that the next MFF should include much greater funding for energy, water, transport and digital infrastructure, with priority given to cross-border connections and national links with clear European added value; considers that such infrastructure goes hand in hand with a deepening of the single market in a way that also contributes to meeting our climate, energy and environmental targets;

Amendment  20

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	12a. Emphasises the strategic imperative of transforming Europe's energy landscape through dedicated investments in renewable technologies that reduce geopolitical vulnerabilities and foreign energy dependencies; underscores the urgent need to accelerate affordable, European energy production while simultaneously expanding grid infrastructure, positioning these investments as a core pillar of economic resilience and competitiveness in the next MFF;

Amendment  21

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	12b. Highlights the need for healthy soils within the Union and the need for necessary resources to support the monitoring of soil status and the uptake of sustainable soil management and regenerative practices, as well as measures to ensure policy coherence in relation to the objective of achieving healthy soils by 2050;

Amendment  22

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
14. Underlines that a more competitive, productive and socially inclusive economy helps to generate high-quality, well-paid jobs, thus enhancing people’s standard of living; emphasises that, through programmes such as the European Social Fund+ and Erasmus+, the Union budget can play an important role in supporting education and training systems, boosting workforce adaptability through reskilling and upskilling, and thus preparing people for employment in a modern economy;	14. Underlines that a more competitive, sustainable, productive and socially inclusive economy helps to generate high-quality, well-paid jobs, thus enhancing people’s standard of living; emphasises that, through programmes such as the European Social Fund+ and Erasmus+, the Union budget can play an important role in supporting education and training systems, boosting workforce adaptability through reskilling and upskilling, and thus preparing people for employment in a modern economy; highlights the need for environmental education in this regard;

Amendment  23

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
17. Emphasises that food security is a vital component of strategic autonomy and that the next MFF must continue to support the Union’s farming and fisheries sectors, including small and young farmers and fishers, and help the sectors to better protect the climate and biodiversity; highlights the crucial role of the common agricultural policy in increasing productivity through technical progress, ensuring a fair standard of living for farmers and guaranteeing food security; calls for adequate funding for the common agricultural policy in the next MFF;	17. Emphasises that food security and sustainable production capacity are vital components of strategic autonomy and that the next MFF must continue to support the Union’s farming and fisheries sectors, with an emphasis on small and young farmers and fishers, and help the sectors through increased support for their just transition; calls for enhanced investment in sustainable agricultural innovation and smart farming technologies that improve efficiency while reducing environmental impact, reduce pollution, reverse biodiversity loss, and ensure that food supply chains remain sustainable, resilient and competitive; highlights the crucial role of the common agricultural policy in increasing productivity through technical progress, ensuring a fair standard of living for farmers, guaranteeing food safety and security, and protecting against unfair competition from third countries with lower environmental protection standards; calls for adequate funding for the common agricultural policy in the next MFF, aligning funding with environmental priorities, as highlighted by the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU Agriculture; calls for the establishment of a strategic food crisis response mechanism to ensure food availability;

Amendment  24

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
19. Stresses that cohesion policy funding must tackle the key challenges the Union faces, such as demographic change and depopulation, and target the regions and people most in need; highlights, in particular, the importance of enhanced support to address the EU-wide housing crisis affecting millions of families and young people;	19. Stresses that cohesion policy funding must tackle the key challenges the Union faces, such as demographic change, depopulation, exposure to climate change and effects of environmental degradation, increasing natural disasters and extreme weather events and long-term economic stagnation, and target the regions and people most in need; highlights, in particular, the importance of enhanced support to address the EU-wide housing crisis affecting millions of families and young people;

Amendment  25

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
22. Recalls that the Union is committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, which requires a decarbonisation of the economy through the deployment of clean technologies, improved energy and transport infrastructure and more energy-efficient housing; notes that the Commission estimates additional investment needs to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at 1.5 % of GDP per year compared to the decade 2011-2020 and that, while the Union budget alone cannot cover the gap, it must remain a vital contributor;	22. Recalls that the Union is committed to reducing its carbon emissions by at least 55 % in 2030, achieving climate neutrality by 2050, which requires a decarbonisation of the economy through the deployment of clean technologies, improved energy and transport infrastructure and more energy-efficient housing; notes that the Commission estimates additional investment needs to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at 1.5 % of GDP per year compared to the decade 2011-2020 and that, while the Union budget alone cannot cover the gap, it must remain a vital contributor, using an approach that safeguards economic competitiveness and fiscal responsibility; underlines the role of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (ESABCC) in providing independent advice to decision-makers; recalls the importance of research and innovation in addressing the key challenge of tackling climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss in order to strengthen science-to-policy uptake regarding their economic and health impacts, and of prioritising funding to EU institutions and companies in the field;

Amendment  26

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	22a. Stresses that water is a cornerstone of the EU’s strategic autonomy; calls on the Commission to support a water-smart transition for industries and local and regional authorities within the upcoming MFF, investing in circular and efficient water use; highlights the increased water needs of innovative industry sectors, such as for data centres, and the need to ensure their sustainability and continued operation; recalls that the lack of dedicated water funding within the current MFF limits the EU’s capacity to direct targeted investments towards essential water resilience measures; highlights that the Commission should consider the water resilience strategy as an integral part of the next MFF; stresses that water infrastructure such as reservoirs, interconnections and desalination, should be enhanced and modernised due to its importance in protecting against natural disasters, with particular attention paid to protection against floods; highlights that nature-based solutions for water resilience and climate adaptation should be prioritised; highlights that the next MFF should address the geographically vulnerable regions that are severely affected by water scarcity, such as the Mediterranean basin, to ensure an adequate supply for agriculture, industry, ecosystems and communities; stresses the need for reliable access to clean and affordable water resources, tackling the dangers of pharmaceutical polluters, micro plastics and PFAS pollution, as well as ensuring that wastewater is treated in accordance to EU standards;

Amendment  27

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	22b. Stresses the importance of science-based civil society funding for appropriate activities in the green transition, with programmes such as LIFE and Horizon providing support for innovative environmental projects and actions towards ecological transformation; highlights the crucial role of such initiatives in empowering evidence-based solutions including for nature conservation and climate change mitigation;

Amendment  28

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
23. Underlines that industry will be central in the transition to net zero and that support will be needed in helping some industrial sectors and their workers to adapt; stresses that the transition must leave no one behind, requiring investment in regions that are heavily fossil-fuel dependent and increased support for households, in particular through the Social Climate Fund;	23. Underlines that industry will be central in the transition to net zero and that support will be needed in helping some industrial sectors and their workers to adapt; emphasises that EU funding for clean technology and industrial transformation should prioritise European-based companies and innovation hubs to maintain global leadership in strategic green sectors and reduce dependency on third-country supply chains; stresses that the transition must leave no one behind, requiring investment in regions that are heavily fossil-fuel dependent and increased support for households, in particular through the Social Climate Fund and the Just Transition Fund; welcomes the Clean Industrial Deal boosting European industrial competitiveness, particularly for SMEs, and calling for a balanced regulatory approach that incentivises investment; stresses the need to support rural and remote communities, as well as regions disproportionately reliant on polluting industries and practices, through dedicated funding to ensure they are not left behind;

Amendment  29

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	24a. Points out that EU funding for green innovation should prioritise EU businesses, technological sovereignty and industrial scaling, ensuring that the EU remains globally competitive in the clean tech sector;

Amendment  30

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	24b. Stresses the need for funding for circular economy initiatives, including for improving resource efficiency, reducing the depletion of natural resources, reducing waste and increasing industrial recycling, ensuring that these policies are compatible with the Union’s competitiveness and simplification agenda;

Amendment  31

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 28

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
28. Notes that, according to the Commission President, the defence spending gap currently stands at EUR 500 billion for the next decade; underlines that the Union budget alone cannot fill the gap, but has an important role to play;	28. Notes that, according to the Commission President, the defence spending gap currently stands at EUR 500 billion for the next decade; underlines that the Union budget alone cannot fill the gap, but has an important role to play; considers, at the same time, that defence spending cannot come at the detriment of social, environmental, research and health policies;

Amendment  32

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 31

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
31. Emphasises that the Union needs to ramp up funding for preparedness across the board; underlines that, in addition to efforts to mitigate climate change through the green transition, significant investment is required to adapt to climate change, in particular to protect against and reduce the impact of natural disasters and severe weather events; considers that support for this purpose must be significantly increased in the next MFF;	31. Emphasises that the Union needs to ramp up funding for preparedness across the board; underlines that, in addition to efforts to mitigate climate change through the green transition, significant investment is required to adapt to climate change, in particular to protect against and reduce the impact of natural disasters and severe weather events to society and biodiversity, prioritising nature-based solutions when available; recommends allocating adequate funding to initiatives that mitigate the health risks linked to climate change and air, light and noise pollution; considers that support for this purpose must be significantly increased in the next MFF, to protect communities and infrastructure, particularly in the regions at risk of increasing natural disasters; calls for efficiency and expedited disbursement of EU funds targeted to responding to natural disasters; underlines that preparedness and response should be conducted in line with the One Health approach;

Amendment  33

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 32

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
32. Recalls that the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked economic and social havoc globally and that a key lesson from the experience is that there is a need to invest in preparedness for health threats, in medical research and in the resilience of public health systems in the Union; considers that the next MFF must build on the work done in the current programming period;	32. Recalls that the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked economic and social havoc globally and that a key lesson from the experience is that there is a need to invest in preparedness and crisis response for health and environmental threats, in medical research and in the resilience of public health systems in the Union and advancing science on the health and economic burden of pollution; stresses the impact of climate and environmental degradation on health; considers that the next MFF must build on the work done in the current programming period; highlights the need for a robust flexibility reserve within the MFF to respond to crises in public health and climate resilience;

Amendment  34

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 37

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
37. Stresses that the next MFF must continue to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change, to providing relief in the event of natural disasters, ensuring global food security, improving healthcare systems, reducing poverty and inequality and boosting competitiveness and the security of global supply chains; emphasises, in particular, the need for support for the Union’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods;	37. Stresses that the next MFF must continue to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change and biodiversity loss and preventing and reducing pollution to providing relief in the event of natural disasters, ensuring global food security, improving healthcare systems, reducing poverty and inequality and boosting competitiveness and the security of global supply chains; emphasises, in particular, the need for support for the Union’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods;

Amendment  35

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 38

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
38. Underlines that the budget must uphold the Union’s role as the world’s leading provider of development aid and climate finance in line with the Union’s global obligations and commitments; insists that the budget must continue to support the Union in its efforts to defend the rules-based international order, democracy, multilateralism, human rights and fundamental values;	38. Underlines that the budget must uphold the Union’s role as the world’s leading provider of development aid and climate finance in line with the Union’s global obligations and commitments; insists that the budget must continue to support the Union in its efforts to defend the rules-based international order, democracy, multilateralism, human rights and fundamental values; recalls in this regard that the MFF should support the Union in meeting international commitments as regards climate and environment;

Amendment  36

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 47

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
47. Stresses that instability in neighbouring regions, poverty, underlying trends in economic development and demographic changes continue to generate migration flows towards the Union, placing significant pressure on asylum and migration systems; underlines that the post-2027 MFF must support the full implementation of the Union’s Asylum and Migration Pact, in line with fundamental rights and EU values; underlines, moreover, that, in line with the Pact, cooperation with third countries on migration must abide by EU law and respect international standards;	47. Stresses that instability in neighbouring regions, poverty, underlying trends in economic development and demographic changes, further exacerbated by the effects of climate change, continue to generate migration flows towards the Union, placing significant pressure on asylum and migration systems; underlines that the post-2027 MFF must support the full implementation of the Union’s Asylum and Migration Pact, in line with fundamental rights and EU values; underlines, moreover, that, in line with the Pact, cooperation with third countries on migration must abide by EU law and respect international standards;

Amendment  37

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 53

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
53. Underlines, therefore, that the next MFF must ensure that, across the board, spending programmes pursue climate and biodiversity objectives, promote and protect rights and equal opportunities for all, including gender equality, support competitiveness and bolster the Union’s preparedness against threats;	53. Underlines, therefore, that the next MFF must ensure that, across the board, spending programmes pursue climate, pollution and biodiversity objectives, promote and protect rights and equal opportunities for all, including gender equality, support competitiveness and bolster the Union’s preparedness against threats;

Amendment  38

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 54 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	54a. Welcomes the improvements in performance reporting seen in the current MFF, which allow for better scrutiny of the impact of EU spending; underlines the need to further develop and introduce methods and tools for assessing the environmental impacts of MFF spending, ensuring that investments help achieve policy targets; highlights the importance of alignment between political commitments in environmental legislation and corresponding financial allocations in the MFF; emphasises the need for ambitious and dedicated funding within the MFF that comprehensively support the climate, biodiversity and pollution objectives and targets;

Amendment  39

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 56

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
56. Is pleased that the climate mainstreaming target of 30 % is projected to be exceeded in the current MFF; regrets, however, that the Union is not on track to meet the target for biodiversity-related expenditure; considers that the targets in the IIA have been a major factor in driving climate and biodiversity spending; recalls, furthermore, the importance of the ‘do no significant harm’ principle, as defined in the Taxonomy Regulation12 , in implementing the Union budget;	56. Is pleased that the climate mainstreaming target of 30 % is projected to be exceeded in the current MFF; regrets, however, that the Union is not on track to meet the target for biodiversity-related expenditure; considers that the targets in the IIA have been a major factor in driving climate and biodiversity spending; recalls, furthermore, the importance of the ‘do no significant harm’ principle, as defined in the Taxonomy Regulation12 , in implementing the Union budget; stresses the importance of the work of ECHA, EEA and EFSA; calls for measures that ensure that funding allocations reach environmental protection objectives in an effective way, while avoiding unnecessary duplications;
__________________	__________________
12 Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/852/oj).	12 Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/852/oj).

Amendment  40

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 68

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
68. Calls for a root-and-branch reform of the existing special instruments to bolster crisis response capacity; underlines that the current instruments are both inadequate in size and constrained by excessive rigidity, with several effectively ring-fenced according to crisis type; points out that enhanced crisis response capacity will ensure that cohesion policy funds are not called upon for that purpose and can therefore be used for their intended investment objectives;	68. Calls for a root-and-branch reform of the existing special instruments to bolster crisis response capacity and to endow the MFF with flexibility linked to evolving needs; underlines that the current instruments are both inadequate in size and constrained by excessive rigidity, with several effectively ring-fenced according to crisis type; points out that enhanced crisis response capacity linked to extreme weather events will ensure that cohesion policy funds are not called upon for that purpose and can therefore be used for their intended investment objectives;

Amendment  41

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 72

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
72. Emphasises that, in order to maximise impact, it is imperative that spending under the next MFF be much more rigorously aligned with the Union’s strategic policy aims and carefully coordinated with spending at national level;	72. Emphasises that, in order to maximise impact, it is imperative that spending under the next MFF be much more rigorously aligned with the Union’s strategic policy aims and carefully coordinated with spending at national level; stresses the need for accountability and transparency in all types of funding;

 

Amendment  42

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 74 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	74a. Recalls that EU-level ‘off-the-shelf instruments’ were introduced in the 2014-2020 MFF to make EU funding more efficient and accessible to local authorities and regions, particularly those with lower administrative capacities, in particular to support critical investments in climate change, energy efficiency and key infrastructures.

Amendment  43

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 77

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
77. Deplores the fact that, under the existing architecture and despite the joint declaration by the three institutions as part of the 2020 MFF agreement whereby expenditure to cover NGEU financing costs ‘shall aim at not reducing programmes and funds’, financing for key Union programmes and resources available for special instruments, even after the MFF revision, have de facto been competing with the repayment of NGEU borrowing costs in a context of steep inflation and rising interest rates;	77. Deplores the fact that, under the existing architecture and despite the joint declaration by the three institutions as part of the 2020 MFF agreement whereby expenditure to cover NGEU financing costs ‘shall aim at not reducing programmes and funds’, financing for key Union programmes and resources available for special instruments, even after the MFF revision, have de facto been competing with the repayment of NGEU borrowing costs in a context of steep inflation and rising interest rates; underlines that any further joint borrowing should be much more targeted on specific political priorities;

 

 

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR OPINION HAS RECEIVED INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for opinion declares that he received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the draft opinion:

Entity and/or person

Water Europe

Aqua Publica Europea

 

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur for the opinion.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur for opinion declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

 

 

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted	8.4.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	56 24 1
Members present for the final vote	Grégory Allione, Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Mathilde Androuët, Pascal Arimont, Bartosz Arłukowicz, Sakis Arnaoutoglou, Anja Arndt, Thomas Bajada, Barbara Bonte, Lynn Boylan, Delara Burkhardt, Mohammed Chahim, Christophe Clergeau, Annalisa Corrado, Ivan David, Antonio Decaro, Ondřej Dostál, Viktória Ferenc, Emma Fourreau, Emmanouil Fragkos, Heléne Fritzon, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Andreas Glück, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, Roman Haider, Martin Hojsík, Pär Holmgren, Romana Jerković, Marc Jongen, Radan Kanev, Ondřej Knotek, Stefan Köhler, Katri Kulmuni, Peter Liese, Javi López, César Luena, Ignazio Roberto Marino, Tilly Metz, Dan-Ştefan Motreanu, Rasmus Nordqvist, Jacek Ozdoba, Jutta Paulus, Michele Picaro, Jessica Polfjärd, Nicola Procaccini, Carola Rackete, Massimiliano Salini, Silvia Sardone, Majdouline Sbai, Lena Schilling, Günther Sidl, Susana Solís Pérez, Marta Temido, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Beatrice Timgren, Filip Turek, Ana Vasconcelos, Aurelijus Veryga, Kristian Vigenin, Alexandr Vondra, Emma Wiesner, Michal Wiezik, Tiemo Wölken, Anna Zalewska
Substitutes present for the final vote	Mireia Borrás Pabón, Biljana Borzan, Carmen Crespo Díaz, Valérie Deloge, Nikolas Farantouris, Sigrid Friis, Giorgos Georgiou, Jens Gieseke, Paolo Inselvini, Letizia Moratti, Valentina Palmisano, Manuela Ripa, Laurence Trochu, Roberto Vannacci
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Rosa Estaràs Ferragut, Liudas Mažylis, Verena Mertens

 

 

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

56	+
PPE	Pascal Arimont, Bartosz Arłukowicz, Carmen Crespo Díaz, Rosa Estaràs Ferragut, Jens Gieseke, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, Radan Kanev, Stefan Köhler, Peter Liese, Liudas Mažylis, Verena Mertens, Letizia Moratti, Dan-Ştefan Motreanu, Jessica Polfjärd, Manuela Ripa, Massimiliano Salini, Susana Solís Pérez, Ingeborg Ter Laak
Renew	Grégory Allione, Sigrid Friis, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Martin Hojsík, Katri Kulmuni, Ana Vasconcelos, Emma Wiesner, Michal Wiezik
S&D	Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Sakis Arnaoutoglou, Thomas Bajada, Biljana Borzan, Delara Burkhardt, Mohammed Chahim, Christophe Clergeau, Annalisa Corrado, Antonio Decaro, Heléne Fritzon, Romana Jerković, Javi López, César Luena, Günther Sidl, Marta Temido, Kristian Vigenin, Tiemo Wölken
The Left	Lynn Boylan, Nikolas Farantouris, Emma Fourreau, Giorgos Georgiou, Valentina Palmisano, Carola Rackete
Verts/ALE	Pär Holmgren, Ignazio Roberto Marino, Tilly Metz, Rasmus Nordqvist, Jutta Paulus, Majdouline Sbai, Lena Schilling

 

24	-
ECR	Emmanouil Fragkos, Paolo Inselvini, Jacek Ozdoba, Michele Picaro, Nicola Procaccini, Beatrice Timgren, Laurence Trochu, Aurelijus Veryga, Alexandr Vondra, Anna Zalewska
ESN	Anja Arndt, Ivan David, Marc Jongen
NI	Ondřej Dostál
PfE	Mathilde Androuët, Barbara Bonte, Mireia Borrás Pabón, Valérie Deloge, Viktória Ferenc, Roman Haider, Ondřej Knotek, Silvia Sardone, Filip Turek, Roberto Vannacci

 

1	0
Renew	Andreas Glück

 

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstention

 

 

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY (18.3.2025)

for the Committee on Budgets

on a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world

(2024/2051(INI))

Rapporteur for opinion: Christian Ehler

 

 

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy submits the following to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible:

Amendment  1

Motion for a resolution

Recital E a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ea. whereas the challenges posed by ongoing geopolitical events, particularly the Russian aggression in Ukraine, has led to disruptions in value chains and energy markets, impacting the timely implementation of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF);

Amendment  2

Motion for a resolution

Recital H a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ha. whereas the Budapest Declaration on the new European competitiveness deal committed the Union and its Member States to achieving the objective of spending at least 3 % of the Union’s GDP on research and development by 2030, an objective first set for 2010 under the Lisbon Strategy;

Amendment  3

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	3a. Reiterates its commitment to phasing out all fossil fuel subsidies and environmentally harmful subsidies from the next MFF; requests that the Commission put forward its planned roadmap for further scaling down and phasing out the use of fossil fuel subsidies well ahead of its proposal for the next MFF;

Amendment  4

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending in strategic policy areas, such as climate and, latterly, dual-use defence projects;	10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending in strategic policy areas, such as climate and, latterly, dual-use defence projects without losing triple-A status; believes, therefore, that alternative instruments, such as the European Innovation Council, should be used to deliver the Union financial instrument investments needed to unlock and attract sufficient private venture capital to ensure a financing environment for European start-ups that can compete with the EU’s global competitors;

Amendment  5

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
11. Emphasises that funding for research and innovation should be significantly increased, should be focused on the Union’s strategic priorities and should continue to be determined by the principle of excellence; considers that there should be sufficient resources across the MFF and at national level to fund all high-quality projects;	11. Stresses that the innovation gap is one of the causes of the Union’s slowing productivity growth; emphasises that, in order to put research and innovation at the heart of the EU economy, the Union needs to significantly increase investment in research and innovation, in particular by fostering public spending on research and development (R&D), including at national level, and leveraging private R&D spending, including via a more attractive internal market for start-ups, scale-ups and venture capital, with a particular focus on strategic sectors; emphasises the importance of efficient funding processes, guaranteeing predictability and efficient use of public resources, in attracting private investment in cutting-edge research and innovation; notes that in order to achieve the Union’s policy objectives, the Union and its Member States need to fund the best possible science (including basic science), research and innovation and attractive research infrastructure and complete the European research area, most notably by introducing the Fifth Freedom1a and by continuing research cooperation through Euratom; considers that under the next MFF, the 10th Framework Programme should receive an overall budget that is in line with the 3 % of GDP spending target and is sufficient to fund at least 75 % of high-quality proposals, namely a budget of at least EUR 220 billion; underlines that the 10th Framework Programme has to be an independent funding programme encompassing all Union funding and financing for excellent research, technology development and innovation activities across the Union; emphasises that in order to ensure budgetary stability, the budget for this Framework Programme should be ring-fenced in the MFF and any decommitments stemming from this Programme or its predecessors should automatically return to the Programme or its successors; notes the generally positive assessments (in particular in terms of EU added value) of the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) by independent experts; regrets, however, that the relevance of the European Institute for Innovation and Technology as a programme is questioned by several stakeholders, including some of its biggest beneficiaries; underlines that in principle, the concept of KICs is appreciated by stakeholders as a useful instrument for the effective development and integration of innovation ecosystems; stresses that the two main concerns raised are the financial self-sustainability requirement for KICs1b, and the central management by the European Institute for Innovation and Technology, which is considered too bureaucratic and burdensome and creates governance difficulties for the KICs1c; concludes that for many stakeholders, the financial and other costs, including the high burden of participating in a KIC, outweigh the benefits of the relatively small amount of funding support that is relevant for them;
	_________________
	1a Letta Report, pp. 19-26.
	1b See, for example, European University Association, ‘Paving the way for impactful European R&I – EUA’s vision for FP10’, position paper, 2024, p. 14, https://www.eua.eu/publications/positions/paving-the-way-for-impactful-european-r-i.html.
	1c See, for example, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, ‘Towards a bigger bang for the buck: Bid farewell to the EIT’, position paper, May 2024, https://www.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/zv/en/institutes/international/brussels/finalpapers/Fraunhofer_PositionPaper_EIT.pdf.

Amendment  6

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	11a. Believes that the continued presence of nuclear technology in the Union and the continued interest in the use of nuclear power as part of the national energy mix in some Member States, which currently means that about 22.8 % of electricity generation in the Union stems from nuclear production, requires that the Union be a world leader with regard to knowledge of, R&D into and expertise on these technologies, including on their safety, through the Euratom Research and Training Programme and the continued involvement of the Union in the ITER project; stresses that the budgets for these programmes should reflect the new realities of the significant development towards the commercialisation of fusion technology; underlines, against the backdrop of the project’s delays and unspent appropriations in the current MFF, that the funding structure for the Union’s contribution to the ITER project should reflect the inherent uncertainty in the long-term financial planning of such a high-tech, ambitious project, in order to ensure that the Union’s budget can be used optimally in each financial year as well as over the full MFF period; expresses deep concern regarding Russia’s continued membership of the ITER project, considering Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing threat that Russia poses to a free and democratic European continent; recalls China’s membership of the ITER project; points out the members participating in the ITER project share ownership of the technology that is developed and the intellectual property rights that arise;

Amendment  7

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
12. Stresses that the next MFF should include much greater funding for energy, transport and digital infrastructure, with priority given to cross-border connections and national links with European added value; considers that such infrastructure goes hand in hand with a deepening of the single market;	12. Stresses that the deepening of the energy union will be crucial in order to deliver affordable, clean and secure energy to European citizens and businesses, in particular through the ramp-up of renewables in line with the Renewable Energy Directive, such as through the Renewable Energy Financing Mechanism); notes that this will require European investment in critical and cross-border energy infrastructure, energy storage and flexibility and in improving energy efficiency and further decarbonising the energy system, with respect for national energy mix choices and the principle of technological neutrality; underlines that investments should be directed at ensuring the open strategic autonomy of the Union with regard to its energy supply to increase energy security and provide affordable energy, as well as achieve the Union’s climate neutrality target; calls for the funding for energy infrastructure provided by CEF Energy to be significantly increased under the next MFF in order to support the transition of the EU energy system into a more resilient, cheaper, cleaner and smarter future and to meet the growing demand for transformative investments in critical projects; underlines that investments should improve flexibility and efficiency, mitigate price volatility and enhance the security of the energy supply; notes that for cross-border infrastructure projects, investments should continue to follow the priorities set out in the TEN-E Regulation and focus on supporting projects of common interest in order to ensure the further deployment and integration of clean energy so as to deliver affordable and secure energy to consumers and businesses; recommends that funding to facilitate cross-border cooperation in renewable energy be continued, in addition to funding for promoting energy system integration and system efficiency via support for the modernisation and development of electricity grid interconnections and increased investments in hydrogen transport infrastructure, CO2 transport infrastructure, offshore grids and projects of mutual interest with third countries, particularly with Ukraine and other countries in the EU’s neighbourhood; underlines the essential role of electrification in the energy transition and calls, therefore, for measures that accelerate the modernisation and expansion of national electricity grids in order to increase the coherence of the Union’s electricity grid; underlines, furthermore, the importance of the Modernisation Fund for accelerating the transition to climate neutrality in the 13 beneficiary Member States by providing funding for the ramping-up of renewables and energy storage, promoting energy efficiency and modernising energy networks;

Amendment  8

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
13. Considers that the Union must develop a competitiveness framework in line with its own values and political aims and that competitiveness must therefore be understood as encompassing not only economic growth, but also social, economic and territorial cohesion and environmental sustainability;	13. Recalls that ‘European competitiveness’ refers to the ability of European companies to compete successfully in global markets; points out that fostering sustainable European industrial competitiveness will require levelling the playing field for European industry compared to global competitors in terms of the cost of doing business, including by making it easier to invest, lowering energy costs, enhancing productivity, increasing long-term public investments, reducing the administrative burden and facilitating access to public contracts, critical raw materials and private capital; considers that the Union must foster its competitiveness in line with its own values and political aims, including economic growth, social, economic and territorial cohesion and environmental sustainability;

Amendment  9

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	13a. Stresses that, in order to compete with other major global players, the European economy must also become more competitive and resilient on the supply side by investing more in the Union’s open strategic autonomy through enhanced industrial policy with a focus on strategic sectors and critical technologies to reduce dependence on third countries; recalls that European industrial policy has to complete the twin green and digital transitions of European industry; recalls the previous term’s debates on a European sovereignty fund; considers, in that regard, that a new competitiveness fund should deliver on investments to ensure the strategic autonomy of the Union by fostering the sustainable industrial competitiveness and resilience of the Union, in particular through investments in strategic industrial sectors and projects, and that its priorities should be based on the Union’s industrial policy; underscores that this fund needs to be a new and targeted funding instrument to fill a funding gap in the current MFF, rather than partly or completely taking over the role of existing funding programmes; insists, in particular, on the need for a stand-alone European framework programme for research and innovation to fund European research and innovation activities, in the context of the envisaged discussion of the anticipated competitiveness fund; underlines that the primary aim of the anticipated competitiveness fund should be to facilitate private investments in industrial capacity in the Union by levelling the playing field with the conditions for industrial investment in other parts of the world; notes that, in this regard, the fund might be built on the experience garnered with InvestEU and the Innovation Fund, for example through the use of the ‘auction as a service’ approach;

Amendment  10

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	13b. Insists that in order to ensure open strategic autonomy and competitiveness in the space sector and reduce dependence on non-EU actors in space activities, the EU needs a significant increase in investments to deliver its space policy; underlines that the Union’s space policy has become increasingly important as a result of the changing geopolitical climate and fundamental changes to the global space industry, including through the emergence of New Space and increased commercialisation; highlights, in this context, the need to invest in space-based technologies, particularly communication technologies and earth observation, and in technologies related to access to space; believes that the Member States will not be able to efficiently meet these investment challenges alone, and that European intervention and cooperation are therefore increasingly important in this field and must be strengthened, including through the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) and the European Space Agency (ESA); stresses that the coordinated action of the EU, leveraging the EUSPA’s operational leadership alongside the ESA’s technical expertise, will become increasingly important in this field; believes that the investments in space system development and deployment, as currently provided by the European Union space programme, InvestEU, the European Defence Fund and Horizon Europe, should be increased significantly compared to the current MFF in order to strengthen European open strategic autonomy in space; underlines, in this regard, the need to continue investing in the leading role of the Copernicus and Galileo satellite systems while significantly ramping up investments in European space-based secure communication systems, such as IRIS2, and in space-based civil security-related systems, including space situational awareness systems; highlights the important work of the EUSPA in ensuring the proper and strategic implementation of these investments; notes that further investments in access to space should also be included in the next MFF, including investments in launch infrastructure and in advanced launch technology development, and that investments should, as far as possible, promote the reform of the European space market into a more competition-driven market with due support for new European space players; underlines that investments in space systems under the next MFF must prioritise integrating cybersecurity by design, enhancing the production of European space data and ensuring its optimal use within the EU, thus ensuring resilience across the entire life cycle of space infrastructure, from development to decommissioning;

Amendment  11

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
16. Stresses that, in order to compete with other major global players, the European economy must also become more competitive and resilient on the supply side by investing more in the Union’s open strategic autonomy through enhanced industrial policy and a focus on strategic sectors and critical technologies to reduce dependence on third countries;	deleted

Amendment  12

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
21. Highlights that the green and digital transitions are inextricably linked to competitiveness, the modernisation of the economy and the resilience of society and that, therefore, the post-2027 MFF must continue to support the twin transitions;	21. Highlights that the green and digital transitions are inextricably linked to competitiveness, the modernisation of the economy and the resilience of society, that they must therefore be supported by strong research and innovation efforts, and that the post-2027 MFF must continue to support the twin transitions;

Amendment  13

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
23. Underlines that industry will be central in the transition to net zero and that support will be needed in helping some industrial sectors and their workers to adapt; stresses that the transition must leave no one behind, requiring investment in regions that are heavily fossil-fuel dependent and increased support for households, in particular through the Social Climate Fund;	23. Underlines that industry will be central in the transition to net zero and that support will be needed in helping some industrial sectors and their workers to adapt; stresses that this transition will take place in the context of global competition that is characterised by a relatively high cost of doing business in Europe and by unfair and anti-competitive efforts by the Union’s global competitors; considers that innovation, and in particular cleantech innovation, is the only way to keep European industry competitive, securing economic growth and quality jobs while also decarbonising; underlines, in this regard, the importance of a strengthened Innovation Fund as part of the MFF; believes that the Innovation Fund should continue to serve the clear objective of decarbonising European industry and should form, together with the anticipated competitiveness fund and investments in the digital and space sectors, a coherent and easy-to-access suite of funding programmes to support the competitiveness of European industry; believes that the transition must leave no one behind, requiring investment in regions that are heavily fossil-fuel dependent and increased support for households, in particular through the Social Climate Fund;

Amendment  14

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	23a. Underlines that for the Union to fully benefit from the digital transition, it needs to invest in its technology leadership and sovereignty, including through standardisation and the development of a European technology stack to support the EU’s digital autonomy and influence in international standards; notes that the full deployment of scalable and user-centred digital technologies will make the EU’s public sector and administration more efficient, improve the quality of life of EU citizens and increase the competitiveness of EU companies; highlights that the rapid evolution of digital infrastructure shows the need for reliable, future-ready connectivity that combines terrestrial, satellite and next-generation mobile networks (i.e. 5G and 6G) into a seamless, secure system capable of supporting large-scale, high-speed communication networks; strongly believes that in order to achieve this, the Union should prioritise the development of innovative, trusted and adaptable networks; emphasises, furthermore, that the continued acceleration of the digital transition underlines the importance of ongoing Union spending on deploying, using (digital skills) and innovating with digital technologies, and on the data infrastructure that forms the backbone of an internal market for digital products and services; notes that given the speed of technological development, the next MFF needs to have enough flexibility to include new priorities as they arise, while ensuring streamlined access to funding for stakeholders; calls for an increased budget for digital infrastructure investments; believes that the objectives of both the Digital Europe Programme and CEF Digital remain relevant, but that rationalising the programming landscape for digital investments could be considered, in particular to foster the development of a European technology stack; highlights the need to ensure robust cyber- and physical security for all digital technologies and infrastructure, and the need for this to remain a horizontal priority in Union spending in order to safeguard critical investments, withstand hybrid attacks, such as sabotage and espionage, and foster trust in digital and technological advancements;

Amendment  15

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
24. Points to the profound technological shift under way, with new technologies such as artificial intelligence both creating opportunities, in terms of economic potential and improvements to the citizens’ lives, and posing reliability and ethical challenges; stresses that the next MFF must support the development and safe application of such technologies and help people to hone the skills they need to work with and use them;	24. Points to the profound technological shift under way, with new technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum both creating opportunities, in terms of economic potential and improvements to the citizens’ lives, and posing reliability and ethical challenges; stresses that the next MFF must increase support for research and development related to such technologies and the safe application of such technologies; notes the importance of further investments to help people to hone the skills they need to work with and use such technologies;

Amendment  16

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 35

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
35. Insists that, in a context of heightened global instability, the Union must continue to engage constructively with third countries and support peace, stability, prosperity, security, democracy and sustainable development globally, in line with its values;	35. Insists that, in a context of heightened global instability, the Union must continue to engage constructively with third countries and support peace, stability, prosperity, security, democracy and sustainable development globally, in line with its values; underlines that science diplomacy can be a very effective tool in this regard, particularly considering the strength of the European scientific sector;

Amendment  17

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 56

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
56. Is pleased that the climate mainstreaming target of 30 % is projected to be exceeded in the current MFF; regrets, however, that the Union is not on track to meet the target for biodiversity-related expenditure; considers that the targets in the IIA have been a major factor in driving climate and biodiversity spending; recalls, furthermore, the importance of the ‘do no significant harm’ principle, as defined in the Taxonomy Regulation12 , in implementing the Union budget;	56. Is pleased that the climate mainstreaming target of 30 % is projected to be exceeded in the current MFF; regrets, however, that the Union is not on track to meet the target for biodiversity-related expenditure; considers that the targets in the IIA have been a major factor in driving climate and biodiversity spending; recalls, furthermore, Article 33(2)d of the Financial Regulation, which sets out that Union programmes ‘shall, where feasible and appropriate in accordance with the relevant sector-specific rules, be implemented to achieve their set objectives without doing significant harm to the environmental objectives of climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, the sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources, the transition to a circular economy, pollution prevention and control and the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems, as set out in Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council’;
_________________
12 Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/852/oj).

Amendment  18

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 58

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
58. Regrets that the Union’s ability to implement policy effectively within the current MFF has been undermined by stretched administrative resources and a dogmatic attachment to a policy of stable staffing, despite increasing demands and responsibilities; points, for example, to the failure to provide sufficient staff to properly enforce the Digital Services13 and Digital Markets Acts14 , thus undercutting the legislation’s effectiveness;	58. Regrets that the Union’s ability to implement policy effectively within the current MFF has been undermined by stretched administrative resources and a dogmatic attachment to a policy of stable staffing, despite increasing demands and responsibilities; points, for example, to the failure to provide sufficient staff to properly enforce the Digital Services13 and Digital Markets Acts14, thus undercutting the legislation’s effectiveness; highlights, in this regard, the negative effect of the understaffing of the Commission on the efficiency of the Union’s industrial policy, as it undermines the Commission’s ability to quickly process state-aid notifications or effectively apply trade defence instruments, leading to a non-level global playing field for European industry;
_________________	_________________
13 Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act) (OJ L 277, 27.10.2022, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj).	13 Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act) (OJ L 277, 27.10.2022, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj).
14 Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2022 on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector and amending Directives (EU) 2019/1937 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Digital Markets Act) (OJ L 265, 12.10.2022, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/1925/oj).	14 Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2022 on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector and amending Directives (EU) 2019/1937 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Digital Markets Act) (OJ L 265, 12.10.2022, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/1925/oj).

Amendment  19

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 59 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	59a. Believes that the programme-specific implementation of any potential horizontal policies or mainstreaming efforts set out for the MFF, for example related to competitiveness or the twin green and digital transitions, should be left to sectoral legislation in order to ensure that it is effective and does not create unnecessary administrative complexity for the final recipients of Union funds;

Amendment  20

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 91 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	91a. Stresses the importance of parliamentary scrutiny of the implementation of the Union budget under the MFF and in compliance with sectoral legislation; underlines, in that context, that agreements allowing for the participation of specific third countries1a in EU programmes should allow for full parliamentary scrutiny, through a consent procedure, of the participation of a specific partner country in a specific EU programme; underlines that this is of particular importance where the participation is not part of a single international agreement on political relations between the Union and the third country;
	__________________
	1a These specific countries include members of the European Free Trade Association that are members of the European Economic Area, acceding countries, candidate countries and potential candidate countries, European Neighbourhood Policy countries, and like-minded third countries, including the United Kingdom and Switzerland.

 

 

 

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR OPINION HAS RECEIVED INPUT

 

The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted	18.3.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	54 17 10
Members present for the final vote	Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Wouter Beke, Paolo Borchia, Markus Buchheit, Borys Budka, João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Pilar del Castillo Vera, Elena Donazzan, Matthias Ecke, Christian Ehler, Sofie Eriksson, Jan Farský, Sigrid Friis, Niels Fuglsang, Alexandra Geese, Bruno Gonçalves, Nicolás González Casares, Giorgio Gori, Bart Groothuis, András Gyürk, Niels Flemming Hansen, Eero Heinäluoma, Ivars Ijabs, Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă, Adam Jarubas, Fernand Kartheiser, Seán Kelly, Rudi Kennes, Sarah Knafo, Michał Kobosko, Ondřej Krutílek, Eszter Lakos, Morten Løkkegaard, Yannis Maniatis, Eva Maydell, Marina Mesure, Jana Nagyová, Ville Niinistö, Aleksandar Nikolic, Mirosława Nykiel, Daniel Obajtek, Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, Tsvetelina Penkova, Virgil-Daniel Popescu, Jüri Ratas, Julie Rechagneux, Aura Salla, Elena Sancho Murillo, Jussi Saramo, Paulius Saudargas, Benedetta Scuderi, Diego Solier, Anna Stürgkh, Marcin Sypniewski, Beata Szydło, Dario Tamburrano, Filip Turek, Yvan Verougstraete, Mariateresa Vivaldini, Andrea Wechsler, Angelika Winzig, Auke Zijlstra, Nicola Zingaretti
Substitutes present for the final vote	Mohammed Chahim, Paulo Cunha, Radan Kanev, Marion Maréchal, Georg Mayer, Kira Marie Peter-Hansen, Oliver Schenk, Irene Tinagli, Zala Tomašič, Francesco Torselli, Marie Toussaint, Dimitris Tsiodras
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Grégory Allione, Mireia Borrás Pabón, Vasile Dîncu, Marcos Ros Sempere, Alexandre Varaut, Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez

 

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

54	+
PPE	Wouter Beke, Borys Budka, Pilar del Castillo Vera, Paulo Cunha, Christian Ehler, Jan Farský, Niels Flemming Hansen, Adam Jarubas, Radan Kanev, Seán Kelly, Eszter Lakos, Eva Maydell, Mirosława Nykiel, Virgil-Daniel Popescu, Jüri Ratas, Aura Salla, Paulius Saudargas, Oliver Schenk, Zala Tomašič, Dimitris Tsiodras, Andrea Wechsler, Angelika Winzig, Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez
Renew	Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Grégory Allione, João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Sigrid Friis, Bart Groothuis, Ivars Ijabs, Michał Kobosko, Morten Løkkegaard, Anna Stürgkh, Yvan Verougstraete
S&D	Mohammed Chahim, Vasile Dîncu, Matthias Ecke, Sofie Eriksson, Niels Fuglsang, Bruno Gonçalves, Nicolás González Casares, Giorgio Gori, Eero Heinäluoma, Yannis Maniatis, Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, Tsvetelina Penkova, Marcos Ros Sempere, Elena Sancho Murillo, Irene Tinagli, Nicola Zingaretti
Verts/ALE	Alexandra Geese, Ville Niinistö, Kira Marie Peter-Hansen, Benedetta Scuderi, Marie Toussaint

 

17	-
ECR	Elena Donazzan, Fernand Kartheiser, Ondřej Krutílek, Marion Maréchal, Daniel Obajtek, Diego Solier, Beata Szydło, Francesco Torselli, Mariateresa Vivaldini
ESN	Markus Buchheit
PfE	Mireia Borrás Pabón, Georg Mayer, Aleksandar Nikolic, Julie Rechagneux, Filip Turek, Alexandre Varaut, Auke Zijlstra

 

10	0
ESN	Sarah Knafo, Marcin Sypniewski
NI	Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă
PfE	Paolo Borchia, András Gyürk, Jana Nagyová
The Left	Rudi Kennes, Marina Mesure, Jussi Saramo, Dario Tamburrano

 

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstention

 

 

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE INTERNAL MARKET AND CONSUMER PROTECTION (8.4.2025)

for the Committee on Budgets

on a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world

(2024/2051(INI))

Rapporteur for opinion: Aura Salla

 

 

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection submits the following to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible:

Amendment  1

Motion for a resolution

Citation 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Commission communication of 29 January 2025 entitled ‘A Competitiveness Compass for the EU’ (COM(2025)0030),

Amendment  2

Motion for a resolution

Citation 19 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Commission communication of 5 February 2025 entitled ‘A comprehensive EU toolbox for safe and sustainable e-commerce’ (COM(2025)0037),

Amendment  3

Motion for a resolution

Citation 19 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the announcement of Ursula von der Leyen on 11 February 2025 of an InvestAI initiative, including a new European fund of EUR 20 billion for AI gigafactories1a,
	__________________
	1a https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_467

Amendment  4

Motion for a resolution

Citation 19 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the discharge procedure and the findings of the European Court of Auditors in their annual reports on the implementation of the EU budget of the European Court of Auditors,

Amendment  5

Motion for a resolution

Recital D

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
D. whereas the NextGenerationEU recovery instrument (NGEU) established in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic enabled significant additional investment capacity of EUR 750 billion in 2018 prices, prompting a swift recovery and return to growth and supporting the green and digital transitions; whereas NGEU will not be in place post-2027;	D. whereas the NextGenerationEU recovery instrument (NGEU) established in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic enabled additional investment capacity of EUR 750 billion in 2018 prices; whereas NGEU will not be in place post-2027;

Amendment  6

Motion for a resolution

Recital F

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
F. whereas, since the adoption of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF), the political, economic and social context has changed beyond recognition, compounding underlying structural challenges for the Union and leading to a substantial revision of the MFF in 2024;	F. whereas, since the adoption of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF), multiple crises such as the pandemic and the Russian war in Ukraine have highlighted the need for flexibility to address serious economic challenges; whereas the political, economic and social context has changed beyond recognition, compounding underlying structural challenges for the Union and leading to a substantial revision of the MFF in 2024;

Amendment  7

Motion for a resolution

Recital H a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ha. whereas it is important that the new MFF for 2028-2034 efficiently supports competition and the functioning of the single market, protecting consumers and delivering measurable results to citizens and businesses through transparent performance indicators and regular impact assessments; whereas effective support must go hand in hand with a decarbonisation plan, as laid out in the Draghi report1a; whereas a failure to coordinate both policies would jeopardise the EU’s competitiveness;
	__________________
	1a https://commission.europa.eu/topics/eu-competitiveness/draghi-report_en#paragraph_47059

Amendment  8

Motion for a resolution

Recital H b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Hb. whereas remaining barriers in the single market, as well as unfair competition practices, need to be addressed and illegal content and societal risks, such as online disinformation, effectively tackled;

Amendment  9

Motion for a resolution

Recital H c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Hc. whereas the European Court of Auditors, in its 2024 report1a, concluded that the error rate in EU spending has risen to 5.6 % of the overall budget and warned that increasing European debt is placing growing pressure on the EU budget;
	__________________
	1a https://www.eca.europa.eu/ECAPublications/AR-2023/AR-2023_EN.pdf

Amendment  10

Motion for a resolution

Recital H d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Hd. whereas the EU cohesion policy has been a cornerstone of development and growth, playing a key role in reducing disparities and promoting convergence among Member States;

Amendment  11

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives, tackle the growing challenges it faces, manage and repay its debt sustainably, respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs;	1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to adequately invest and deliver on its policy objectives, tackle the growing challenges it faces, manage and repay its debt sustainably and timely, respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs;

Amendment  12

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
3. Emphasises that the post-2027 MFF must also become simpler and more transparent and be protected against misuse, fraud and breaches of the principles of the rule of law and the Union’s values;	3. Emphasises that the post-2027 MFF must also become simpler and more transparent and be protected against misuse, fraud and breaches of the principles of the rule of law and the Union’s values; underlines that simplified and streamlined procedures, administration and reporting will improve efficiency and accountability; emphasises that simplification should not negatively affect transparency and effectiveness; notes that reducing the unjustified administrative burden should primarily benefit final beneficiaries and make application procedures more accessible; calls for simplification and acceleration of important projects of common European interest (IPCEIs) with significant EU-wide spill-overs beyond the participating countries and that they should also be topped up by EU funding;

Amendment  13

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
4. Underlines that a simpler, more flexible MFF requires more robust parliamentary accountability;	4. Underlines that a simpler, more flexible MFF requires more robust parliamentary accountability; recalls that EU citizens must be able to rely on being informed by those implementing the EU budget of how the funds have been spent and the objectives achieved; recalls that transparency is essential to retain citizens’ trust, and that fraud and misuse of funds are extremely detrimental to that trust; calls on the Commission to put in place solid anti-fraud mechanisms in all funding instruments for the post-2027 MFF that ensure the protection of the EU budget;

Amendment  14

Motion for a resolution

Subheading 2

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
Competitiveness, strategic autonomy, social, economic and territorial cohesion and resilience	Competitiveness and single market, consumer protection, strategic autonomy, social, economic and territorial cohesion and resilience

Amendment  15

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
6. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness, decarbonising the economy and enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society;	6. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness, advancing the completion of the single market, decarbonising and digitalising the economy, and enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF; underlines that meeting these objectives is vital to ensure long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society;

Amendment  16

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
9. Stresses that the Union budget must be carefully coordinated with national spending and designed such that it can de-risk, mobilise and leverage private investment effectively, enabling start-ups and SMEs to access funds more readily; calls, therefore, for programmes such as InvestEU, which ensures additionality and follows a market-based, demand-driven approach, to be significantly reinforced in the next MFF; considers that budgetary guarantees are an effective use of resources and calls for them to be simplified;	9. Stresses that the Union budget must be carefully coordinated with national spending and designed such that it can de-risk, mobilise and leverage private investment effectively; stresses the importance for enabling start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs to be able to access available funds more easily and readily; calls, therefore, for programmes such as InvestEU, which ensures additionality and follows a market-based, demand-driven approach, to be significantly reinforced in the next MFF and to be allowed to maintain a less risk averse approach to truly stimulate innovation; considers that budgetary guarantees are an effective use of resources and calls for them to be simplified;

Amendment  17

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	9a. Urges the Commission and the Member States to make SMEs’ access to funding easier and more simplified, especially in light of their limited access to external equity and risk capital and calls for the roll-out of alternative forms of finance, tailored to their needs;

Amendment  18

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	9b. Underlines the great potential in the free movement of services, which is still underdeveloped in the single market, and calls for initiatives to boost cross-border trade in services and to reduce the administrative burden for companies;

Amendment  19

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	9c. Stresses that the EU has created a robust regulatory framework for the variety of sectors that led to the increased compliance cost; calls for a regulatory simplification increasing European companies’ competitiveness and innovation potential on a global scale, without undermining the objective of European legislation;

Amendment  20

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	11a. Points out that the lack of affordable and social housing is a pressing issue in some Member States, which must be addressed; calls therefore on the Commission for a set of measures and initiatives at European level within the limits of EU competences;

Amendment  21

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
12. Stresses that the next MFF should include much greater funding for energy, transport and digital infrastructure, with priority given to cross-border connections and national links with European added value; considers that such infrastructure goes hand in hand with a deepening of the single market;	12. Stresses that the next MFF should better allocate funding for energy, transport and digital infrastructure, with priority given to cross-border connections and national links with European added value; considers that such infrastructure goes hand in hand with a strengthening of the single market; in this regard, calls for the scaling up of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) given its contribution to the deepening of the single market;

Amendment  22

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	12a. Urges the Commission to ensure that the new MFF programmes increase the available resources to support the proper enforcement of single market rules and consumer rights, including product safety regulations, while ensuring the transparency and traceability of funds; emphasises that enforcement of single market rules is crucial to ensuring fair competition, fostering trust among businesses and consumers, and preventing market distortions; underscores the importance of enhancing the enforcement of consumer rights at EU and national level and improving consumers’ awareness of their rights;

Amendment  23

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	12b. Underlines that the new MFF should increase the available resources to support the proper enforcement of our single market rules such as the DSA, DMA, AI Act and product safety regulations; is concerned by the lack of adequate resources to properly implement these key regulations in due time;

Amendment  24

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	12c. Insists that additional funds are needed to ensure the proper enforcement of the AI Act1a by providing the European AI Office with the required staff resources, including subject experts from outside the institutions, while simultaneously supporting research and development in AI-driven solutions and innovative approaches that increase the EU’s technological sovereignty;
	__________________
	1a Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending Regulations (EC) No 300/2008, (EU) No 167/2013, (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2019/2144 and Directives 2014/90/EU, (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Artificial Intelligence Act) (Text with EEA relevance) (OJ L, 2024/1689, 12.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj).

Amendment  25

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	12d. Highlights the fact that adequate funding and resources will be required to strengthen the Customs Union and make customs and market surveillance authorities more resilient and effective, in particular through an advanced implementation of the Customs Union reform, aiming to develop and maintain an EU customs data hub and tackle challenges related to unsafe and illegal products imported via e-commerce platforms from non-EU countries; stresses the need to remove duty relief for low value consignments and enhance control capacities; calls for more resources to develop digital tools in order to improve customs efficiency among national authorities; highlights the role of a robust customs system in safeguarding the EU’s economic resilience and competitiveness by streamlining cross-border trade and addressing illicit market activities;

Amendment  26

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
13. Considers that the Union must develop a competitiveness framework in line with its own values and political aims and that competitiveness must therefore be understood as encompassing not only economic growth, but also social, economic and territorial cohesion and environmental sustainability;	13. Considers that the Union must develop a competitiveness framework in line with its own values and political aims and that competitiveness must therefore be understood as encompassing not only economic growth, but also social, economic and territorial cohesion and environmental sustainability; stresses that the Competitiveness Fund should further contribute to strengthening the single market and strengthening its resilience while ensuring simplification and flexibility;

Amendment  27

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	13a. Underlines the need for a modernised budget to bolster the future of Europe’s strategic autonomy; calls for a genuine Competitiveness Fund channelled to key sectors to match the investment needs and prime the pump for private support; highlights the urgent need to ensure digital sovereignty in the EU, in line with the Draghi report recommendations on driving technological leadership in Europe;

Amendment  28

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	13b. Emphasises that a new framework for a single market instrument should eliminate complexities, such as multiple entry points and delays in access to funding; calls for the creation of synergies between the current Single Market Programme and the announced Competitiveness Fund with the objectives of increasing the competitiveness of the EU, further strengthening the single market for goods and services, and ensuring simplification and flexibility, with the possibility of reallocation of funding while ensuring a high level of consumer protection;

Amendment  29

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	13c. Emphasises the importance of integrating digital tools to streamline funding access and ensure real-time monitoring of resource allocation, thereby enhancing the flexibility and efficiency of the new framework for the single market;

Amendment  30

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	13d. Emphasises the need for the single market to be resilient and ready to face internal market emergencies;

Amendment  31

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	14a. Welcomes the work done so far on the circular and digital economy, focusing on removing market barriers and ensuring consumers rights and promoting sustainable business models;

Amendment  32

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
17. Emphasises that food security is a vital component of strategic autonomy and that the next MFF must continue to support the Union’s farming and fisheries sectors, including small and young farmers and fishers, and help the sectors to better protect the climate and biodiversity; highlights the crucial role of the common agricultural policy in increasing productivity through technical progress, ensuring a fair standard of living for farmers and guaranteeing food security; calls for adequate funding for the common agricultural policy in the next MFF;	17. Emphasises that food security is a vital component of strategic autonomy and that the next MFF must continue to support the Union’s farming and fisheries sectors, including small and young farmers and fishers, and help the sectors to better protect the climate and biodiversity; highlights the crucial role of the common agricultural policy in increasing productivity through technical progress, ensuring a fair standard of living for farmers and guaranteeing food security; calls for adequate funding for the common agricultural policy in the next MFF, which is essential for the integrity of the single market and ensuring the Union’s competitiveness;

Amendment  33

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
18. Recalls that social, economic and territorial cohesion is a cornerstone of European integration and is vital in binding the Union together and deepening the single market; underlines that a modernised cohesion policy must follow a decentralised, place-based, multilevel governance approach and be built around the shared management and partnership principle, fully involving local and regional authorities;	18. Recalls that economic and territorial cohesion is a cornerstone of European integration and is vital in binding the Union together and deepening the single market; underlines that a modernised cohesion policy must follow a decentralised, place-based, multilevel governance approach and be built around the shared management and partnership principle, fully involving local and regional authorities;

Amendment  34

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
21. Highlights that the green and digital transitions are inextricably linked to competitiveness, the modernisation of the economy and the resilience of society and that, therefore, the post-2027 MFF must continue to support the twin transitions;	21. Highlights that the green and digital transitions are inextricably linked to competitiveness, the modernisation of the economy and the resilience of society and that, therefore, the post-2027 MFF must continue to support the twin transitions to ensure the EU’s leadership in sustainable and digital innovation;

Amendment  35

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
24. Points to the profound technological shift under way, with new technologies such as artificial intelligence both creating opportunities, in terms of economic potential and improvements to the citizens’ lives, and posing reliability and ethical challenges; stresses that the next MFF must support the development and safe application of such technologies and help people to hone the skills they need to work with and use them;	24. Points to the profound technological shift under way, with new technologies such as artificial intelligence both creating opportunities, in terms of economic potential and improvements to the citizens’ lives, and posing reliability and ethical challenges; stresses that the next MFF must support the development and safe application of such technologies and help people to hone the skills they need to work with and use them; welcomes the announcement of InvestAI1a, an initiative to mobilise EUR 200 billion for investment in AI, including a new European fund of EUR 20 billion for AI gigafactories; underlines that these investments are needed to make Europe an AI continent;
	__________________
	1a https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_467

Amendment  36

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	24a. Calls for the integration of green and digital transition goals into new MFF programmes to ensure the EU´s leadership in sustainable innovation;

Amendment  37

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
25. Recalls that security is the foundation for the Union’s prosperity and social model and that the next MFF must invest significantly more in safeguarding the Union against the myriad threats it faces;	25. Recalls that security is the foundation for the Union’s prosperity and social model and that the next MFF must invest significantly more in safeguarding the Union against the myriad threats it faces and adopt a comprehensive security approach; stresses the need to clarify and broaden the mandate of EIB to invest in EU defence as well as the need to create an internal market for defence by standardising ammunitions and interoperability of weapon systems; stresses the need to further cut red tape; highlights the importance of supporting the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in the defence industry and of introducing a European purchasing preference;

Amendment  38

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
26. Underlines that, as the Niinistö report makes clear, the fragmenting global order, increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, the security threat posed by Russia, growing tensions globally, hybrid campaigns, which include cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation, disinformation and interference and the instrumentalisation of migration, and health threats are combining to heighten instability and increase the Union’s vulnerability;	26. Underlines that, as the Niinistö report makes clear, the fragmenting global order, increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, the security threat posed by Russia, growing tensions globally, hybrid campaigns, which include cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation, disinformation and interference and the instrumentalisation of migration, and health threats are combining to heighten instability and increase the Union’s vulnerability; in this regard, welcomes the creation of the Special Committee on the European Democracy Shield, which marks a decisive step in the fight against foreign interference threatening democratic processes;

Amendment  39

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 29 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	29a. Stresses the importance of increased investments in defence, which will feed into improved competitiveness and increase innovation in the Union to the benefit of the entire single market; highlights that investments in defence often have spill-over benefits to the civilian economy; underlines the positive effects on employment opportunities and economic growth through integrated supply chains and increased opportunities for companies to operate across borders;

Amendment  40

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 30

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
30. Points to the importance of support in the budget for military mobility, which upgrades infrastructure for dual-use military and civilian purposes and thus contributes to the Union’s defence capabilities;	30. Points to the importance of support in the budget for military mobility, which upgrades or builds infrastructure for dual-use military and civilian purposes and thus contributes to the Union’s defence capabilities;

Amendment  41

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 41 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	41a. Stresses the need for the new MFF to make available sufficient funding for the integration of EU candidate countries into the single market, in line with the growth plans for the Western Balkans and the Republic of Moldova, and the Ukraine Plan;

Amendment  42

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 48 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	48a. Underlines the fact that compliance with EU law, including with single market rules, constitutes a core pillar of the rule of law principle; calls on the Commission to include an assessment of the status of compliance with single market rules in the evaluation of the rule of law in each Member State and to trigger the conditionality mechanism in the event of structural and persistent breaches at national level that have a negative impact on the protection of the EU’s interests;

Amendment  43

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 52 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	52a. Stresses that the next MFF must fully reflect the importance of an excellence-based approach to EU funding, ensuring that resources are allocated to projects and initiatives that demonstrate the highest potential for innovation, inclusive economic growth and global competitiveness; welcomes the recently proposed Competitiveness Compass for the EU in order to safeguard the EU’s future as an economic powerhouse, an investment destination and a manufacturing centre; highlights, in this context, the importance of aligning the budget with the objectives set out in the Competitiveness Compass, particularly with a view to strengthening the internal market, and of directing sufficient funding towards policies and instruments that enhance productivity, support industrial leadership and foster technological advancement, thereby supporting the EU’s objective of becoming a global economic and innovation leader and regain Europe’s competitiveness and secure its prosperity;

Amendment  44

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 56 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	56a. Calls on the Commission to establish a framework for monitoring and evaluating horizontal EU priorities; stresses the importance of robust performance monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track the contribution of investments to meeting horizontal targets; calls on the Commission to strengthen its commitment to Better Regulation principles to ensure that future funding instruments deliver measurable results;

Amendment  45

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 61

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
61. Calls for genuine simplification where there are overlapping objectives, diverging eligibility criteria and different rules governing aspects that should be uniform across programmes; considers that an assessment of which spending programmes should be included in the next MFF must be based on the above aspects, on the need to focus spending on clearly identified policy objectives and on the policy intervention logic of each programme;	61. Calls for genuine simplification where there are overlapping objectives, diverging eligibility criteria and different rules governing aspects that should be uniform across programmes; highlights, in this regard, the importance of further simplifying and reducing administrative burdenss particularly for SMEs; considers that an assessment of which spending programmes should be included in the next MFF must be based on the above aspects, on the need to focus spending on clearly identified policy objectives and on the policy intervention logic of each programme;

Amendment  46

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 61 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	61a. Calls for a reduction in bureaucracy for accessing EU funds and programmes, particularly for SMEs; emphasises the importance of digitising application and reporting processes for funding; calls for simplified procedures for businesses participating in the single market, in particular SMEs; stresses the need for a ‘one-stop-shop’ platform to centralise access to EU funds and provide dedicated support services tailored to SMEs’ needs; highlights the importance of removing obstacles to cross-border trade and services, particularly for SMEs;

Amendment  47

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 61 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	61b. Believes that, alongside strong control mechanisms, the next MFF should have a specific focus on a further simplification of the procedures for applicants and/or beneficiaries, in particular smaller beneficiaries; is of the opinion that the Commission’s priorities should also be felt by applicants for EU funding; reiterates that such simplification should not be to the detriment of sufficient controls, sound financial management and transparency;

Amendment  48

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 61 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	61c. Underlines the role the digitisation of procedures can play in facilitating compliance and reducing administrative burdens and calls for adequate relevant resources in the next multiannual financial framework;

Amendment  49

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 62 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	62a. Calls on the Commission to increase the transparency and citizens’ awareness of the MFF by gathering and setting up a real-time, publicly accessible digital dashboard detailing fund allocation, project purposes, outcomes and final beneficiaries;

Amendment  50

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 67 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	67a. Notes that different programmes and projects could have varying timelines for implementation; warns against excessively burdensome administrative obligations associated with changing such programmes or projects; underlines the need for flexibility of funding destinations to ensure that funding can be re-allocated if it is not spent on an envisaged project (‘use or lose’);

Amendment  51

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 72 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	72a. Calls on the Commission to focus more closely on results and outcomes in the post-2027 MFF, alongside outputs and costs, and to place greater emphasis on cross-border EU added-value; warns against embedding political objectives in a performance-based system, justifying the need to focus on results and outcomes;

Amendment  52

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	75a. Underlines the need for tailor-made approaches for Member States; considers it of the utmost importance that the Commission maintain a strong horizontal approach to prevent the ‘nationalisation’ of Union policies, resulting in 27 national approaches that together do not form a Union approach and where Member States are treated differently on similar issues; notes that it has not always been possible to quantify each Member State’s contribution to EU objectives in all national recovery and resilience plans due to a lack or incomparability of available data; considers that the European Parliament should be involved in defining such national approaches;

Amendment  53

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 83

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
83. Considers that all instruments and tools should be explored in order to provide the Union with those resources, in line with its priorities and identified needs;	83. Considers that all instruments and tools should be explored in order to provide the Union with those resources, in line with its priorities and identified needs; underlines the need to create a true Saving and Investment Union to mobilise private investments and promote strategic investments;

 

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for opinion declares that she received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the opinion, prior to the adoption thereof in committee:

Entity and/or person

CEPS

 

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur for opinion.

 

 

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted	8.4.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	35 10 1
Members present for the final vote	Peter Agius, Pablo Arias Echeverría, Jeannette Baljeu, Laura Ballarín Cereza, Biljana Borzan, Anna Cavazzini, David Cormand, Henrik Dahl, Adnan Dibrani, Elisabeth Dieringer, Klara Dostalova, Michał Dworczyk, Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz, Hanna Gedin, Sandro Gozi, Maria Grapini, Elisabeth Grossmann, Maria Guzenina, Svenja Hahn, Anna-Maja Henriksson, Pierre Jouvet, Arba Kokalari, Kateřina Konečná, Katrin Langensiepen, Pierfrancesco Maran, Nikola Minchev, Piotr Müller, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, Reinis Pozņaks, Christel Schaldemose, Andreas Schwab, Tomislav Sokol, Filip Turek, Inese Vaidere, Adina Vălean, Marion Walsmann
Substitutes present for the final vote	Saskia Bricmont, Tomasz Buczek, Sebastião Bugalho, Delara Burkhardt, Dirk Gotink, Mary Khan
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Fernand Kartheiser, Matjaž Nemec, Lídia Pereira, Diego Solier

 

 

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND TOURISM (19.03.2025)

for the Committee on Budgets

on a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world

(2024/2051(INI))

Rapporteur for opinion: Rosa Serrano Sierra

 

 

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Transport and Tourism submits the following to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible:

Amendment  1

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to Article 170 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which provides that the Union shall contribute to the establishment and development of trans-European networks in the areas of transport, telecommunications and energy, so that EU citizens, economic operators and regional and local communities can derive the full benefit from an area without internal frontiers,

Amendment  2

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to Article 171 TFEU, which establishes the framework for achieving the objectives outlined in Article 170, encompassing, inter alia, the provision of support for projects of common interest,

Amendment  3

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1153 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2021 establishing the Connecting Europe Facility and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1316/2013 and (EU) No 283/20141a,
	_________________
	1a OJ L 249 14.7.2021, p. 38, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1153/2024-07-18.

Amendment  4

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2024/1679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network, amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1153 and (EU) No 913/2010 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1315/20131a,
	_________________
	1a OJ L, 2024/1679, 28.6.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1679/oj.

Amendment  5

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Commission communication of 29 January 2025 entitled ‘A Competitiveness Compass for the EU’ (COM(2025)0030),

Amendment  6

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 f (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Commission communication of 9 December 2020 entitled ‘Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy – putting European transport on track for the future’,

Amendment  7

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 g (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Brussels Declaration of 4 April 2024 on the mobility of tomorrow,

Amendment  8

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 h (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Palma Declaration of 31 October 2023 calling for the social sustainability of the tourism sector in the European Union,

Amendment  9

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 i (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Barcelona Declaration of 22 September 2023 on ‘Mobility for people: advancing social and territorial cohesion’,

Amendment  10

Motion for a resolution

Citation 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to Special Report 04/2025 of the European Court of Auditors of 5 February 2025 entitled ‘EU military mobility – Full speed not reached due to design weaknesses and obstacles en ,

Amendment  11

Motion for a resolution

Citation 22 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’),

Amendment  12

Motion for a resolution

Citation 22 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to European Environment Agency (EEA) Report No 1/2024 – European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA),

Amendment  13

Motion for a resolution

Citation 22 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Better Regulation Guidelines and toolbox,

Amendment  14

Motion for a resolution

Citation 22 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to Decision (EU) 2022/591 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 April 2022 on a General Union Environment Action Programme to 2030,

Amendment  15

Motion for a resolution

Citation 22 e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the special reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on ‘Global Warming of 1.5 °C’, on ‘Climate Change and Land’, and on ‘The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing ,

Amendment  16

Motion for a resolution

Citation 22 f (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the EU’s obligations under the Paris Agreement as well as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,

Amendment  17

Motion for a resolution

Citation 22 g (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Aarhus Convention and the obligations it entails,

Amendment  18

Motion for a resolution

Recital B a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ba. whereas the specific cross-border nature of sectors such as transport and energy, which have high EU added value and play a key role in the achievement of various strategic goals for the Union, should be taken into account when establishing a new budgetary framework for the post-2027 MFF;

Amendment  19

Motion for a resolution

Recital C

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
C. whereas spending through the Union budget, if effectively targeted, aligned with the Union’s political priorities and coordinated with spending at national level, helps to avoid fragmentation in the single market and to boost the overall impact of public investment; whereas public investment is essential to incentivise private investment;	C. whereas spending through the Union budget, if effectively targeted, aligned with the Union’s political priorities and coordinated with spending at national level, helps to avoid fragmentation in the single market and to boost the overall impact of public investment; whereas public investment is essential to incentivise private investment; whereas this holds particularly true for the Union’s infrastructure network, which is the backbone of Europe’s competitiveness;

Amendment  20

Motion for a resolution

Recital G

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
G. whereas the context in which the Commission will prepare its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, with the established global and geopolitical order changing quickly and radically and the Union budget needing to change accordingly;	G. whereas the context in which the Commission will prepare its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is even more challenging, with a full-scale war at the gates of the European Union, the established global and geopolitical order and common transatlantic values being radically challenged, and the Union budget needing to change and respond accordingly to current and future challenges;

Amendment  21

Motion for a resolution

Recital G a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ga. whereas the transport sector, transport systems and reliable, accessible, safe and sustainable transport infrastructure are indispensable for the Union’s strategic autonomy, security, resilience, economic development, competitiveness, decarbonisation and social cohesion, as well as the territorial accessibility and connectivity of all EU regions;

Amendment  22

Motion for a resolution

Recital G b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Gb. whereas the European rail network is still very fragmented, in particular when it comes to high-speed and multimodal connections;

Amendment  23

Motion for a resolution

Recital G c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Gc. whereas the implementation of the EU road safety policy framework 2021-2030 and achieving ‘Vision Zero’ by 2050 requires stable and sufficient financial resources from the EU and Member State budgets;

Amendment  24

Motion for a resolution

Recital G d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Gd. whereas EU-coordinated just transition funding is essential for creating quality jobs and boosting EU competitiveness while upholding our decarbonisation objectives;

Amendment  25

Motion for a resolution

Recital G e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ge. whereas the Social Climate Fund (SCF) will be crucial for supporting vulnerable households and transport users in the transition towards more sustainable mobility, leaving no one behind;

Amendment  26

Motion for a resolution

Recital G f (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Gf. whereas centrally managed funding instruments such as the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) have been the most efficient in fostering Member States’ cooperation and alignment on large-scale, cross-border projects in transport, energy and telecommunications with the highest European added value; whereas CEF has been highly successful in developing the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), especially for cross-border projects;

Amendment  27

Motion for a resolution

Recital G g (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Gg. whereas the necessity and added value of CEF, along with overall transport investment needs, are underscored by the high number of funding applications, which consistently and significantly exceed the available budget;

Amendment  28

Motion for a resolution

Recital G h (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Gh. whereas the practice of concentrating co-funding, especially in the initial phase of the funding period, and decreasing funding later on has proven successful for transport projects by providing the necessary investment security;

Amendment  29

Motion for a resolution

Recital G i (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Gi. whereas European public procurement provisions are essential to ensure fair competition in transport projects, foster the creation of jobs within Europe and reward best practices in infrastructure project delivery;

Amendment  30

Motion for a resolution

Recital G j (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Gj. whereas Europe should take the lead in the innovation and transport of the future;

Amendment  31

Motion for a resolution

Recital G k (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Gk. whereas the 2021 European industrial strategy recognises tourism as a key EU industrial ecosystem, prioritising its green and digital transition and resilience; whereas tourism, which is vital for employment, social well-being and competitiveness, persistently faces socioeconomic, environmental and digital challenges; whereas rural, mountainous, island, coastal and remote areas are vital for the advancement of tourism in Europe; whereas preserving and promoting local cultures and biodiversity in those regions and in tourist locations outside the scope of mass tourism requires support; whereas Europe needs specific plans to make tourist facilities accessible for people with disabilities and reduced mobility;

Amendment  32

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	6a. Highlights that, as indicated in the Draghi report, well-functioning transport networks and services and a thriving transport industry are crucial for the competitiveness of the entire EU economy, generating 5 % of its GDP, 5 % of all direct jobs and 10 % of cross-border employment; recognises that transport systems are fundamental to ensuring access to goods, services and resources, which drives economic growth, creates jobs and fosters territorial and social cohesion across the Union;

Amendment  33

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	9a. Calls on the Commission, in consultation with stakeholders, to conduct regular reviews and updates of public procurement guidelines, promoting a fair and competitive EU internal market and bolstering EU funding for innovative European technologies and industries; urges the Commission and the Member States to take decisive action to prevent unfair competition from third-country entities in EU public procurement through the strict application of reciprocity criteria, where appropriate, and the implementation of monitoring and response mechanisms, prioritising European industries in EU-funded projects;

Amendment  34

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending in strategic policy areas, such as climate and, latterly, dual-use defence projects;	10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending in strategic policy areas, such as transport, climate and, latterly, civil and military dual-use defence projects, including cybersecurity;

Amendment  35

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
11. Emphasises that funding for research and innovation should be significantly increased, should be focused on the Union’s strategic priorities and should continue to be determined by the principle of excellence; considers that there should be sufficient resources across the MFF and at national level to fund all high-quality projects;	11. Emphasises that funding for research and innovation should be significantly increased, in particular to ensure the effectiveness of the Competitiveness Compass, should be focused on the Union’s strategic priorities and should continue to be determined by the principle of excellence; considers that there should be sufficient resources across the MFF and at national level to fund all high-quality projects;

Amendment  36

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	11a. Underlines in this respect that the next MFF should continue supporting key joint undertakings such as Clean Aviation, SESAR 3 and EU-Rail, which are crucial for driving public-private partnerships in research and innovation to the benefit of the European transport sector, and ultimately citizens, by fostering collaboration, setting strategic priorities, leveraging public funding to attract private investment, enhancing the operations and safety of EU businesses and enabling their growth;

Amendment  37

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	11b. Underlines the key role of digital technology in developing efficient and sustainable transport, mobility and logistics management; encourages the Commission to support research and innovation in the development of innovative solutions across all transport modes in urban and rural environments, ensuring seamless connections to public transport that benefit all EU citizens, as well as cutting-edge technologies such as hyperloop;

Amendment  38

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
12. Stresses that the next MFF should include much greater funding for energy, transport and digital infrastructure, with priority given to cross-border connections and national links with European added value; considers that such infrastructure goes hand in hand with a deepening of the single market;	12. Stresses that the next MFF should include much greater, centrally-managed funding for energy, transport and digital infrastructure, consistent with the current MFF, with priority given to cross-border connections, missing links, and national links with European added value, including eliminating bottlenecks; takes note of both the Letta and Draghi reports, which confirmed that such infrastructure is an absolute precondition for a successful deepening of the single market, building a resilient economy, fostering growth and job creation, and enhancing competitiveness, climate and environmental protection, social cohesion and military mobility;

Amendment  39

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	12a. Insists that CEF has been highly successful in developing TEN-T, particularly implementing cross-border sections, addressing missing links and bottlenecks, executing corridor work plans, deploying alternative-fuel infrastructure and digitalising transport; recalls that it has proven to be the most efficient financing instrument for large- and small-scale cross-border projects in transport, energy and telecommunications, delivering the highest European added value; further recalls that programmes such as CEF are essential for implementing these complex, multi-state (including third countries) projects, which therefore require not only a continuation but also a significant upscaling that translates into a substantial budget increase in the next MFF, facilitating stable and strategic investment planning and centralised EU coordination; argues that single national plans would hinder the cooperation and alignment with EU strategic priorities that CEF guarantees;

Amendment  40

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	12b. Points out that the future European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) announced by the Commission should not in any way replace CEF – a robust, centrally managed and dedicated European transport funding instrument; underlines that ECF should be a complementary financing instrument with a dedicated budget supporting research and innovation in transport and fostering cross-sector synergies (e.g. with digital technologies and energy);

Amendment  41

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	12c. Recalls that the TEN-T completion deadlines of 2030 for the core network, 2040 for the extended core network, and 2050 for the comprehensive network are binding on the Member States and require massive and sustained infrastructure investments to comply with the new transport infrastructure requirements outlined in the revised TEN-T Regulation1a; underscores that, in line with the Draghi report, TEN-T requires EUR 845 billion in investment by 2040, including EUR 210 billion for cross-border links; emphasises, however, that, as stated in the Draghi report, completing the TEN-T network could unlock further growth and competitiveness in the EU as it is projected to bring an annual GDP increase of EUR 467 billion in 2050; highlights that infrastructure investments must consider the altered geopolitical situation, necessitating EU funding to bolster the resilience of both new and existing infrastructure;
	_________________
	1a Regulation (EU) 2024/1679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network, amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1153 and (EU) No 913/2010 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013.

Amendment  42

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	12d. Underlines that all transport modes – road, rail, air, maritime, and inland waterways – play critical and interdependent roles in ensuring the smooth flow of goods, services and people; stresses that neglecting any one of them would jeopardise the overall effectiveness and competitiveness of the European transportation system; insists therefore on sustained and equitable funding through CEF for all transport infrastructure;

Amendment  43

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
13. Considers that the Union must develop a competitiveness framework in line with its own values and political aims and that competitiveness must therefore be understood as encompassing not only economic growth, but also social, economic and territorial cohesion and environmental sustainability;	13. Considers that the Union must develop a competitiveness framework in line with its own values and political aims and that competitiveness must therefore be understood as encompassing not only economic growth, but also social, economic and territorial cohesion and environmental sustainability; acknowledges that European competitiveness is significantly weakened by persisting single market barriers; insists that simplifying the EU’s regulatory framework and reducing regulatory burdens is important to restore its competitive edge in line with EU standards; points out that reduced regulatory burdens across all sectors would free up resources, including EU budgetary means, for increased investment, particularly, in transport and energy infrastructure; reiterates the importance of conducting prior assessments of all simplification proposals and new legislative initiatives, with due consideration to regulatory burdens that a proposal would create or resolve, to upholding EU standards, and to its budgetary implications;

Amendment  44

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
14. Underlines that a more competitive, productive and socially inclusive economy helps to generate high-quality, well-paid jobs, thus enhancing people’s standard of living; emphasises that, through programmes such as the European Social Fund+ and Erasmus+, the Union budget can play an important role in supporting education and training systems, boosting workforce adaptability through reskilling and upskilling, and thus preparing people for employment in a modern economy;	14. Underlines that a more competitive, productive, resilient and socially inclusive economy helps to generate high-quality, well-paid jobs, thus enhancing people’s standard of living; emphasises that, through programmes such as the European Social Fund+ and Erasmus+, the Union budget can play an important role in supporting education and training systems, boosting workforce adaptability through reskilling and upskilling, and thus preparing people for employment in a modern economy;

Amendment  45

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
15. Insists that the Union budget should continue to support important economic and job-creating sectors where the Union is already a world leader, such as tourism and the cultural and creative industries;	15. Insists that the Union budget should continue to support important economic and job-creating sectors where the Union is already a world leader, such as tourism, which accounts for almost 10 % of the EU’s GDP, and the cultural and creative industries;

Amendment  46

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	15a. Reiterates Parliament’s repeated request to create a specific EU programme and a dedicated budget line in the future MFF for tourism, including to implement the EU Strategy for Sustainable Tourism, to address the sector’s needs, increase its resistance to economic shocks, and contribute to further growth and jobs across the value chain, bringing significant benefits and long-term well-being to local populations and their businesses; regrets the fragmented funding landscape for tourism in the current MFF; highlights the need to reduce administrative burdens for SMEs in tourism by simplifying rules, minimising data collection requirements, where appropriate, and providing tailored financial support;

Amendment  47

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	15b. Calls on the Commission to develop a dedicated EU tourism strategy with clear aims, objectives, indicators and actions, engaging all tourism stakeholders; urges better coordination of policies and regulations that impact tourism;

Amendment  48

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	15c. Notes that the tourism sector stands to benefit greatly from digital innovations, such as smart tourism platforms and integrated digital ticketing systems for attractions and services, which enhance visitor experiences while driving significant economic growth for local communities; stresses that the further development of sustainable tourism, including through the promotion of regional products to strengthen local value chains or the management of tourist flows, could foster economic growth in less visited, more remote and peripheral areas, improve urban-rural connectivity, bolster the climate resilience of European territories and protect residents’ well-being;

Amendment  49

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 16 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	16a. Underlines in this respect that completing TEN-T is key to EU strategic autonomy; points out that European manufacturing requires support to secure access to critical raw materials and technologies relevant to transport (e.g. for electric vehicles, battery production, advanced rail technologies, etc.); draws attention to the role that the circular economy could play in this regard;

Amendment  50

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
18. Recalls that social, economic and territorial cohesion is a cornerstone of European integration and is vital in binding the Union together and deepening the single market; underlines that a modernised cohesion policy must follow a decentralised, place-based, multilevel governance approach and be built around the shared management and partnership principle, fully involving local and regional authorities;	18. Recalls that social, economic and territorial cohesion is a cornerstone of European integration and is vital in binding the Union together and deepening the single market; underlines that a modernised cohesion policy must follow a decentralised, place-based, multilevel governance approach and be built around the shared management, cooperation and partnership principle, fully involving local and regional authorities; draws attention to the role of regional and local authorities in the successful implementation of EU transport projects, with particular reference to those funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Cohesion Fund and Interreg programmes;

Amendment  51

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	18 a. Underlines that continued direct management of the transfer from the Cohesion Fund for cross-border transport connections between the cohesion Member States, notably missing links, would facilitate the development of the TEN-T network and economic convergence in the EU;

Amendment  52

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	18 b. Notes that cohesion policy, through its European Structural and Investment Fund, has significantly contributed to the financing of key transport projects, particularly cross-border and missing links; considers that, in the next MFF, structural funds should continue to help EU regions and cities reduce disparities and improve territorial accessibility and sustainable connectivity across the EU, including for the connectivity and accessibility for people living in peripheral, rural, island, mountainous and outermost regions, as well as other disadvantaged geographical areas;

Amendment  53

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
20. Points out that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has had substantial economic and social consequences, in particular in Member States bordering Russia; insists that the next MFF provide support to these regions;	20. Points out that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has had substantial economic and social consequences, in particular in Member States bordering Russia; in this context, underscores the importance of the interconnectedness of the single market and its transport network with the neighbouring countries, in particular with Ukraine and Moldova, as well as other candidate or potential candidate countries; insists that the next MFF provide support to these regions and establish EU-Ukraine-Moldova connectivity as a priority, by focusing on enhanced border crossings, waterway and port connectivity and the integration of Ukrainian rail through the adoption of the European standard gauge;

Amendment  54

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
21. Highlights that the green and digital transitions are inextricably linked to competitiveness, the modernisation of the economy and the resilience of society and that, therefore, the post-2027 MFF must continue to support the twin transitions;	21. Highlights that the green and digital transitions are inextricably linked to competitiveness, the modernisation of the economy, creation of high-quality jobs and the resilience of society and that, therefore, the post-2027 MFF must continue to support the twin transitions;

Amendment  55

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
22. Recalls that the Union is committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, which requires a decarbonisation of the economy through the deployment of clean technologies, improved energy and transport infrastructure and more energy-efficient housing; notes that the Commission estimates additional investment needs to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at 1.5 % of GDP per year compared to the decade 2011-2020 and that, while the Union budget alone cannot cover the gap, it must remain a vital contributor;	22. Recalls that the Union is committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, which requires a decarbonisation of the economy through the deployment of clean technologies, improved energy and transport infrastructure, including by means of innovative renovation, and more energy-efficient housing; notes that the Commission estimates additional investment needs to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at 1.5 % of GDP per year compared to the decade 2011-2020 and that, while the Union budget alone cannot cover the gap, it must remain a vital contributor; points out that, according to Draghi, annual EU transport decarbonisation goals will require substantial investments by 2050, indicating that funding for this purpose should be significantly increased in the next MFF;

Amendment  56

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
23. Underlines that industry will be central in the transition to net zero and that support will be needed in helping some industrial sectors and their workers to adapt; stresses that the transition must leave no one behind, requiring investment in regions that are heavily fossil-fuel dependent and increased support for households, in particular through the Social Climate Fund;	23. Underlines that industry will be central in the transition to net zero and that support will be needed in helping some industrial sectors such as transport and their workers to adapt; calls on the Commission to support European industries, highlighting that a legislative framework for industrial competitiveness should establish a level playing field both within the EU and with regard to third countries; stresses that the transition must leave no one behind, requiring investment in regions that are heavily fossil-fuel dependent and increased support for households, in particular through the Social Climate Fund, to address energy and transport poverty; calls therefore for continued and appropriate funding for the Just Transition Fund to enable a stronger just transition for transport workers, including robust upskilling and reskilling programmes, as well as concrete measures to address persistent labour shortages across all the transport modes and enhance the sector’s attractiveness;

Amendment  57

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	23 a. Highlights that, as recognised by the Draghi report, insufficient public and private charging and refuelling infrastructure remains a major obstacle to the uptake of zero-emission vehicles; calls for the post-2027 MFF to increase its support for financing instruments such as the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) to accelerate the deployment of charging and refuelling networks across the EU;

Amendment  58

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	23 b. Points out that road congestion is estimated to cost the EU around EUR 230 billion a year; notes that, according to the Draghi report, improved infrastructure and services, coupled with more efficient cross-border management of railways and inland waterways, could unlock further growth, alleviate freight congestion and accommodate rising demand; highlights that both sectors require European funding to overcome bottlenecks, optimise logistics supply chains and invest in rolling stock, modern, sustainable and climate-proof vessels, signalling and information and automated systems;

Amendment  59

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	23 c. Points out that rail transport is a leader in sustainability and contributes significantly less to total EU transport emissions compared to other modes of transport; welcomes the commitment to develop an ambitious high-speed master plan for Europe, with the inclusion of night trains, connecting European capitals and major cities, while preserving regional and local rail connectivity, as well as the commitment to create a single digital ticketing system and accelerate rail freight; insists on a proper funding framework for these purposes in the next MFF;

Amendment  60

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	23 d. Stresses the need for CEF to fund horizontal rail priorities such as European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), including European train control system (ETCS) on-board units, digital automatic coupling (DAC) and digital capacity management (DCM), in order to ensure the digitalisation of the sector, enhance operational efficiency and facilitate the modal shift in European transport;

Amendment  61

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23 e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	23 e. Underlines that efficient green logistics management in the Union can greatly contribute to traffic decongestion and reduced CO2 emissions; encourages the Commission to promote digitalisation in logistics such as cargo-pooling initiatives; calls for strengthening the infrastructure, efficiency, sustainability, availability and accessibility of multimodal freight terminals, as well as for the modernisation and sustainable optimisation of existing facilities;

Amendment  62

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23 f (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	23 f. Welcomes the Commission’s announcement of a sustainable transport investment plan to de-risk investments in decarbonising hard-to-abate transport sectors, such as waterborne and aviation; highlights that, following the Draghi report, estimated annual investment needs to decarbonise the aviation and waterborne sectors are, respectively, EUR 61 billion and EUR 39 billion; underscores that the next MFF should, building on the Clean Industrial Deal, provide for coordinated European funding to swiftly expand the implementation of the charging and refuelling infrastructure, along with the production and distribution of renewable and low-carbon fuels;

Amendment  63

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23 g (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	23 g. Highlights that, as spelt out in the Letta report, ports are critical EU infrastructure, acting as gateways to the single market for trade as well as industrial clusters and hubs for military mobility and energy, while also driving growth and job creation; underlines that the future EU port strategy should strengthen the competitiveness of European ports and their crucial role in the decarbonisation of waterborne transport, including through the provision of onshore power for ships, production of green hydrogen and their contribution to the circular economy; recalls that the upcoming strategy should assess and address the diversion of maritime routes to non-EU ports, which, as recognised by the Letta report, undermines EU competitiveness, climate goals and the socioeconomic development of EU regions; considers that the next MFF should significantly increase investment in the EU port sector;

Amendment  64

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23 h (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	23 h. Underlines that, as pointed out in the Letta report, urban mobility is a critical component of the European transport ecosystem and that urban areas encounter substantial challenges regarding safety, congestion and environmental sustainability; points out that, in line with the revised TEN-T Regulation, Member States should implement sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs) by 2027, which should be backed by appropriate funding;

Amendment  65

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23 i (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	23 i. Highlights that EU funding is crucial for investing in sustainable and smart road safety solutions and accelerating road safety improvements across the EU; recalls that in 2023, there were 20 418 deaths on EU roads, in addition to a significant number of serious injuries; calls on the Commission to safeguard, increase and track EU investment in road safety across all the relevant EU financing programmes in the next MFF, in order to halve road deaths and serious injuries by 2030, in line with the EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030 and Vision Zero objectives for 2050; points out that the current CEF programme includes, among its eligible financing actions, the improvement of road safety and that its continuation is key to enhancing EU road safety; stresses that the next MFF should ensure financing for road safety in EU-funded projects;

Amendment  66

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 29

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
29. Underscores the importance of a competitive and resilient European defence technological and industrial base and considers that joint EU-level investment in defence can generate economies of scale, and thus significant savings for Member States, and help ensure the interoperability of equipment and systems; points to the need to direct support towards the defence industry within the Union, thus creating quality high-skilled jobs;	29. Underscores the importance of a competitive and resilient European defence technological and industrial base and considers that joint EU-level investment in defence can generate economies of scale, and thus significant savings for Member States, and help ensure the interoperability of equipment and systems, as well as safeguard critical infrastructure; points to the need to direct support towards the defence industry within the Union, thus creating quality high-skilled jobs; calls for a new military mobility action plan, developed jointly with NATO, which prioritises dual-use infrastructure projects that address and close gaps in the EU’s military mobility network;

Amendment  67

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 30

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
30. Points to the importance of support in the budget for military mobility, which upgrades infrastructure for dual-use military and civilian purposes and thus contributes to the Union’s defence capabilities;	30. Points to the importance of support in the budget for military mobility for building or upgrading parts of the TEN-T network for dual use along the priority axes, particularly at cross-border connections, improving both military and civilian mobility and thus contributing to the Union’s defence readiness, which is crucial for deterring future Russian aggression and maintaining the vital flow of allied security assistance to Ukraine; acknowledges the findings of the European Court of Auditors, which reveal that troop and armament movement across EU countries is hampered by inadequate funding and overly complex military mobility governance; requests, in line with the Court’s recommendation, that the funding of dual-use infrastructures be made more predictable;

Amendment  68

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 30 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	30 a. Insists in this context on a drastic increase in the military mobility budget in view of an estimated EUR 70 billion investment need for the completion of the four military mobility corridors alone; reiterates that the Council’s radical cut of 75 % to military mobility funding under the current MFF, as compared to Parliament’s and the Commission’s position, has considerably weakened this policy in the light of the recent geopolitical developments; insists that investing in military mobility within the next MFF is essential to identify options to ensure swift and efficient short-notice, large-scale movement of military equipment and humanitarian aid across the continent, enabling a joint response to military threats to the EU Member States and their allied nations; calls for the inclusion of military mobility in the White Paper on the future of European Defence;

Amendment  69

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 31

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
31. Emphasises that the Union needs to ramp up funding for preparedness across the board; underlines that, in addition to efforts to mitigate climate change through the green transition, significant investment is required to adapt to climate change, in particular to protect against and reduce the impact of natural disasters and severe weather events; considers that support for this purpose must be significantly increased in the next MFF;	31. Emphasises that the Union needs to ramp up funding for civil protection, climate resilience and preparedness across the board; underlines that, in addition to efforts to mitigate climate change and ensure climate resilience through the green transition, significant investment is required to adapt to climate change and anticipate crises, in particular to protect against and reduce the impact of natural disasters and severe weather events; stresses that the transport sector is heavily affected by such extreme weather and climate events, which necessitates specific and integrated measures for the design, construction, adaptation and management of transport infrastructure to enhance its resilience and responsiveness to these challenges; underlines that, according to a Commission study, approximately EUR 71 billion is needed to adapt the TEN-T network to mid-century (2024-2075) climate conditions; considers that support for this purpose must be significantly increased in the next MFF;

Amendment  70

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 32

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
32. Recalls that the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked economic and social havoc globally and that a key lesson from the experience is that there is a need to invest in preparedness for health threats, in medical research and in the resilience of public health systems in the Union; considers that the next MFF must build on the work done in the current programming period;	32. Recalls that the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked economic and social havoc globally and that a key lesson from the experience is that there is a need to invest in preparedness for health threats, in medical research and in the resilience of public health systems in the Union; underlines that initiatives such as the EU’s Green Lanes, which included fast-track procedures for TEN-T border crossings and proved crucial for maintaining the flow of goods across the EU during the COVID-19 crisis, are essential for strengthening supply chain resilience and preparedness; considers that the next MFF must build on the work done in the current programming period;

Amendment  71

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 33

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
33. Underlines that, with technological change, it has become easier for malicious and opportunistic foreign actors to spread disinformation, interfere in elections and mount cyberattacks against the Union’s interests; insists that the next MFF must invest in enhanced cybersecurity; points to the importance of digital and media literacy and critical thinking in this regard, and to the need for continued Union budget support for initiatives in these areas;	33. Underlines that, with technological change, it has become easier for malicious and opportunistic foreign actors to spread disinformation, interfere in elections and mount cyberattacks against the Union’s interests; points out that transport infrastructure, particularly ports, airports and transport hubs, is critical infrastructure vulnerable to hybrid threats, including cyberattacks; insists that the next MFF must invest in enhanced cybersecurity and protection of critical infrastructure; in this regard, welcomes the European Ports Alliance Public Private Partnership, which aims to detect vulnerabilities, share best practice and seek solutions, in particular as regards drug trafficking and infiltration of European ports by criminal networks; points to the importance of digital and media literacy and critical thinking in this regard, and to the need for continued Union budget support for initiatives in these areas;

Amendment  72

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 37

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
37. Stresses that the next MFF must continue to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change, to providing relief in the event of natural disasters, ensuring global food security, improving healthcare systems, reducing poverty and inequality and boosting competitiveness and the security of global supply chains; emphasises, in particular, the need for support for the Union’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods;	37. Stresses that the next MFF must continue to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change and strengthening water resilience through a coordinated, integrated and cross-sector approach to providing relief in the event of natural disasters, ensuring global food security, improving healthcare systems, reducing poverty and inequality and boosting competitiveness and the security of global supply chains; emphasises, in particular, the need for support for the Union’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods; underlines that the Global Gateway should continue to promote strategic transport infrastructure investments in third countries, focusing on the European industry’s strategic interests;

Amendment  73

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 37 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	37 a. Acknowledges the important role of the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes in providing alternative logistics routes, maintaining economic flow and ensuring global food security; furthermore, highlights that further strengthening the Solidarity Lanes with Ukraine and Moldova is key to preparing for the future enlargement of the Union;

Amendment  74

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 40

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
40. Emphasises that, in a context in which global actors are increasingly using trade interdependence as a means of economic coercion, the Union must bolster its capacity to protect and advance its own strategic interests, develop more robust tools to counter coercion and ensure genuine reciprocity in its partnerships;	40. Emphasises that, in a context in which global actors are increasingly using trade interdependence as a means of economic coercion, the Union must bolster its capacity to protect and advance its own strategic interests, its rules and common values, develop more robust tools to counter coercion and ensure genuine reciprocity in its partnerships;

Amendment  75

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 41 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	41 a. Emphasises that maintaining and strengthening efficient and modern TEN-T connections with third countries and further integrating the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries is strategically valuable for the EU to promote integration, cooperation and regional stability, as well as for candidate countries to enhance their economic development;

Amendment  76

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 46

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
46. Emphasises the importance of the Union budget in promoting and protecting democracy and the Union’s values, fostering the Union’s common cultural heritage and European integration, enhancing citizen engagement and youth participation and promoting fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the rule of law; points to the importance of independence of justice, the sound functioning of national institutions, support for civil society and de-oligarchisation;	46. Emphasises the importance of the Union budget in promoting and protecting democracy and the Union’s values, fostering the Union’s common cultural heritage and European integration, enhancing citizen engagement and youth participation and promoting fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the rule of law; points to the importance of independence of justice, the sound functioning of national institutions, cooperation between Member States, support for civil society and de-oligarchisation; underlines that EU initiatives such as DiscoverEU are key to enabling young people to explore Europe and the Union’s values through learning, culture and promotion of local cultural heritage;

Amendment  77

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 46 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	46 a. Recalls that the European Pillar of Social Rights places transport among the essential services to which everyone has the right of access; recalls that the Treaties recognise transport as a service of general interest, which is also observed in the Draghi report;

Amendment  78

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 46 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	46 b. Points to the existing gender gap within the transport sector, in particular regarding the workforce across all modes, but also regarding road safety and mobility in general;

Amendment  79

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 53 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	53 a. Highlights that disaggregated data based on gender, age and disability are important to monitor equal access to services and infrastructure; calls for targeted MFF investments to ensure safe infrastructure for vulnerable road users, improved public transport safety and services and making transport jobs more attractive and suitable, including for women;

Amendment  80

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 54

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
54. Points out that effective mainstreaming is best achieved through a toolbox of measures, primarily through policy design, thorough impact assessments and solid tracking of spending and, in specific cases, spending targets;	54. Points out that effective mainstreaming is best achieved through a toolbox of measures, primarily through policy design, thorough impact assessments and solid tracking of spending related to the implementation of legislation and, in specific cases, spending targets;

Amendment  81

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 57

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
57. Insists that, post-2027, sufficient financial and staff resources be allocated from the outset so that Union institutions, bodies and decentralised agencies can ensure effective and efficient policy design, delivery and enforcement, continue to attract the best people from all Member States, thus ensuring geographical balance, and have leeway to adjust to changing circumstances;	57. Insists that, post-2027, sufficient financial resources and the necessary staff be provided from the outset so that Union institutions, bodies and decentralised agencies can ensure effective and efficient policy design, delivery and enforcement, continue to attract the best people from all Member States, thus ensuring geographical balance, and have leeway to adjust to changing circumstances;

Amendment  82

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 57 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	57 a. Stresses the need to reinforce the budgets of the decentralised EU transport agencies, in particular the EU Aviation Safety Agency, the European Maritime Safety Agency and the EU Agency for Railways, which are crucial for EU transport policy implementation and strategic priorities, ensuring funding that matches their responsibilities amid growing challenges;

Amendment  83

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 64

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
64. Points out that, traditionally, the MFF has not been conceived with a crisis response or flexibility logic, but rather has been designed primarily to ensure medium-term investment predictability; underlines that, in a rapidly changing political, economic and social context, such an approach is no longer tenable; insists on sufficient in-built crisis response capacity in the next MFF;	64. Points out that, traditionally, the MFF has not been conceived with a crisis response or flexibility logic, but rather has been designed primarily to ensure medium-term investment predictability; underlines that, in a rapidly changing political, economic and social context, such an approach is no longer tenable; insists on both anticipatory planning and sufficient in-built crisis response capacity in the next MFF;

Amendment  84

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 65

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
65. Underscores that the current MFF has been beset by a lack of flexibility and an inability to adjust to evolving spending priorities; considers that the next MFF needs to strike a better balance between investment predictability and flexibility to adjust spending focus; highlights that spending in certain areas requires greater stability than in others where flexibility is more valuable; stresses that recurrent redeployments are not a viable way to finance the Union’s priorities as they damage investments and jeopardise the delivery of agreed policy objectives;	65. Underscores that the current MFF has been beset by a lack of flexibility and an inability to adjust to evolving spending priorities; considers that the next MFF needs to strike a better balance between investment predictability and flexibility to adjust spending focus; highlights that spending in certain areas requires greater stability than in others where flexibility is more valuable; stresses that recurrent redeployments are not a viable way to finance the Union’s priorities as they damage investments and jeopardise the delivery of agreed policy objectives, which require long-term funding;

Amendment  85

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 72

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
72. Emphasises that, in order to maximise impact, it is imperative that spending under the next MFF be much more rigorously aligned with the Union’s strategic policy aims and carefully coordinated with spending at national level;	72. Emphasises that, in order to maximise impact, it is imperative that spending under the next MFF be much more rigorously aligned with the Union’s strategic policy aims and carefully coordinated with spending at national level; recalls in this regard that the revised TEN-T Regulation requires Member States to align their national transport and investment plans with the EU priorities set out in the Regulation; advocates for the inclusion of similar measures to coordinate national investment plans in the next MFF for strategic Union areas such as transport;

Amendment  86

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 72 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	72 a. Underlines that the already exposed characteristics of the transport sector make it a fundamental pillar of various Union strategic goals; stresses in this context that transport should be recognised as an indispensable policy area requiring robust and sustained funding;

Amendment  87

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
75. Points out that any application of an RRF-style delivery model in the next MFF would have to correct the RRF’s fundamental flaws, by involving regional and local authorities from design to delivery through a place-based and multilevel governance approach, ensuring the cross-border dimension of investment projects, focusing on results and impact rather than outputs, guaranteeing full transparency in relation to final recipients of Union spending and safeguarding Parliament’s role as legislator, budgetary and discharge authority and in holding the executive to account;	75. Points out that any application of an RRF-style delivery model in the next MFF would have to correct the RRF’s fundamental flaws, by involving regional and local authorities from design to delivery through a place-based and multilevel governance approach, ensuring the cross-border dimension of investment projects, focusing on results and impact rather than outputs, setting realistic milestones and targets to ensure timely payments within the MFF timeframe, guaranteeing full transparency in relation to final recipients of Union spending and safeguarding Parliament’s role as legislator, budgetary and discharge authority and in holding the executive to account;

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR OPINION HAS RECEIVED INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for opinion declares that she received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the opinion, prior to the adoption thereof in committee:

Entity and/or person

Altrom SA

DG MOVE, European Commission

The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA)

The European Rail Supply Industry Association (UNIFE)

The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF)

The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC)

 

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur for the opinion.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur for opinion declares that she has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

 

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted	18.3.2025
Result of final vote	+ : 33 - : 5 0 : 1
Members present for the final vote	Adrian-George Axinia, Tom Berendsen, Rachel Blom, Nikolina Brnjac, Nina Carberry, Benoit Cassart, Vivien Costanzo, Johan Danielsson, Valérie Devaux, Gheorghe Falcă, Jens Gieseke, Borja Giménez Larraz, Sérgio Gonçalves, Roman Haider, Dariusz Joński, François Kalfon, Martine Kemp, Sophia Kircher, Elena Kountoura, Luis-Vicențiu Lazarus, Julien Leonardelli, Vicent Marzà Ibáñez, Milan Mazurek, Alexandra Mehnert, Ştefan Muşoiu, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Philippe Olivier, Matteo Ricci, Arash Saeidi, Marjan Šarec, Andreas Schieder, Rosa Serrano Sierra, Virginijus Sinkevičius, Kai Tegethoff, Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi, Maciej Wąsik
Substitutes present for the final vote	Carlo Fidanza, Marianne Vind
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Niels Geuking

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

33	+
ECR	Axinia Adrian-George, Fidanza Carlo
NI	Lazarus Luis-Vicentiu
PPE	Berendsen Tom, Brnjac Nikolina, Carberry Nina, Falca Gheorghe, Geuking Niels, Gieseke Jens, Giménez Larraz Borja, Jonski Dariusz, Kemp Martine, Kircher Sophia, Mehnert Alexandra, Vozemberg-Vrionidi Elissavet
Renew	Cassart Benoit, Devaux Valérie, Oetjen Jan-Christoph, Sarec Marjan
S&D	Costanzo Vivien, Danielsson Johan, Gonçalves Sérgio, Kalfon François, Musoiu Stefan, Ricci Matteo, Schieder Andreas, Serrano Sierra Rosa, Vind Marianne
The Left	Kountoura Elena, Saeidi Arash
Verts/ALE	Marzà Ibáñez Vicent, Sinkevicius Virginijus, Tegethoff Kai

 

5	-
ESN	Mazurek Milan
PfE	Blom Rachel, Haider Roman, Leonardelli Julien, Olivier Philippe

 

1	0
ECR	Wasik Maciej

 

Key:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstentions

 

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT (28.3.2025)

for the Committee on Budgets

on a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world

(2024/2051(INI))

Rapporteur for opinion: Adrian‑Dragoş Benea

 

 

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Regional Development submits the following to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible:

Amendment  1

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to Chapter 3 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),

Amendment  2

Motion for a resolution

Citation 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Commission delegated regulation of 7 January 2014 on the European code of conduct on partnership in the framework of the European Structural and Investment Funds1a, ____________________________ 1a OJ L 74, 14.3.2014, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2014/240/oj.

Amendment  3

Motion for a resolution

Citation 9 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to its resolution of 21 November 2023 on possibilities to increase the reliability of audits and controls by national authorities in shared management1a, __________________________________ 1a OJ C, C/2024/4207, 24.7.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/4207/oj.

Amendment  4

Motion for a resolution

Citation 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of 20 November 2024 entitled ‘A renewed Cohesion Policy post 2027 that leaves no one behind - CoR responses to the 9th Cohesion Report and the Report of the Group of High-Level Specialists on the Future of Cohesion Policy’,

Amendment  5

Motion for a resolution

Citation 19 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Commission communication of 11 February 2025 entitled ‘The road to the next multiannual financial framework’ (COM(2025)0046),

Amendment  6

Motion for a resolution

Citation 19 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to ECA Special report 22/2024: ‘Double funding from the EU budget’1a, __________________________________ 1a OJ C, C/2024/6375, 23.10.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/6375/oj.

Amendment  7

Motion for a resolution

Citation 19 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to its report on the Ninth report on economic and social cohesion (2024/2107(INI)),

Amendment  8

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital C

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
C. whereas spending through the Union budget, if effectively targeted, aligned with the Union’s political priorities and coordinated with spending at national level, helps to avoid fragmentation in the single market and to boost the overall impact of public investment; whereas public investment is essential to incentivise private investment;	C. whereas spending through the Union budget, if effectively targeted, aligned with the Union’s political priorities and coordinated with spending at national, regional and local levels, helps to avoid fragmentation in the single market and to boost the overall impact of public investment; whereas public investment is essential to incentivise private investment; whereas EU investment acts as the main driver of public investment in many Member States;

Amendment  9

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital C a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ca. whereas the limited resources and the multitude of policies make it necessary to establish a clear hierarchy; whereas cohesion is enshrined in the Treaties as a core objective of the Union, reflecting the Union’s founding principle of fostering economic, social, and territorial cohesion among its Member States, and serves as a primary mechanism through which the Union delivers tangible benefits to its citizens; whereas a properly funded and effectively implemented cohesion policy reinforces public trust in the European project and plays a crucial role in promoting European integration by demonstrating the Union’s commitment to balanced economic growth and competitiveness;

Amendment  10

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital C b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Cb. whereas 29 % of EU citizens still live in regions with a GDP per capita below 75 % of the EU average and about 135 million people live in places which have slowly fallen behind;

Amendment  11

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital C c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Cc. whereas spending through the Union budget directed at regional development and cohesion should respect the principle of subsidiarity, whereby the programming of spending should be done at the most appropriate local or regional level; whereas any centralisation attempts to channel regional development funding through a single national plan would undermine the principle of subsidiarity and the main goals of cohesion policy;

Amendment  12

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital D

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
D. whereas the NextGenerationEU recovery instrument (NGEU) established in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic enabled significant additional investment capacity of EUR 750 billion in 2018 prices, prompting a swift recovery and return to growth and supporting the green and digital transitions; whereas NGEU will not be in place post-2027;	D. whereas the NextGenerationEU recovery instrument (NGEU) established in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic enabled significant additional investment capacity of EUR 750 billion in 2018 prices, which was supposed to lead to a recovery and return to growth and to support the green and digital transitions; whereas NGEU will not be in place post-2027; whereas the grant component of NGEU, which will be financed through the EU budget, involves joint borrowing and risk sharing and therefore cannot be considered a cost-free measure; whereas the output gains from NGEU are still pending assessment by the Commission;

Amendment  13

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Da. whereas the absorption of cohesion policy funds 2021-2027 has been slower than in the previous programming period, not as a result of diminished demand from Member States or regions, but rather due to the late adoption of sectoral legislation, systemic delays in the approval of operational programmes, the transitional period between Multiannual Financial Frameworks, the prioritisation of NextGenerationEU funds by national managing authorities, constrained administrative capacities and overly complex bureaucratic procedures; whereas Member States and regions may defer the absorption of allocated funds in anticipation of a potential extension under the N+3 rule;

Amendment  14

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital E

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
E. whereas the Union budget, bolstered by NGEU, has been instrumental in alleviating the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 crisis and in responding to the effects of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; whereas the Union budget remains ill-equipped, in terms of size, structure and rules, to fully play its role in adjusting to evolving spending needs, addressing shocks and responding to crises and giving practical effect to the principle of solidarity;	E. whereas the Union budget, and in particular cohesion policy funding, through instruments such as Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (CRII) and CRII+, Cohesion’s Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE), Flexible Assistance to Territories (FAST-CARE) and Supporting Affordable Energy (SAFE), bolstered by NGEU, has been instrumental in alleviating the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 crisis and in responding to the effects of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; whereas the Union budget remains ill-equipped, in terms of size, structure and rules, to fully play its role in adjusting to evolving spending needs while keeping its structural approach, addressing shocks and responding to crises and giving practical effect to the principle of solidarity and ensuring that all regions, particularly those facing economic disparities, demographic decline, or structural disadvantages, receive adequate resources to support their resilience and sustainable development;

Amendment  15

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital E a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ea. whereas during the last parliamentary term cohesion policy became the de facto first-choice source of emergency funding to address any challenge or unforeseen event, which has resulted in constant changes in the regulatory framework and eroded the policy’s strategic focus; whereas in its communication of 11 February 2025 the Commission has clearly acknowledged the inadequacy of these ad hoc solutions ;
	__________________

Amendment  16

Motion for a resolution

Recital E b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Eb. whereas all levels of government –national, regional, and local – share the responsibility of ensuring that Europeans can live in a democratic, competitive, fair, and secure European Union; whereas only a joint and coordinated effort, driven by a strong multilevel governance approach, can effectively mobilise capacities, funds, and partnerships to advance together toward shared prosperity and resilience;

Amendment  17

Motion for a resolution

Recital E c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ec. whereas the European Union’s cities and regions are the backbone of the European project, bringing EU policies to life for citizens; whereas local and regional governments play a pivotal role in delivering the social, economic, environmental, and physical infrastructure that sustains communities, businesses, markets, jobs, farmers and SMEs; whereas public trust in local and regional governments reached 60 % in 2024, the highest among all levels of governance, underscoring their key role in fostering democratic legitimacy and effective policymaking;

Amendment  18

Motion for a resolution

Recital E d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ed. whereas place-based integrated investment plans enable policies tailored to the specific needs of communities, enhancing the effectiveness, legitimacy, and territorial cohesion of EU actions; whereas such plans foster cooperation among municipalities and key local actors – including businesses, industries, financiers, communities and NGOs – to deliver cross-cutting solutions for employment, economic growth, and climate neutrality; whereas empowering regional and local authorities to co-design these plans allows the EU to unlock the full transformative potential of its investments, ensuring a more inclusive and impactful approach to development;

Amendment  19

Motion for a resolution

Recital E e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ee. whereas the newly created ‘EU Councillors’ network jointly run by the European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission boosts their ability to gather evidence of how the Union is functioning on the ground, as well as their capacity to connect the Union with citizens via subnational elected leaders:

Amendment  20

Motion for a resolution

Recital F

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
F. whereas, since the adoption of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF), the political, economic and social context has changed beyond recognition, compounding underlying structural challenges for the Union and leading to a substantial revision of the MFF in 2024;	F. whereas, since the adoption of the current multiannual financial framework (MFF), the political, economic and social context has changed, compounding underlying structural challenges for the Union and leading to a substantial revision of the MFF in 2024;

Amendment  21

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital G

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
G. whereas the context in which the Commission will prepare its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, with the established global and geopolitical order changing quickly and radically and the Union budget needing to change accordingly;	G. whereas the context in which the Commission will prepare its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, with the established global and geopolitical order changing quickly and radically and the Union budget needing to be adapted accordingly and in full compliance with the ‘do no harm to cohesion’ principle; whereas the Commission proposal should evaluate current and emerging challenges in order to avoid major revisions within MFF headings in the future;

Amendment  22

Motion for a resolution

Recital G a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ga. whereas the current geopolitical challenges highlight the need for a consolidated and consistent approach at European level, to ensure both the security and defence of the continent and also economic and social cohesion, while also stimulating cross-sector competitiveness; whereas rising international tensions and emerging risks call for a more flexible budget that can respond swiftly to the Union’s strategic needs and assist the Member States with crisis management;

Amendment  23

Motion for a resolution

Recital H

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
H. whereas, in order to compensate for the budget’s shortcomings, there have been numerous workaround solutions that make the budget more opaque, undercutting Parliament’s role as legislator and budgetary and discharge authority and in holding the executive to account;	H. whereas, in order to compensate for the budget’s shortcomings, there have been numerous workaround solutions and several legislative changes adopted by urgent procedure entailing, inter alia, a repurposing of the 2014-2020 and 2021-2027 cohesion policy resources, that make the budget more opaque, undercutting Parliament’s role as legislator and budgetary and discharge authority and in holding the executive to account;

Amendment  24

Motion for a resolution

Recital H a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ha. whereas weather- and climate-related extremes caused over EUR 650 billion in economic losses between 1980 and 2022; whereas, moreover, as highlighted in the European Environment Agency’s first Climate Risk Assessment (Report No 1/2024), the implications of climate change affect the whole European continent, but disproportionately affect vulnerable populations due to socio-economic factors further hampering the ability of vulnerable groups to recover from disasters, in particular in less-developed regions;

Amendment  25

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives, tackle the growing challenges it faces, manage and repay its debt sustainably, respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs;	1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives, tackle the growing challenges it faces, such as ensuring the safety and security of its people, manage and repay its debt sustainably, respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs, all while ensuring economic, social and territorial cohesion, which remains one of the fundamental objectives of the EU as set out in Article 3 TEU and Articles 174 and 175 TFEU; insists, therefore, that the overall volume of the MFF should at least be maintained;

Amendment  26

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
2. Stresses that all spending in the post-2027 MFF must be strategically aligned with the EU’s political aims, adding tangible value for the people of the Union, with discernible net benefits compared to spending at national or sub-national level and leading to real and lasting results;	2. Stresses that all spending in the post-2027 MFF must be strategically aligned with the EU’s political aims, including the consolidation of the single market, adding tangible value for the people of the Union and improving their quality of life, with discernible net benefits compared to spending at national or sub-national level and leading to real and lasting positive results for EU citizens;

Amendment  27

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
4. Underlines that a simpler, more flexible MFF requires more robust parliamentary accountability;	4. Underlines that a simpler, more flexible MFF requires more strategic planning based on clear and comprehensive data and impact assessments and more robust parliamentary accountability;

Amendment  28

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
5. Considers that, in view of the structural challenges facing the Union, the post-2027 MFF should adjust its spending focus to ensure that the Union can meet its strategic policy aims as detailed below;	5. Considers that, in view of the structural challenges facing the Union, the post-2027 MFF should adjust its spending focus to ensure that the Union can finance its most strategically important policies, such as cohesion policy as detailed below, while recognising that the new MFF should at the same time provide for sufficient flexibility, so as to adapt to the needs of individual regions and Member States;

Amendment  29

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
6. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness, decarbonising the economy and enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society;	6. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness, decarbonising the economy, ensuring economic, social and territorial cohesion, necessary for a functioning single market, and enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society, built on local and regional specificities and traditions;

Amendment  30

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	6a. Underlines the conclusions of the Report of the High-Level Group on the Future of Cohesion Policy of February 2024, which demonstrate that competitiveness and economic, social and territorial cohesion are the two sides of the same coin; emphasises that, beyond the Draghi and Letta reports, the EU’s competitiveness ambitions depend on a strengthened partnership principle and a bold, long-term commitment to cohesion policy; is convinced that for the EU to increase its external competitiveness it must tap into the potential of all EU territories;

Amendment  31

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	6b. Believes that place-based policies are key to successful economic and social development; recalls that the EU’s main competitors have renewed their focus on territorial aspects to strengthen their economies;

Amendment  32

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
7. Underlines that, as spelt out in the Letta and Draghi reports, the European economy and social model are under intense strain, with the productivity, competitiveness and skills gap having knock-on effects on the quality of jobs and on living standards for Europeans already grappling with high housing, energy and food prices; is concerned that a lack of job opportunities and high costs of living increase the risk of a brain drain away from Europe;	7. Underlines that, as spelt out in the Letta and Draghi reports, the European economy and social model are under intense strain, with the productivity, competitiveness and skills gap having knock-on effects on the quality of jobs and on living standards for EU citizens already grappling with high housing, energy and food prices; is concerned that a lack of job opportunities and quality services and the high costs of living increase the risk of depopulation and brain drain away from certain EU Member States and regions, especially less developed, rural and outermost regions, and away from the EU; considers that this phenomenon exacerbates the demographic crisis affecting the EU;

Amendment  33

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
8. Points out that Draghi puts the annual investment gap with respect to innovation and infrastructure at EUR 750-800 billion per year between 2025 and 2030; underlines that, while the Union budget cannot cover that shortfall alone, it must play a vital role;	8. Points out that Draghi puts the annual investment gap with respect to innovation and infrastructure at EUR 750-800 billion per year between 2025 and 2030; underlines that, while the Union budget cannot cover that shortfall alone, it must play a vital role prioritising strategic sectors, keeping a continuous and strong cooperation with the economic actors, enhancing public-private partnerships, simplifying and cutting red-tape;

Amendment  34

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	8a. Endorses the Draghi report’s call to concentrate EU efforts where they generate the greatest added value, ensuring full adherence to the ‘do no harm to cohesion’ principle; considers that this approach will enable local and regional authorities to actively shape EU policies and objectives in accordance with their specific needs, characteristics, and capacities, while safeguarding the Partnership Principle as a fundamental element of EU governance and shared management;

Amendment  35

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	8b. Emphasises that the Draghi report outlines a strategic vision for cities and urban areas, calling on the EU to expand opportunities for more cities and regions to participate in key sectors driving future growth, highlighting the need to build on existing initiatives such as Innovation Valleys, Net Zero Acceleration Valleys, and Hydrogen Valleys to foster economic transformation; stresses that the next EU budget must prioritise the territorial dimension of competitiveness by ensuring that EU funds reinforce local infrastructure and public services while driving industrial development, job creation, and market expansion to build a resilient European economy that benefits industry and citizens;

Amendment  36

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 10

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending in strategic policy areas, such as climate and, latterly, dual-use defence projects;	10. Insists that, in the next MFF, more must be done to maximise the potential of the role of the European Investment Bank Group – together with other international and national financial institutions – in lending in strategic policy areas, such as climate, the green and digital transition, decent, sustainable and affordable housing and, latterly, dual-use defence projects;

Amendment  37

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
11. Emphasises that funding for research and innovation should be significantly increased, should be focused on the Union’s strategic priorities and should continue to be determined by the principle of excellence; considers that there should be sufficient resources across the MFF and at national level to fund all high-quality projects;	11. Emphasises that funding for research and innovation should be significantly increased, should be focused on the Union’s strategic priorities and should continue to be determined by the principle of excellence, taking into account geographical balance in order to avoid development gaps between EU regions and Member States; considers that there should be sufficient resources across the MFF and at national level to fund all high-quality projects;

Amendment  38

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	11a. Highlights the need to reduce the research and innovation gap between EU regions and Member States; emphasises the importance of ensuring that regions and businesses have access to innovation solutions, enabling their integration into production chains and contributing to economic growth and increased productivity;

Amendment  39

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	11b. Calls for enhanced support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a particular focus on solutions that strengthen their economic integration, such as logistics hubs, microfinance centres for SMEs in disadvantaged areas, and regional partnership platforms between SMEs and educational institutions to foster innovation, competitiveness and sustainable development;

Amendment  40

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	11c. Stresses the importance of public-private partnerships, draw on cohesion funds and attracting private investment in order to maximise the impact of research by turning innovative ideas into products and services that support European competitiveness at global level;

Amendment  41

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	11d. Emphasises that any future ‘Competitiveness Fund’ and successor programmes to Horizon Europe in research and innovation must remain accessible to cities and regions, recognising their crucial role in driving economic growth, technological progress, and territorial cohesion;

Amendment  42

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
12. Stresses that the next MFF should include much greater funding for energy, transport and digital infrastructure, with priority given to cross-border connections and national links with European added value; considers that such infrastructure goes hand in hand with a deepening of the single market;	12. Stresses that the next MFF should include much greater funding for energy production and infrastructure, including storage capacity, energy security, connectivity and protection of energy infrastructure, transport, water and digital infrastructure as well as innovation, with priority given to cross-border connections and national links with European added value and accelerating the intra-European corridors envisaged in the Trans-European Networks for Energy (TEN-E) and Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T); draws attention to the need for increased support for energy and digital infrastructure projects in peripheral and rural areas; considers that such infrastructure goes hand in hand with a deepening of the single market;

Amendment  43

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	12a. Recognises that energy security is a key element of the resilience and competitiveness of the Union and calls for increased funding for energy efficiency and projects that reduce dependency on external energy sources and support low energy prices for households and industry;

Amendment  44

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	12b. Underlines that the Member States should make use of the upcoming Border Regions’ Instruments for Development and Growth (BridgeForEU) to reduce bureaucratic burdens for cross-border projects;

Amendment  45

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
13. Considers that the Union must develop a competitiveness framework in line with its own values and political aims and that competitiveness must therefore be understood as encompassing not only economic growth, but also social, economic and territorial cohesion and environmental sustainability;	13. Considers that the Union must develop a competitiveness framework in line with its own values and political aims; recognises that competitiveness is built from the ground up, starting at the local and regional level; underlines that competitiveness must therefore be understood as encompassing not only economic growth, but also economic, social and territorial cohesion; stresses that cohesion, together with higher skills and innovation levels, a favourable business environment for SMEs and environmental sustainability, as well as policies to support families, are essential conditions for competitiveness;

Amendment  46

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	13a. Calls for the next EU budget to prioritise competitiveness by reinforcing public investment and recognising its territorial dimension, ensuring that funding strategies are tailored to the national, regional and local socio-economic potential;

Amendment  47

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
14. Underlines that a more competitive, productive and socially inclusive economy helps to generate high-quality, well-paid jobs, thus enhancing people’s standard of living; emphasises that, through programmes such as the European Social Fund+ and Erasmus+, the Union budget can play an important role in supporting education and training systems, boosting workforce adaptability through reskilling and upskilling, and thus preparing people for employment in a modern economy;	14. Underlines that a more competitive, productive and socially inclusive economy helps to generate high-quality, well-paid jobs, thus enhancing people’s standard of living and ensuring the ‘right to stay’; recalls that cohesion policy funds should prioritise projects to support local and regional industries and economic sectors in order to create a strong economic environment that would ensure well-paid jobs and stop depopulation; emphasises that, through funds and programmes such as the European Social Fund+ and Erasmus+, and the Just Transition Fund, the Union budget can play an important role in supporting education and training systems, boosting workforce adaptability through reskilling and upskilling, and thus preparing people at all stages of their professional life for employment in a modern economy;

Amendment  48

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
17. Emphasises that food security is a vital component of strategic autonomy and that the next MFF must continue to support the Union’s farming and fisheries sectors, including small and young farmers and fishers, and help the sectors to better protect the climate and biodiversity; highlights the crucial role of the common agricultural policy in increasing productivity through technical progress, ensuring a fair standard of living for farmers and guaranteeing food security; calls for adequate funding for the common agricultural policy in the next MFF;	17. Emphasises that food security is a vital component of strategic autonomy and that the next MFF must continue to support the Union’s farming and fisheries sectors, including small and young farmers and fishers, and help the sectors to better protect the climate and biodiversity; highlights the crucial role of the common agricultural policy in helping to reach economies of scale and increase productivity through technical progress, ensuring a fair standard of living for farmers and guaranteeing food security; calls for strong funding for the common agricultural policy in the next MFF;

Amendment  49

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
18. Recalls that social, economic and territorial cohesion is a cornerstone of European integration and is vital in binding the Union together and deepening the single market; underlines that a modernised cohesion policy must follow a decentralised, place-based, multilevel governance approach and be built around the shared management and partnership principle, fully involving local and regional authorities;	18. Recalls that economic, social and territorial cohesion is a cornerstone of European integration and is vital in binding the Union together in solidarity and deepening the single market and therefore should be a key pillar of the next MFF; underlines that a modernised cohesion policy must follow an anticipatory, decentralised, integrated, place-based, multilevel governance approach and be built on the shared management, subsidiarity and partnership principles, fully involving local and regional authorities; opposes, therefore, any form of top-down centralisation reform of cohesion policy;

Amendment  50

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	18a. Considers that, in the next MFF, the share of the total budget devoted to cohesion policy should be maintained or even increased, in order to safeguard its fundamental role in reducing regional disparities and shaping a more resilient and competitive Europe that leaves no one behind; emphasises that any reduction in cohesion policy funding would undermine the Union’s commitment to balanced and sustainable development, particularly in less-developed and transition regions;

Amendment  51

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	18b. Is of the opinion that regional GDP per capita must remain the main criterion for determining Member States’ allocations under cohesion policy; considers that regional GDP per capita might possibly be complemented by other regional socio-economic indicators (e.g. social, demographic, etc.) that help reflect more accurately the socio-economic situation of the regions;

Amendment  52

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	18c. Calls for the co-financing rate to be determined at the NUTS 3 level to more accurately reflect local development levels and budgetary capacities, which may not be adequately captured in NUTS 2 level assessments; emphasises that a more granular approach to co-financing determination would improve the precision and fairness of funding allocations, ensuring that resources are directed where they are most needed to reduce regional disparities;

Amendment  53

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	18d. Stresses that the Cohesion Fund should continue to provide appropriate support to Member States with a gross national income (GNI) per capita below 90 % of the EU-27 average to develop their large-scale transport, environment and energy infrastructure;

Amendment  54

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	18e. Highlights the importance of local and regional authorities (LRAs) in implementing EU policies and their crucial role in achieving common EU policy goals;

Amendment  55

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 f (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	18f. Underlines the importance of the partnership principle, which implies the full involvement of regional and local authorities at all stages of the decision-making process related to cohesion policy, from design to programming, implementation and monitoring, as well as the participation of stakeholders, social partners and civil society representatives; stresses that partnership enables the effective design and implementation of local investment plans, reinforcing democratic legitimacy and strategic coordination;

Amendment  56

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 g (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	18g. Insists on the application of the partnership principle as outlined in Article 8 of the Common Provisions Regulation1a; emphasises that its application should not be reduced to a mere box-ticking consultation exercise but must entail structured, regular, and mandatory cooperation or contractual agreements between all relevant levels of governance and serve as a genuine mechanism for defining joint priorities based on meaningful local and regional input; insists that the correct implementation of the partnership principle is considered an enabling condition for the approval of the operational programmes and should continue to be a prerequisite for the approval of programmes related to cohesion policy funds in the future; __________________________________ 1a Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy, OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 159, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1060/oj.

Amendment  57

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 h (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	18h. Suggests that a revised European Code of Conduct on Partnership should be integrated in the Common Provisions Regulation; calls on the Commission to explore measures to enhance Parliament’s oversight and monitoring powers on partnership agreements and programmes;

Amendment  58

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 i (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	18i. Considers that a future-proof partnership principle must be firmly rooted in the subsidiarity principle, ensuring that decisions are made as close to citizens as possible and regularly assessed for compliance with EU, national and regional legislation;

Amendment  59

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 j (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	18j. Considers that the Commission needs to consult regional and local authorities ahead of policy formulation and ahead of proposing any policy changes which might affect them; considers in particular that feedback collected from the authorities on the subnational level should serve as an input to the formulation of the upcoming MFF;

Amendment  60

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 k (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	18k. Underlines the need for much better cooperation and communication with local actors and civil society, and most of all with citizens, addressing their needs, fears and concerns through specific projects using cohesion funds;

Amendment  61

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 l (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	18l. Recalls the ‘do no harm to cohesion’ principle, meaning that no action should hamper the convergence process or contribute to regional disparities; recalls that all EU policies should generally contribute to balanced regional development and calls for this principle to be integrated as a cross-cutting principle in the design of spending programmes; believes that Territorial Impact Assessments (TIAs) are the best available way to implement the ‘do no harm to cohesion’ principle; calls for a ‘cohesion check’ of all new EU initiatives to prevent duplication of cohesion objectives and ensure added value;

Amendment  62

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
19. Stresses that cohesion policy funding must tackle the key challenges the Union faces, such as demographic change and depopulation, and target the regions and people most in need; highlights, in particular, the importance of enhanced support to address the EU-wide housing crisis affecting millions of families and young people;	19. Stresses that cohesion policy funding must tackle the key challenges the Union faces, such as economic, social and territorial disparities, regional development traps, the just transition, the lack of connectivity and essential quality public services in certain territories, the green and digital transition, industrial transformation, demographic change and depopulation, and the degradation of the environment including biodiversity loss; highlights, in particular, the importance of enhanced cohesion policy support to address the EU-wide housing crisis affecting millions of families and young people, through a European strategy for affordable housing;

Amendment  63

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19a. Considers that the EU should invest in social cohesion to ensure accessible, affordable and adaptable social services for all, including vulnerable groups, such as persons with disabilities; calls for adequate funding to combat poverty and social exclusion, particularly in marginalised communities and less-developed regions; highlights that a gender perspective is necessary to enable development; stresses that this encompasses among other things targeted measures for women in rural areas, aimed at improving women’s employment rate, work-life-balance, education, skills and opportunities;

Amendment  64

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19b. Underlines that cohesion policy funding must continue to be available for all regions (developed, transition and less developed) to tackle their specific challenges;

Amendment  65

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19c. Recalls, however, that cohesion policy should focus particularly on the least favoured regions, such as rural areas, eastern border regions, areas affected by industrial transition, regions which suffer from severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps such as the northernmost regions with very low population density and islands, cross-border and mountain regions, as referred to in Article 174 TFEU, and outermost regions, as referred to in Article 349 TFEU;

Amendment  66

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19d. Stresses that cohesion policy should promote competitiveness and endogenous growth in such regions, investing in job creation, skills retention programmes, transport and digital connectivity; maintains that such measures should encourage the ‘right to stay’, reducing brain drain and migration of young people and women away from those regions; emphasises that investments in affordable housing and access to essential services, such as healthcare, education and postal and banking services are equally important to reverse talent migration;

Amendment  67

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19e. Stresses that cross-border and regional cooperation tools, such as Interreg, must be strengthened and expanded, recognising that addressing complex challenges requires coordinated action beyond individual regional capacities; underlines the need for a stable and continuous framework that enhances the strategic role of Interreg programmes in promoting cross-border cooperation, regional integration, and balanced territorial development across the EU;

Amendment  68

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 f (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19f. Underlines that expanding Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) plans and unlocking their full potential could make them a cornerstone of future Cohesion Policy; considers that, by serving as investment frameworks aligned with both national and local strategies, ITIs can enhance coordinated development and strengthen collective resilience;

 

Amendment  69

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 g (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19g. Recalls that, as provided for in Article 349 TFEU, the outermost regions (ORs) require adequate and increased financial support, particularly in terms of food and energy autonomy, support for basic infrastructure and for local workers and businesses, in order to compensate for the additional costs associated with remoteness, insularity and the high cost of living; considers, therefore, that the next MFF must guarantee adequate funding for ORs, in particular through cohesion policy funds and the specific allocations under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), as well as under European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) and the programme of options specifically relating to remoteness and insularity (POSEI) scheme; stresses, furthermore, the need to provide specific access mechanisms in order to maximise ORs’ participation in the Union’s programmes under direct management, such as those dedicated to research, innovation and environmental policies;

Amendment  70

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 h (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19h. Calls for an Islands Pact to be drawn up as soon as possible and implemented, with the participation of the principal stakeholders, namely national, regional and local authorities, economic and social operators, civil society, academia and non-governmental organisations, along the lines of the Urban Pact and the future Rural Pact;

Amendment  71

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 i (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19i. Underlines the importance of the place-based approach, especially in light of the different challenges facing rural and urban areas; points out that, while affordability of energy-efficient upgrades and solving vacancy issues in rural areas are existential for rural communities, overpopulation and homelessness are primarily challenges in urban areas;

Amendment  72

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 j (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19j. Underlines that the development of rural regions under cohesion policy must be holistic and that focusing simply on agricultural development omits crucial challenges in rural areas such as demography, connectivity, the digital transformation, the accessibility of quality public services, and it leaves behind those workers, especially women and young people, seeking opportunities outside of agriculture;

Amendment  73

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 k (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19k. Emphasises that the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) is essential alongside Cohesion Policy funds in supporting rural areas and ensuring balanced territorial development; stresses that, if the EAFRD remains within the Common Agricultural Policy, its regulatory framework must be aligned with Cohesion Policy to enhance synergies, reduce administrative complexity, and enable the effective implementation of multi-funded rural development projects;

Amendment  74

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 l (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19l. Emphasises that urban areas face their own difficulties in achieving their sustainability goals, which are different from those of rural areas; calls for a tailor-made agenda for metropolitan areas;

Amendment  75

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 m (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19m. Calls, furthermore, for enhanced access to EU funding for cities, regions and urban authorities;

Amendment  76

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 n (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19n. Calls for the setting-up of a simplified and streamlined mechanism aimed at ensuring direct funding for cities in the next MFF, with the inclusion of smart conditionality;

Amendment  77

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 o (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19o. Highlights, in particular, the importance of enhanced support to address the EU-wide housing crisis affecting millions of families and young people; calls for increased investments in sustainable and energy-efficient housing solutions in regions across the EU, addressing housing shortages and high levels of social exclusion; highlights the strategical importance of cohesion policy investments in this respect;

Amendment  78

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 p (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19p. Is of the opinion that renovations of buildings, especially vulnerable and energy poor households, or where applicable, social housing and public buildings, should receive proper financing through grants, financial incentives and other policy measures;

Amendment  79

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 q (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19q. Underlines the potential of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) in transforming areas and infrastructures, in particular those associated with poverty and abandonment; considers that increasing the funding and the visibility of the NEB would particularly benefit the projects which do not typically attract private investments but have an enormous significance for the local population;

Amendment  80

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
20. Points out that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has had substantial economic and social consequences, in particular in Member States bordering Russia; insists that the next MFF provide support to these regions;	20. Points out that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has had substantial economic and social consequences, in particular in the eastern border regions; insists that the next MFF provide additional support to these regions; highlights the importance of adapting cohesion policy to the evolving geopolitical landscape by creating a tailored approach for regions on the eastern border, including in EU candidate countries; advocates for substantial investments to enhance connectivity and adequate funding for Interreg programmes in those regions;

Amendment  81

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
21. Highlights that the green and digital transitions are inextricably linked to competitiveness, the modernisation of the economy and the resilience of society and that, therefore, the post-2027 MFF must continue to support the twin transitions;	21. Highlights that the green and digital transitions are inextricably linked to competitiveness, the modernisation of the economy and the resilience of society and that, therefore, the post-2027 MFF must continue to support the twin transitions; recalls that cohesion policy funds have been instrumental for these transition processes; emphasises the need to reassess EU strategies to achieve the twin transitions in the light of the geopolitical situation, involving the regional and local authorities and the economic and civil actors using the cohesion funds to make our economy and our society more ecological, without jeopardising our competitiveness or the well-being of the population;

Amendment  82

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	21a. Is worried about the large urban-rural differences in the quality of digital infrastructure in the EU and the risk of digital exclusion; stresses that the availability of broadband connections reduces depopulation; calls for investment in digital infrastructure in the next MFF;

Amendment  83

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	21b. Highlights the need to ensure that all regions have the capacity to adapt to the digital transition by fostering digital skills and administrative capacity and supporting SMEs in transitioning to high-tech industries; calls for the reinforcement of capacity-building programmes to improve administrative efficiency and project implementation at the regional level;

Amendment  84

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
22. Recalls that the Union is committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, which requires a decarbonisation of the economy through the deployment of clean technologies, improved energy and transport infrastructure and more energy-efficient housing; notes that the Commission estimates additional investment needs to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at 1.5 % of GDP per year compared to the decade 2011-2020 and that, while the Union budget alone cannot cover the gap, it must remain a vital contributor;	22. Recalls that the Union is committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, which requires a decarbonisation of the economy through the deployment of clean technologies, carbon sinks, capture and storage, improved energy production and infrastructure, including storage capacities, and transport infrastructure and more energy-efficient and climate proof housing; acknowledges that the Commission has provisionally included private investments in certain nuclear-related activities in the EU taxonomy for sustainable activities; believes that nuclear power plants contribute to both climate neutrality and strategic autonomy objectives, reducing the dependence on fossil fuels and external sources; notes that the Commission estimates additional investment needs to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at 1.5 % of GDP per year compared to the decade 2011-2020 and that, while the Union budget alone cannot cover the gap, it must remain a vital contributor;

Amendment  85

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	22a. Stresses that the EU’s decarbonisation targets require adequate cohesion policy support for large industrial businesses that need to adapt in the transition process, which also make major contributions to the development of regions;

Amendment  86

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	22b. Calls for the promotion of decentralised renewable energy production in economically disadvantaged territories, ensuring that local communities directly benefit from the green transition through job creation and reduced energy costs;

Amendment  87

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	22c. Emphasises that EU funding frameworks focusing on energy, transport and water infrastructure should be revised in order to better align EU public funding with the Union’s strategic goals, in particular improving European competitiveness and resilience to climate change;

Amendment  88

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	22d. Stresses that EU funding frameworks like the Connecting Europe Facility should foster the adoption of digital technologies for the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure, thereby enabling its faster deployment and better return on investment over its entire life cycle;

Amendment  89

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
23. Underlines that industry will be central in the transition to net zero and that support will be needed in helping some industrial sectors and their workers to adapt; stresses that the transition must leave no one behind, requiring investment in regions that are heavily fossil-fuel dependent and increased support for households, in particular through the Social Climate Fund;	23. Underlines that industry will be central in the transition to net zero and that targeted support will be needed in helping the most exposed industrial sectors and their workers to adapt and innovate, especially in those communities undergoing a rapid industrial transition; highlights that the transition to net zero should be managed in a balanced way; and be progressive, sustainable, technologically neutral and leave no one behind, requiring investment in regions that are heavily fossil-fuel dependent; draws attention to the measures taken under cohesion policy to ensure a just and fair transition and underlines that cohesion policy should continue to be a key contributor to supporting a socially just transition with a strong territorial dimension;

Amendment  90

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	23a. Stresses the need for a stable and predictable budgetary framework to ensure the continuity and effectiveness of actions in this area, in conjunction with other European instruments financing the green transition, including in particular the Just Transition Fund, fully integrated into the Common Provisions Regulation, as the maintenance of the just transition process is necessary to promote the training, reskilling and integration of workers in the sectors of the future, to create new jobs and thus to ensure the competitiveness and attractiveness of the most vulnerable territories;

Amendment  91

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	23b. Highlights that increased support for enterprises and vulnerable households hit by energy poverty should be provided, in particular through the Social Climate Fund; regrets the lack of meaningful consultation with regional and local authorities when drafting Social Climate Plans;

Amendment  92

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
24. Points to the profound technological shift under way, with new technologies such as artificial intelligence both creating opportunities, in terms of economic potential and improvements to the citizens’ lives, and posing reliability and ethical challenges; stresses that the next MFF must support the development and safe application of such technologies and help people to hone the skills they need to work with and use them;	24. Points to the profound technological shift under way, with new digital technologies such as artificial intelligence both creating opportunities, in terms of economic potential and improvements to the citizens’ lives, and posing reliability and ethical challenges; stresses that the next MFF must support the development and safe application of such technologies and help people to understand them and to hone the skills they need to work with and use them; stresses that the Commission and the Member States should consider the potential of artificial intelligence to analyse the progress of the implementation of cohesion objectives;

Amendment  93

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	24a. Underlines above all the importance of investment in artificial intelligence as a key factor for the European Union’s economic competitiveness and for maintaining a robust technology ecosystem; artificial intelligence not only revolutionises existing industries, but also creates new economic and social opportunities, and is essential for innovation, automation, increased productivity and cohesion; whereas without a strategic commitment in this field, the EU is at risk of lagging behind other economic powers;

Amendment  94

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
25. Recalls that security is the foundation for the Union’s prosperity and social model and that the next MFF must invest significantly more in safeguarding the Union against the myriad threats it faces;	25. Recalls that security is the foundation for the Union’s prosperity and social model and that the next MFF must invest significantly more in safeguarding the Union against the myriad threats it faces; points out, however, that security goes beyond the military dimension, and underlines that defence spending must not undermine other strategic objectives that are equally essential for the Union’s security, such as agriculture, which is crucial for food security, and cohesion policy, which is essential for the balanced development and stability of all EU regions;

Amendment  95

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	25a. Highlights the need to support the budget of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism in the new MFF in order to improve the effectiveness of systems to prevent, prepare for and respond to natural and human-induced disasters;

Amendment  96

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
26. Underlines that, as the Niinistö report makes clear, the fragmenting global order, more frequent and intense extreme weather events, the security threat posed by Russia, growing tensions globally, hybrid campaigns, including cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation, disinformation and interference, the instrumentalisation of migration, and health threats are combining to heighten instability and increase the Union’s vulnerability;	26. Underlines that, as the Niinistö report makes clear, the fragmenting global order, more frequent and intense extreme natural events, the security threat posed by Russia, growing tensions globally, hybrid campaigns, including cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation, disinformation and interference, the instrumentalisation of migration, and health threats are combining to heighten instability and increase the Union’s vulnerability;

Amendment  97

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	26a. Underlines the importance of consolidating actions against hybrid threats; calls for the EU to invest significantly in online defence, including in developing robust cybersecurity systems, in combating disinformation and in protecting democratic processes, such as European elections, from possible foreign interference;

Amendment  98

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 29

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
29. Underscores the importance of a competitive and resilient European defence technological and industrial base and considers that joint EU-level investment in defence can generate economies of scale, and thus significant savings for Member States, and help ensure interoperability of equipment and systems; points to the need to direct support towards the defence industry within the Union, thus creating quality high-skilled jobs;	29. Underscores the importance of a competitive and resilient European defence technological and industrial base and considers that joint EU-level investment in defence can generate economies of scale, including small and medium-sized enterprises and thus significant savings for Member States, and help ensure interoperability of equipment and systems; points to the need to direct support towards co-production in the defence industry within the Union, thus creating quality high-skilled jobs;

Amendment  99

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 30

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
30. Points to the importance of support in the budget for military mobility, which upgrades infrastructure for dual-use military and civilian purposes and thus contributes to the Union’s defence capabilities;	30. Stresses the strong overlap between the military transport network and the civilian TEN-T network; points to the importance of increasing allocations in the budget for military mobility, with a particular focus on upgrading and maintaining infrastructure for dual-use military and civilian purposes, including transport infrastructure, energy infrastructure and data infrastructure, thus contributing to the Union’s defence capabilities;

Amendment  100

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 31

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
31. Emphasises that the Union needs to ramp up funding for preparedness across the board; underlines that, in addition to efforts to mitigate climate change through the green transition, significant investment is required to adapt to climate change, in particular to protect against and reduce the impact of natural disasters and severe weather events; considers that support for this purpose must be significantly increased in the next MFF;	31. Recalls that extreme weather events and natural disasters are resulting in loss of life and heavy damage to property and infrastructure; highlights that the human and material losses caused by natural disasters are significantly higher than infrastructure maintenance costs; emphasises that the Union needs to ramp up funding for preparedness across the board through a territorial approach that prioritises the most vulnerable regions and sectors; underlines that, in addition to efforts to mitigate climate change through the green transition, significant investment is required to boost climate adaptation and resilience, in particular to protect against and reduce the impact of natural disasters and severe weather events as well as to ensure that future and existing infrastructure and built environment can cope with increased climate risks; considers that support for this purpose must be significantly increased in the next MFF; underscores that cohesion policy already focuses on forward-looking investments that strengthen resilience, improve crisis preparedness for climate change, and support sustainable recovery efforts;

Amendment  101

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 32 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	32a. Underlines that, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the European Union needs to strengthen its strategic autonomy and avoid critical dependencies on non-EU countries in any essential fields, including healthcare, advanced technologies, the supply of raw materials and energy, and also in industrial and agri-food supply chains; considers that investment in internal production capacities, innovation and source diversification is essential to protect the Union’s economic and strategic security and to protect our citizens;

Amendment  102

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 34

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
34. Underscores the importance of continued funding, in the next MFF, for effective protection of the EU’s external borders; underlines the need to counter trafficking networks and address hybrid attacks and the instrumentalisation of migrants, in particular by a third country or a hostile non-state actor;	34. Underscores the importance of continued and increased funding, in the next MFF, strengthening border protection infrastructure and surveillance facilities, services and equipment for effective protection of the EU’s external borders; underlines the need to counter trafficking networks and address hybrid attacks and the instrumentalisation of migrants, in particular by a third country or a hostile non-state actor; stresses also the crucial role of European regions bordering Ukraine, Belarus and Russia in the stability of the continent, both for security and as a gateway for Ukrainian grain and goods; underlines the need for targeted and strong support for peripheral regions, particularly on the eastern border, to keep their vitality and help them cope with these challenges;

Amendment  103

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 38

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
38. Underlines that the budget must uphold the Union’s role as the world’s leading provider of development aid and climate finance in line with the Union’s global obligations and commitments; insists that the budget must continue to support the Union in its efforts to defend the rules-based international order, democracy, multilateralism, human rights and fundamental values;	38. Underlines that the budget must uphold the Union’s role as the world’s leading provider of development aid and climate finance in line with the Union’s global obligations and commitments and in line with realities on the ground; insists that the budget must continue to support the Union in its efforts to defend the rules-based international order, democracy, multilateralism, human rights and fundamental values;

Amendment  104

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 41

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
41. Considers that the next MFF is pivotal for preparing the Union for enlargement and the candidate countries for accession; recalls that the stability, security and democratic resilience of the candidate countries are inextricably linked to those of the EU and require sustained strategic investment to support their convergence with Union standards;	41. Considers that the next MFF is pivotal for preparing the Union for enlargement and the candidate countries for accession; recalls that the stability, security, respect for the rule of law and democratic resilience of the candidate countries are inextricably linked to those of the EU and require sustained strategic investment to support their convergence with Union standards; points to the need to be proactively prepared for the accession process through adequate measures to mitigate the impact of statistical effects on the funding of EU programmes during the programming period;

Amendment  105

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 42

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
42. Points to the need for strategically targeted support for pre-accession and for growth and investment; is of the view that post-2027 assistance should be provided in the form of both grants and loans; believes, in that context, that the future framework should allow for innovative financing mechanisms, including lending to candidate countries backed by the ‘headroom’ (the difference between the own resources and the MFF ceilings);	42. Points to the need for strategically targeted support for pre-accession and for growth and investment; is of the view that post-2027 assistance should be tailored to enhance both grants and loans; believes, in that context, that the future framework should allow for innovative financing mechanisms, including lending to candidate countries backed by the ‘headroom’ (the difference between the own resources and the MFF ceilings);

Amendment  106

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 43

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
43. Stresses that financial support must be conditional on the implementation of reforms and adherence to Union values; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a strong governance model that ensures parliamentary accountability, oversight and control;	43. Stresses that financial support must be conditional on the implementation of reforms and adherence to Union values; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a strong governance model that ensures parliamentary accountability, oversight and control, as well as proactive engagement of societal actors;

Amendment  107

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 43 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	43a. Stresses the need to expand reforms to strengthen the preparedness of public administrations at the regional and local levels, emphasising the importance of necessary structural changes, including enhanced multilevel governance; underscores that such reforms are a key prerequisite for the effective implementation of EU funds, maximising their impact in strengthening the resilience of the economy;

Amendment  108

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 45

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
45. Is convinced that the existing mandatory revision clause in the event of enlargement should be maintained in the next framework; stresses that national envelopes should not be affected in the event of enlargement; underlines that the next MFF will also have to reform key spending areas, such as cohesion and agriculture, and plan for appropriate transitional and phasing-in measures;	45. Is convinced that the existing mandatory revision clause in the event of enlargement should be maintained in the next framework; stresses that national envelopes should not be affected in the event of enlargement; underlines that the next MFF should review and improve, where necessary, the modus operandi of key spending areas, such as cohesion and agriculture, and plan for appropriate transitional and phasing-in measures;

Amendment  109

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 45 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	45a. Calls for the use of a different budgetary instrument in the accession process, rather than a redistribution of existing cohesion funds, ensuring that regions currently benefiting from EU support do not see their allocations reduced as a result of enlargement; insists that new accession countries must be supported through additional financial means rather than through a redistribution of existing regional development programmes;

Amendment  110

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 46

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
46. Emphasises the importance of the Union budget in promoting and protecting democracy and the Union’s values, fostering the Union’s common cultural heritage and European integration, enhancing citizens’ engagement and youth participation and promoting fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the rule of law; points to the importance of independence of justice, the sound functioning of national institutions, support for civil society and de-oligarchisation;	46. Emphasises the importance of the Union budget for the Union itself and for the candidate countries for accession in promoting and protecting democracy and the Union’s values, fostering the Union’s common cultural heritage and European integration, enhancing citizens’ engagement and youth participation and promoting fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the rule of law; points to the importance of independence of justice, the sound functioning of national institutions, support for civil society, de-politicised allocation of public funds and de-oligarchisation;

Amendment  111

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 47 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	47a. Considers that consolidating border protection funding is essential; underlines the importance of creating sustainable partnerships with countries of origin and transit countries to address the underlying causes of migration and facilitate legal and safe migration routes;

Amendment  112

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 51

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
51. Recalls that the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation provides that final recipients should not be deprived of the benefits of EU funds in the event of sanctions being applied to their government; believes that, to date, this provision has not been effective and stresses the importance of applying a smart conditionality approach so that beneficiaries are not penalised because of their government’s actions; calls on the Commission to explore additional ways of ensuring that local and regional authorities, civil society and other beneficiaries can continue to benefit from Union funding in cases of breaches of the rule of law by national governments without weakening the application of the regulation;	51. Recalls that the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation provides that final recipients should not be deprived of the benefits of EU funds in the event of the mechanism being applied to their government; believes that, to date, this provision has not been effective and stresses the importance of applying a proportionality approach within the conditionality mechanism so that citizens are not penalised for their government’s actions; insists that the Commission divert resources to directly- and indirectly-managed programmes and to explore additional ways of funding ensuring that local and regional authorities, civil society and other beneficiaries can continue to benefit from Union funding in cases of breaches of the rule of law by national governments without weakening the application of the regulation;

Amendment  113

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 52

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
52. Stresses that a long-term budget that is fully aligned with the Union’s strategic aims requires that key objectives be mainstreamed across the budget through a set of horizontal principles, building on the lessons from the current MFF;	52. Stresses that a long-term budget that is fully aligned with the Union’s strategic aims requires that key objectives be mainstreamed across the budget through a set of horizontal principles, including the principles of better lawmaking, active subsidiarity, partnership and multilevel governance building on the lessons from the current MFF;

Amendment  114

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 55 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	55a. Underlines that, as obligation stemming from the UN Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), the Union must systematically mainstream the rights of persons with disabilities through all programmes in the MFF post-2027 by developing a methodology to track spending that benefits persons with disabilities, and by verifying that all programmes and EU-funded projects guarantee equal opportunities and accessibility to EU funding for persons with disabilities;

Amendment  115

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 59 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	59a. Shares the European Committee of the Regions’ view that the future MFF should offer the institution sufficient financial resources for its ever greater role in helping EU lawmakers design evidence-based policy and legislation that works on the ground;

Amendment  116

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 60 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	60a. Acknowledges that, in the case of cohesion policy, while some simplification measures have been introduced in the 2021-2027 programming period, managing authorities and beneficiaries continue to face difficulties accessing funding as a result of the multiplicity of eligibility rules, application processes, co-financing rates and entry points; considers that fewer different funds and a single set of rules would facilitate access for beneficiaries, reduce the burden on the managing authorities, and increase absorption and the effectiveness of investments; considers that this could also pave the way for a more flexible policy, by enhancing the possibility of shifting funds between different cohesion related priorities during the programming period without multiple changes of the regulatory framework, to the advantage of the beneficiaries and in line with the agreed long-term policy objectives and the role of Parliament as co-legislator;

Amendment  117

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 60 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	60b. Emphasises, however, that simplification does not mean centralisation and that the specific needs of local and regional governments must not be disregarded in the name of simplification; stresses that such centralisation could lead to bureaucratic inefficiencies, delays, and absorption challenges, ultimately weakening the effective deployment of EU funds and their impact on regional development;

Amendment  118

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 60 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	60c. Calls on the Commission to strengthen the ‘one-stop shop’ approach for local administrations and beneficiaries, so as to reduce procedural complexity and improve accessibility to EU funds;

Amendment  119

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 60 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	60d. Underlines that administrative capacity-building efforts have primarily targeted public authorities responsible for the implementation of cohesion funds; calls for a broader approach to administrative capacity building, including intermediary bodies, stakeholders and especially project beneficiaries;

Amendment  120

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 60 e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	60e. Calls for broader use of financing not linked to costs schemes and of simplified cost options, both for payments between the Commission and the Member States and between Member States and final beneficiaries, while addressing the reasons why such schemes have not been fully utilised so far;

Amendment  121

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 60 f (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	60f. Underlines that the single audit principle, with recognised results across all EU funds to reduce audit burdens on beneficiaries and managing authorities alike, should be strengthened, and measures should be implemented to reduce duplicate controls and audits that overlap with national oversight of the same project and beneficiary;

Amendment  122

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 60 g (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	60g. Considers that the future Cohesion Policy cycle should be supported by comprehensive regulatory adjustments, including greater flexibility in State aid rules within the cohesion objective and simplified public procurement procedures to enhance efficiency and accessibility; underlines that more flexible State aid procedures, such as accelerating EC authorisation processes, reducing administrative burdens, and expanding exemptions from notification requirements – along with regulations tailored to market dynamics, business needs, and regional specificities, would significantly improve the absorption of EU funds and foster the development of economic activities in EU regions;

Amendment  123

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 61

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
61. Calls for genuine simplification where there are overlapping objectives, diverging eligibility criteria and different rules governing aspects that should be uniform across programmes; considers that an assessment of which spending programmes should be included in the next MFF must be based on the above aspects, on the need to focus spending on clearly identified policy objectives and on the policy intervention logic of each programme;	61. Calls for genuine simplification where there are overlapping objectives, diverging eligibility criteria and different rules governing aspects that should be uniform across programmes; considers that an assessment of which spending programmes should be included in the next MFF must be based on the above aspects, on the need to focus spending on clearly identified policy objectives and on the policy intervention logic of each programme; insists that cohesion policy should be maintained as a separate MFF sub-heading;

Amendment  124

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 62

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
62. Insists that a simpler budget must also be a more transparent budget, enabling better control of spending and reducing the risks of double funding; underlines that any reduction in programmes must be offset by a far more detailed breakdown of the budget by budget line, in contrast to some programme mergers in the current MFF, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI – Global Europe), which is an example not to follow; calls, therefore, for a sufficiently detailed breakdown by budget line to enable proper accountability and ensure that decision-making in the annual budgetary procedure is meaningful;	62. Insists that a simpler budget must also be a more transparent budget, enabling better control of spending and reducing the risks of double funding; emphasises that, for this purpose, the cohesion funds must be kept distinct and independent from other funds for other purposes; underlines that any reduction in programmes must be offset by a far more detailed breakdown of the budget by budget line, in contrast to some programme mergers in the current MFF, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI – Global Europe), which is an example not to follow; calls, therefore, for a sufficiently detailed breakdown by budget line to enable proper accountability and ensure that decision-making in the annual budgetary procedure is meaningful;

Amendment  125

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 62 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	62a. Stresses that audit authorities, including the European Court of Auditors, should be involved in the design process of the next post-2027 MFF, and in particular of the future cohesion policy;

Amendment  126

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 62 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	62b. Reiterates that EU-expenditure fraud adversely affects EU objectives and deprives final beneficiaries of the necessary resources; underlines that the Commission and the Member States should step up efforts to tackle fraud and corruption risk related to EU fund allocations;

Amendment  127

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 62 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	62c. Underlines that any corrupt or fraudulent activities involving the use of EU funds harms the EU’s financial interests; highlights the important role of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in protecting the financial interests of the Union and reiterates therefore the need to provide these EU bodies with sufficient financial and human resources;

Amendment  128

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 62 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	62d. Underlines that the European Commission should support the managing authorities in using the ARACHNE tool in order to guarantee efficient and effective use of EU funds;

Amendment  129

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 62 e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	62e. Highlights the need to strengthen controls on European funds that target cross-border and territorial cohesion between Member States and non-EU countries;

Amendment  130

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 64

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
64. Points out that, traditionally, the MFF has not been conceived with a crisis response or flexibility logic, but rather has been designed primarily to ensure medium-term investment predictability; underlines that, in a rapidly changing political, economic and social context, such an approach is no longer tenable; insists on sufficient in-built crisis response capacity in the next MFF;	64. Points out that, traditionally, the MFF has not been conceived with a crisis response or flexibility logic, but rather has been designed primarily to ensure medium-term investment predictability; underlines that, in a rapidly changing political, economic and social context, such an approach is no longer tenable; insists on sufficient in-built crisis response capacity in the next MFF to address unforeseen economic, energy or geopolitical crises which would no longer require putting the burden of crisis management on certain key policies, notably cohesion policy, at the expense of their long-term objectives;

Amendment  131

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 65

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
65. Underscores that the current MFF has been beset by a lack of flexibility and an inability to adjust to evolving spending priorities; considers that the next MFF needs to strike a better balance between investment predictability and flexibility to adjust spending focus; highlights that spending in certain areas requires greater stability than in others where flexibility is more valuable; stresses that recurrent redeployments are not a viable way to finance the Union’s priorities as they damage investments and jeopardise the delivery of agreed policy objectives;	65. Underscores that the current MFF has been beset by a lack of flexibility and an inability to adjust to evolving spending priorities; considers that the next MFF needs to strike a better balance between investment predictability and flexibility to adjust spending focus; highlights that spending in certain areas requires greater stability than in others where flexibility is more valuable; stresses that recurrent amendments of the relevant sectoral legislation, notably of the cohesion policy framework, and redeployments are not a viable way to finance the Union’s priorities as they damage investments and jeopardise the delivery of agreed policy objectives;

Amendment  132

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 68

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
68. Calls for a root-and-branch reform of the existing special instruments to bolster crisis response capacity; underlines that the current instruments are both inadequate in size and constrained by excessive rigidity, with several effectively ring-fenced according to crisis type; points out that enhanced crisis response capacity will ensure that cohesion policy funds are not called upon for that purpose and can therefore be used for their intended investment objectives;	68. Calls for a root-and-branch reform of the existing special instruments to bolster crisis response capacity; underlines that the current instruments are both inadequate in size and constrained by excessive rigidity, with several effectively ring-fenced according to crisis type, which prevents effective assistance to regions affected by crises; points out that enhanced crisis response capacity will ensure that cohesion policy funds are not called upon for that purpose and can therefore be used for their intended investment objectives;

Amendment  133

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 69

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
69. Considers that the post-2027 MFF should include only two special instruments - one dedicated to ensuring solidarity in the event of natural disasters (the successor to the existing European Solidarity Reserve) and one for general-purpose crisis response (the successor to the Flexibility Instrument); insists that both special instruments should be adequately funded from the outset and able to carry over unspent amounts indefinitely over the MFF period; believes that all other special instruments can either be wound up or subsumed into the two special instruments or into existing programmes;	69. Considers that the post-2027 MFF should include only two special instruments - one dedicated to ensuring solidarity in the event of natural disasters (the successor to the existing European Solidarity Reserve) and one for general-purpose crisis response (the successor to the Flexibility Instrument), outside cohesion policy; insists that both special instruments should be adequately funded from the outset and able to carry over unspent amounts indefinitely over the MFF period; believes that all other special instruments can either be wound up or subsumed into the two special instruments or into existing programmes; recalls that, when designing crisis instruments, greater attention should be paid to the specific characteristics of EU regions, and especially of outermost regions, which require measures adapted to their reality, in accordance with Article 349 TFEU;

Amendment  134

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 71 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	71a. Regrets that the allocation of EU funds is still strongly affected by politicisation; calls on the Commission to develop a direct mechanism for direct access to funds for the municipal, local and regional authorities; considers that such a mechanism should strike an appropriate balance between the transparency and reporting obligations on the one side and a reduced bureaucratic burden on the other side;

Amendment  135

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 73

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
73. Considers that the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), with its focus on performance and links between reforms and investments and budgetary support, has helped to drive national investments and reforms that would not otherwise have taken place;	73. Considers that the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), with its focus on performance and links between reforms and investments and budgetary support, has helped to drive national investments and reforms; draws attention, however, to the various reports that have highlighted the limitations of the RFF in respect of delivering such investments and reforms; considers that the effectiveness of the RRF could be diminished by incomplete or ineffective implementation of its milestones and targets;

Amendment  136

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 74

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
74. Underlines that the RRF can help to inform the delivery of Union spending under shared management; recalls, however, that the RRF was agreed in the very specific context of the COVID-19 pandemic and cannot, therefore, be replicated wholesale for future investment programmes;	74. Recalls that the RRF was agreed in the very specific context of the COVID-19 pandemic and cannot, therefore, be replicated wholesale for future investment programmes as it is built on a centralised approach; firmly rejects the RRF style of centralised planning or any attempts to direct regional development funding through a single national plan, as this disregards the partnership principle, place-based approaches and multilevel governance, effectively undermining subsidiarity and marginalising regional and local authorities, social partners and civil society; notes, in addition, that it effectively renders cross-border and transnational programmes such as Interreg unfeasible, thereby contributing to anti-European sentiment and frustrations already dangerously prevalent in peripheral regions;

Amendment  137

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 74 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	74a. Warns that the centralisation of investment decisions and the shift of focus to the Member States pose a serious risk of politicising cohesion policy and even completely excluding certain regions from influencing decisions in areas financed by EU funds;

Amendment  138

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 74 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	74b. Acknowledges that performance-based mechanisms can help make policies more efficient and results-oriented but cautions against imposing a one-size-fits-all model in the context of the 2028-2034 framework; is concerned, however, about the impact that a performance-based approach based on milestones and targets could have on the placed-based approach and multilevel governance of cohesion policy funds; is especially concerned about the possibility of linking the disbursement of cohesion funds to meeting centrally defined reform goals, all the more so if the reform goals do not fall within the jurisdiction of the regional level;

Amendment  139

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
75. Points out that any application of an RRF-style delivery model in the next MFF would have to correct the RRF’s fundamental flaws, by involving regional and local authorities from design to delivery through a place-based and multilevel governance approach, ensuring the cross-border dimension of investment projects, focusing on results and impact rather than outputs, guaranteeing full transparency in relation to final recipients of Union spending and safeguarding Parliament’s role as legislator, budgetary and discharge authority and in holding the executive to account;	75. Points out that a decision to apply a performance-based model to shared management funding in the next MFF should be built primarily on the performance models developed under cohesion policy, preserving its cornerstone principles, namely partnership and appropriate involvement of regional and local authorities from design to delivery through a place-based and multilevel governance approach, ensuring the cross-border dimension of investment projects, flexibility for beneficiaries, focusing on results and impact rather than outputs, guaranteeing robust public procurement and grant procedures, ensuring full transparency in relation to final recipients of Union spending and safeguarding Parliament’s role as legislator, budgetary and discharge authority and in holding the executive to account;

Amendment  140

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 75 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	75a. Calls on the Commission to adopt a flexible funding approach that combines results-based funding with traditional cost-based funding and that take into due consideration the specificities of different spending sectors and the heterogeneity of the needs of the final beneficiaries, especially in projects related to research and the social dimension; stresses, in this respect, that policies such as cohesion policy and the common agricultural policy have a fundamental role to play in reducing regional disparities and supporting rural development and ensuring food security, objectives that cannot be fully achieved through a purely performance-based approach and reforms; stresses the need to maintain the predictable and stable nature of these policies, providing Member States and beneficiaries with the security of long-term funding, without excessive conditionalities that could limit equitable access to funds;

Amendment  141

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 78

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
78. Underlines that, to date, the Union budget has been required only to repay interest related to NGEU and that, from 2028 onwards, the budget will also have to repay the capital; underscores that the total costs for NGEU capital and interest repayments are projected to be around EUR 20-30 billion a year from 2028;	78. Underlines that, to date, the Union budget has been required only to repay interest related to NGEU and that, from 2028 onwards, the budget will also have to repay the capital; recalls that in this context the annual repayment cost of the grant component of the RRF will peak at EUR 26 billion in 2028; underscores that the total costs for NGEU capital and interest repayments are projected to be around EUR 20-30 billion a year from 2028;

Amendment  142

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 86 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	86a. Calls on the Commission and the EU executive agencies to guarantee sufficient visibility and public awareness of EU regional funding; considers that it is essential for the potential beneficiaries to easily access the information on EU funding opportunities; considers necessary to increase the visibility of the completed projects co-financed by the EU so as to improve public awareness about the role of the EU in concrete regional development projects;

Amendment  143

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 88

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
88. Emphasises Parliament’s commitment to play its role fully throughout the process; believes that the design of the MFF should be bottom-up and based on the extensive involvement of stakeholders; underlines, furthermore, the need for a strategic dialogue among the three institutions in the run-up to the MFF proposals;	88. Emphasises Parliament’s commitment to play its role fully throughout the process; believes that the design of the MFF should be bottom-up and based on the extensive involvement of all relevant stakeholders fully respecting subsidiarity, the partnership principle and multilevel governance; underlines, furthermore, the need for a strategic dialogue among the three institutions in the run-up to the MFF proposals;

 

 

 

 

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The Chair in his capacity as rapporteur for the opinion declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted	19.3.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	18 6 13
Members present for the final vote	Pascal Arimont, Fredis Beleris, Adrian-Dragoş Benea, Gordan Bosanac, Irmhild Boßdorf, Tamás Deutsch, Klára Dobrev, Klara Dostalova, Kathleen Funchion, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Gabriella Gerzsenyi, Sérgio Gonçalves, Krzysztof Hetman, Elsi Katainen, Isabelle Le Callennec, Nora Mebarek, Dan-Ştefan Motreanu, Ciaran Mullooly, Elena Nevado del Campo, Andrey Novakov, Valentina Palmisano, Vladimir Prebilič, Sabrina Repp, André Rougé, Antonella Sberna, Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza, Rody Tolassy, Raffaele Topo, Marta Wcisło
Substitutes present for the final vote	Dan Barna, Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain, Matthias Ecke, Ana Miranda Paz, Denis Nesci, Jacek Protas
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Ştefan Muşoiu, Virgil-Daniel Popescu

 

 

 

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

18	+
ECR	Denis Nesci, Antonella Sberna, Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza
Renew	Dan Barna, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Elsi Katainen, Ciaran Mullooly
S&D	Adrian-Dragoş Benea, Klára Dobrev, Matthias Ecke, Sérgio Gonçalves, Nora Mebarek, Ştefan Muşoiu, Sabrina Repp, Raffaele Topo
Verts/ALE	Gordan Bosanac, Ana Miranda Paz, Vladimir Prebilič

 

6	-
ESN	Irmhild Boßdorf
PfE	Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain, Tamás Deutsch, Klara Dostalova, André Rougé, Rody Tolassy

 

13	0
PPE	Pascal Arimont, Fredis Beleris, Gabriella Gerzsenyi, Krzysztof Hetman, Isabelle Le Callennec, Dan-Ştefan Motreanu, Elena Nevado del Campo, Andrey Novakov, Virgil-Daniel Popescu, Jacek Protas, Marta Wcisło
The Left	Kathleen Funchion, Valentina Palmisano

 

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstention

 

 

 

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (28.3.2025)

for the Committee on Budgets

on a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world

2024/2051(INI)

Rapporteur for opinion: Stefano Bonaccini

 

 

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development submits the following to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible:

Amendment  1

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital A a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Aa. whereas the new goals of the EU and of the MFF must not come at the expense of key EU policies, namely structural and cohesion policy and the common agricultural policy (CAP); whereas in recent years, CAP spending has decreased to only 0.36 % of the EU’s GDP, despite it playing a crucial role in EU agriculture and in ensuring food security, competitiveness and economic stability in open and volatile markets, and in view of growing planetary challenges, notably extreme weather and climate events, which have caused economic losses of over EUR 650 billion since 1980; whereas rural areas must be strengthened through the CAP, including by the promotion of sustainable and extensive farming;

Amendment  2

 

Motion for a resolution

Recital F a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Fa. whereas the automatic 2 % deflator was agreed in 2020 in a non-inflationary context; whereas inflation rates under the current MFF have been well above 2 %, and their cumulative impact has led to a significant reduction in the EU budget’s purchasing power and a loss in value of the financial allocations under the MFF headings, including the CAP; whereas there is a need to finance effective tools against the various sources of inflation, including food inflation;

Amendment  3

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
5. Considers that, in view of the structural challenges facing the Union, the post-2027 MFF should adjust its spending focus to ensure that the Union can meet its strategic policy aims as detailed below;	5. Considers that, in view of the structural challenges facing the Union, the post-2027 MFF should adjust its spending focus, without neglecting the strategic key areas of cohesion policy and the CAP, to ensure that the Union can meet its strategic policy aims as detailed below;

Amendment  4

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 9

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
9. Stresses that the Union budget must be carefully coordinated with national spending and designed such that it can de-risk, mobilise and leverage private investment effectively, enabling start-ups and SMEs to access funds more readily; calls, therefore, for programmes such as InvestEU, which ensure additionality and follow a market-based, demand-driven approach, to be significantly reinforced in the next MFF; considers that budgetary guarantees are an effective use of resources and calls for them to be simplified;	9. Stresses that the Union budget must be carefully coordinated with national spending and designed such that it can de-risk, mobilise and leverage private investment effectively, enabling start-ups and SMEs in all sectors to access funds more readily; calls, therefore, for the provision of effective transformation funding through programmes such as InvestEU and others, which ensure additionality and follow a market-based, demand-driven approach, to be significantly reinforced in the next MFF; considers that budgetary guarantees are an effective use of resources and calls for them to be simplified;

Amendment  5

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	11a. Stresses the need for increased funding for research, development and innovation in the agriculture and agri-food sectors in the EU’s next research and innovation programme, in particular to promote precision farming, new genomic techniques and biocontrol solutions, where possible, as alternatives to pesticides, and to encourage the use of robotics and drones, digitisation for the modernisation of sustainable irrigation systems and water reuse to increase water availability for food production; emphasises the vital role of innovation in climate change mitigation strategies and in ensuring the resilience of food production systems;

Amendment  6

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 12

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
12. Stresses that the next MFF should include much greater funding for energy, transport and digital infrastructure, with priority given to cross-border connections and national links with European added value; considers that such infrastructure goes hand in hand with a deepening of the single market;	12. Stresses that the next MFF should include increased and simplified funding for energy and energy efficiency, transport and infrastructure, in particular digital and sustainable infrastructure, including water retention and storage infrastructure and modern irrigation facilities, in order to increase water efficiency and help to prevent floods, combat drought, address water loss, overcome the urgent challenges of water availability for use in agriculture and make the EU more resilient to climate change, with priority given to cross-border connections and national links with European added value; considers that such infrastructure goes hand in hand with a deepening of the single market; highlights that infrastructure supporting food production strengthens rural areas, the EU’s food sovereignty and its competitive edge;

Amendment  7

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
17. Emphasises that food security is a vital component of strategic autonomy and that the next MFF must continue to support the Union’s farming and fisheries sectors, including small and young farmers and fishers, and help the sectors to better protect the climate and biodiversity; highlights the crucial role of the common agricultural policy in increasing productivity through technical progress, ensuring a fair standard of living for farmers and guaranteeing food security; calls for adequate funding for the common agricultural policy in the next MFF;	17. Emphasises that food security and food sovereignty are vital components of strategic autonomy and that the next MFF must continue to effectively support the competitiveness and resilience of the Union’s farming and fisheries sectors, including small and family farms and young farmers and fishers; affirms that a modern and simplified CAP is crucial for increasing productivity through technical progress, ensuring a fair standard of living for farmers, food security and the production of safe, high-quality and affordable food for Europeans, while contributing to the social and economic vitality of rural areas, in particular the most vulnerable ones, fostering generational renewal and helping the farming sector to transition towards more sustainable practices, including the protection of the climate and biodiversity through spending and investment, which are, among other things, made resilient and adapted to extreme weather events, without compromising farmers’ activities; calls for an increased and dedicated budget for the CAP in the next MFF, safeguarding it from possible cuts, in order to maintain its integrity and commonality, as well as the coherence and interconnection between its first and second pillar, and therefore opposes the idea of integrating the CAP into a single fund for each Member State; calls for additional dedicated funding sources to be explored where appropriate, including outside of the CAP, in order to cope with natural disasters and provide incentives to farmers and foresters to contribute to climate change mitigation, biodiversity recovery and nature protection, without measures causing a regression in EU agricultural production;

Amendment  8

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	17a. Stresses that the new global challenges facing EU farmers, including the present geopolitical situation, climate change and rising input prices, require sound financial allocation in the next CAP; emphasises that, in order to address these challenges, taking into account the lessons learned from the COVID-19 crisis, and to avoid reductions to farmers’ support, the CAP urgently needs an increased budget in the next MFF that is indexed to inflation through annual re-evaluation; underlines, in that respect, that direct payments in the current form generate clear EU added value and should continue to strengthen income security, production and protection against price volatility, better targeting persons actively engaged in agricultural production and the provision of public goods, while respecting realistic and balanced EU environmental and social standards; calls for a fair and efficient distribution of CAP support within and among the Member States; calls for the continuation and reinforcement of measures that maintain production in vulnerable areas and guarantee the viability of rural communities and the adequacy of public infrastructure, specifically regarding digitalisation and particularly through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and the renewed involvement of local and regional authorities in the management of such measures; stresses the need to increase and reform the agricultural reserve in order to respond effectively and rapidly to future crises that the European agricultural sector will have to deal with, and to establish new tools for managing natural, market and sanitary risks, such as an EU reinsurance scheme to better mitigate the effects of future crises and provide greater stability for farmers; emphasises that specific solutions must be found for the farmers in eastern Europe who are most affected by the cascade effects of Russia’s war against Ukraine, such as high input prices, inflation and market disturbances; urges the Commission to continue to set up the necessary financial and legal framework for the food supply chain in order to strengthen the position of farmers and better combat unfair trading practices; calls on the Commission to support EU farmers by promoting agri-food products inside and outside the Union through a dynamic and stronger EU promotion policy; regrets the funding cuts made to the programme on the promotion of agricultural products during the review of the current MFF; emphasises that the next MFF must include dedicated funds for agri-tourism, female entrepreneurship, vocational training and technological innovation in agriculture;

Amendment  9

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	17b. Stresses the vital importance of the scheme of specific measures for agriculture in favour of the outermost regions of the Union (POSEI) and the smaller Aegean islands scheme for maintaining agricultural activity and supplying food and agricultural products in the outermost regions and the smaller Aegean islands; calls for the maintenance of their autonomy and an increase in their financial resources; regrets that the levels of support offered by these schemes have not been adjusted for inflation and urges the Commission to rectify this situation;

Amendment  10

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	17d. Calls on the Commission to strengthen animal health measures in the agricultural sector by coordinating the purchase and supply of veterinary vaccines at EU level through a preparedness mechanism, and by fostering the development of these vaccines in the EU; calls for adequate funding for this mechanism;

Amendment  11

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 18 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	18a. Emphasises that focusing on the European Competitiveness Fund could lead to excessive support being given to more advanced economies and less attention being given to less developed regions, widening the gap between the most and least prosperous regions of the EU; calls, therefore, for the promotion of a balance between competitiveness and economic inclusion, and for the European Competitiveness Fund to be linked to compliance with criteria for reducing regional and social inequalities;

Amendment  12

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
19. Stresses that cohesion policy funding must tackle the key challenges the Union faces, such as demographic change and depopulation, and target the regions and people most in need; highlights, in particular, the importance of enhanced support to address the EU-wide housing crisis affecting millions of families and young people;	19. Stresses that cohesion policy funding must tackle the key challenges the Union faces, such as demographic change, the digital and sustainable transition, resilience and depopulation, and target the regions and people most in need by promoting employment, innovation, growth and local development, particularly in rural areas, and by providing investment support for farmers and businesses; highlights, in particular, the importance of enhanced support to address the EU-wide housing crisis affecting millions of families and young people; recalls the importance of a robust and productive agricultural sector for EU regions and rural economies; calls for a significant increase in the minimum share of the European Social Fund Plus allocated to food banks;

Amendment  13

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
22. Recalls that the Union is committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, which requires a decarbonisation of the economy through the deployment of clean technologies, improved energy and transport infrastructure and more energy-efficient housing; notes that the Commission estimates additional investment needs to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at 1.5 % of GDP per year compared to the decade 2011-2020 and that, while the Union budget alone cannot cover the gap, it must remain a vital contributor;	22. Recalls that the Union is committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, which requires a decarbonisation of the economy through the deployment of clean technologies, improved energy and transport infrastructure and more energy-efficient housing; notes that the Commission estimates additional investment needs to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at 1.5 % of GDP per year compared to the decade 2011-2020 and that, while the Union budget alone cannot cover the gap, it must remain a vital contributor; emphasises the strategic importance of investing in and valuing rural areas for the energy, digital and sustainable transition, while recognising their central role in mitigating the impact of climate change and increasing environmental resilience; emphasises that EU farmers should not bear the entire burden of the decarbonisation of agriculture; calls for incentives to support farmers’ decarbonisation efforts, particularly through a supply chain approach, in order to maximise the EU’s agricultural capacity for absorbing carbon emissions, improving biodiversity and increasing water quality and soil health;

Amendment  14

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
25. Recalls that security is the foundation for the Union’s prosperity and social model and that the next MFF must invest significantly more in safeguarding the Union against the myriad threats it faces;	25. Recalls that security is the foundation for the Union’s prosperity and social model and that the next MFF must invest significantly more in safeguarding the Union against the myriad threats it faces; emphasises that the 30 October 2024 report by Sauli Niinistö, entitled ‘Safer Together – Strengthening Europe’s Civilian and Military Preparedness and Readiness’, recognises food as one of the most critical areas in the provision of essential services to citizens and highlights its importance for the resilience and security of the EU with regard to emerging challenges, including supply chain and trade disruptions, and hybrid threats; supports the proposal to develop an EU-wide strategic stockpiling regime, including of strategic food stocks; notes that food systems are a key pillar of European security and that any increase to the EU’s defence and security budget should be accompanied by a corresponding increase in funding for food security and sovereignty, including funding that strengthens European agricultural production and reduces vulnerabilities caused by an over-reliance on agri-food imports;

Amendment  15

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 35 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	35a. Calls on the Commission to better recognise the strategic importance of agriculture and food and to reflect this in its trade policies; stresses that full reciprocity of production standards, in particular as regards plant protection products and animal welfare, should be enforced for imported products through trade agreements and EU legislation to ensure a level playing field and to meet societal demands; takes note of the Commission’s announcement that it will create a reserve of EUR 1 billion to compensate EU farmers for any possible negative effects borne by them as a result of the implementation of the EU-Mercosur agreement; insists that this reserve should be in addition to the increased funding of the CAP;

Amendment  16

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 44

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
44. Underlines that pre-accession support to Ukraine has to be distinct from financial assistance for reconstruction and post-war recovery, where needs are far more substantial and require a concerted international effort, of which support through the Union budget should be an important part;	44. Underlines that pre-accession support to Ukraine has to be distinct from financial assistance for reconstruction and post-war recovery, where needs are far more substantial and require a concerted international effort, of which support through the Union budget should be an important part; stresses the need to establish dedicated frameworks for trade cooperation with EU accession countries to ensure effective alignment with EU standards, without undermining the competitiveness of EU operators;

Amendment  17

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 45

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
45. Is convinced that the existing mandatory revision clause in the event of enlargement should be maintained in the next framework; stresses that national envelopes should not be affected in the event of enlargement; underlines that the next MFF will also have to reform key spending areas, such as cohesion and agriculture, and plan for appropriate transitional and phasing-in measures;	45. Is convinced that the existing mandatory revision clause should be maintained in the next framework, in order to urgently adapt the EU budget in the event of enlargement; stresses that national envelopes should not be affected, particularly regarding the CAP; underlines that the next MFF should also provide key spending areas, such as cohesion and agriculture, with appropriate transitional and phasing-in measures, carefully assessing the specific impacts of enlargement on different sectors, while safeguarding the viability of rural communities and the profitability of EU farming;

Amendment  18

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 47

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
47. Stresses that instability in neighbouring regions, poverty, underlying trends in economic development and demographic changes continue to generate migration flows towards the Union, placing significant pressure on asylum and migration systems; underlines that the post-2027 MFF must support the full implementation of the Union’s Asylum and Migration Pact, in line with fundamental rights and EU values; underlines, moreover, that, in line with the Pact, cooperation with third countries on migration must abide by EU law and respect international standards;	47. Stresses that instability in neighbouring regions, poverty, underlying trends in economic development and demographic changes continue to generate migration flows towards the Union, placing significant pressure on asylum and migration systems; underlines that the post-2027 MFF must support the establishment of safeguards at the Union’s external borders;

Amendment  19

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 60

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
60. Stresses that the next MFF must be designed so as to simplify the lives of beneficiaries, harmonise rules wherever possible and cut unnecessary red tape and must be implemented as close to people as possible;	60. Stresses that the next MFF must be designed so as to simplify the lives of beneficiaries, harmonise rules wherever possible and reduce unnecessary red tape and the burden of carrying out controls, and must be implemented as close to people as possible; calls, in this context, for the CAP to be simplified and made less bureaucratic, as a matter of urgency, by streamlining and facilitating administrative processes, while maintaining ambitious production standards, to ensure more effective and accessible use of the supports available;

Amendment  20

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 88

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
88. Emphasises Parliament’s commitment to play its role fully throughout the process; believes that the design of the MFF should be bottom-up and based on the extensive involvement of stakeholders; underlines, furthermore, the need for a strategic dialogue among the three institutions in the run-up to the MFF proposals;	88. Emphasises Parliament’s commitment to play its role fully throughout the process, while demanding that it have a more significant role in the allocation of funds, ensuring transparency and consistency with EU objectives; believes that the design of the MFF should be bottom-up and based on the extensive involvement of stakeholders; underlines, furthermore, the need for a strategic dialogue among the three institutions in the run-up to the MFF proposals, with a view to reaching rapid agreement on a reliable and ambitious MFF;

 

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for opinion declares that he received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the opinion:

Entity and/or person

Farm Europe

 

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur for opinion.

 

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur for opinion declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing. 

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted	27.3.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	33 0 12
Members present for the final vote	Stefano Bonaccini, Daniel Buda, Waldemar Buda, Barry Cowen, Ivan David, Csaba Dömötör, Luke Ming Flanagan, Maria Grapini, Cristina Guarda, Martin Häusling, Stefan Köhler, Tomáš Kubín, Norbert Lins, Cristina Maestre, Dario Nardella, Maria Noichl, Bert-Jan Ruissen, Arash Saeidi, Eric Sargiacomo, Raffaele Stancanelli, Anna Strolenberg
Substitutes present for the final vote	Peter Agius, Sakis Arnaoutoglou, Benoit Cassart, Annalisa Corrado, Lena Düpont, Charles Goerens, Pär Holmgren, Ilia Lazarov, Gabriel Mato, Ciaran Mullooly, Elena Sancho Murillo, Francesco Ventola, Michal Wiezik
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Pascal Arimont, Stefano Cavedagna, Mélanie Disdier, Gabriella Gerzsenyi, Virginie Joron, Ondřej Krutílek, András Tivadar Kulja, Jeroen Lenaers, Jüri Ratas, Julie Rechagneux, Andreas Schwab

 

 

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

33	+
ECR	Waldemar Buda, Stefano Cavedagna, Ondřej Krutílek, Bert-Jan Ruissen, Francesco Ventola
PPE	Peter Agius, Pascal Arimont, Daniel Buda, Lena Düpont, Gabriella Gerzsenyi, Stefan Köhler, András Tivadar Kulja, Ilia Lazarov, Jeroen Lenaers, Norbert Lins, Gabriel Mato, Jüri Ratas, Andreas Schwab
PfE	Raffaele Stancanelli
Renew	Benoit Cassart, Barry Cowen, Charles Goerens, Ciaran Mullooly, Michal Wiezik
S&D	Stefano Bonaccini, Annalisa Corrado, Maria Grapini, Cristina Maestre, Dario Nardella, Elena Sancho Murillo, Eric Sargiacomo
The Left	Luke Ming Flanagan, Arash Saeidi

 

0	-

 

12	0
ESN	Ivan David
PfE	Mélanie Disdier, Csaba Dömötör, Virginie Joron, Tomáš Kubín, Julie Rechagneux
S&D	Sakis Arnaoutoglou, Maria Noichl
Verts/ALE	Cristina Guarda, Martin Häusling, Pär Holmgren, Anna Strolenberg

 

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstention

 

 

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CULTURE AND EDUCATION (19.3.2025)

for the Committee on Budgets

on a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world

(2024/2051(INI))

Rapporteur for opinion: Hannes Heide

 

 

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Culture and Education submits the following to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible:

Amendment  1

Motion for a resolution

Recital C

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
C. whereas spending through the Union budget, if effectively targeted, aligned with the Union’s political priorities and coordinated with spending at national level, helps to avoid fragmentation in the single market and to boost the overall impact of public investment; whereas public investment is essential to incentivise private investment;	C. whereas spending through the Union budget, if effectively targeted, aligned with the Union’s political priorities and coordinated with spending at national level, helps to protect fundamental rights and the rule of law, foster cohesion and equality, avoid fragmentation in the single market and boost the overall impact of public investment; whereas public investment is essential to incentivise private investment;

Amendment  2

Motion for a resolution

Recital E a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ea. whereas culture contributes to the EU’s main strategic priorities as it enhances European resilience and serves as a safeguard for democracy, particularly in increasingly polarised societies; whereas, beyond its democratic and social benefits, culture also drives economic competitiveness and fosters innovation1a;
	_________________
	1a According to the European Parliamentary Research Service, each euro invested in common EU action supporting or complementing existing funding for the creative and cultural sector could potentially generate a return of up to EUR 11 of GDP.

Amendment  3

Motion for a resolution

Recital G

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
G. whereas the context in which the Commission will prepare its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, with the established global and geopolitical order changing quickly and radically and the Union budget needing to change accordingly;	G. whereas the context in which the Commission will prepare its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, with the established global and geopolitical order changing quickly and radically and the Union budget needing to change accordingly; whereas, given these challenges, it is essential to safeguard programmes that promote fundamental values, strengthen social cohesion and foster cultural resilience, which are crucial for reinforcing European unity and solidarity in times of uncertainty and growing fragmentation;

Amendment  4

Motion for a resolution

Recital G a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ga. whereas the benefits of learning mobility include gaining the knowledge and skills needed for personal, educational and professional development, and building a strong sense of citizenship and an understanding of common values across Europe and beyond;

Amendment  5

Motion for a resolution

Recital G b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Gb. whereas the role of a pluralistic and independent civil society, at the Member State and EU levels, is fundamental for the democratic resilience of our societies;

Amendment  6

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 2

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
2. Stresses that all spending in the post-2027 MFF must be strategically aligned with the EU’s political aims, adding tangible value for the people of the Union, with discernible net benefits compared to spending at national or sub-national level and leading to real and lasting results;	2. Stresses that all spending in the post-2027 MFF must be strategically aligned with the EU’s core values and political aims, adding tangible value for all people of the Union, with discernible net benefits compared to spending at national or sub-national level and leading to real and lasting results that aim for inclusiveness, sustainability, transparency and excellence; calls for a more coherent approach to the funding of culture and youth, reducing fragmentation and ensuring better alignment with the Union’s strategic priorities to maximise its impact;

Amendment  7

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	11a. Calls on the Commission to establish a large-scale, long-term coordinated funding programme for research, development, innovation and deployment in the field of language technologies at the EU level, tailored specifically to Europe’s needs and demands1a and fostering EU competitiveness and tech sovereignty;
	_________________
	1a Such as those put forward in its resolution of 11 September 2018 on language equality in the digital age (OJ C 433. 23.12.2019, p. 42).

Amendment  8

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	13a. Underlines that culture and European cultural heritage are central to Europe’s values, identity, democracy and strong societies, not only fostering creativity but also strengthening communities, supporting the economy, enhancing well-being and playing a crucial role in Europe’s resilience, security and sovereignty; stresses that Europe should remain a cultural power and export European culture throughout the world;

Amendment  9

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	13b. Points out that the EU has solid well-known EU programmes promoting culture, sport and youth, which people easily associate with the EU; emphasises the importance of Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps and Creative Europe, with brands like the European Capitals of Culture, the European Heritage Label and Culture Moves Europe; strongly calls for these programmes to be maintained and reinforced in the next MFF;

 

Amendment  10

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
14. Underlines that a more competitive, productive and socially inclusive economy helps to generate high-quality, well-paid jobs, thus enhancing people’s standard of living; emphasises that, through programmes such as the European Social Fund+ and Erasmus+, the Union budget can play an important role in supporting education and training systems, boosting workforce adaptability through reskilling and upskilling, and thus preparing people for employment in a modern economy;	14. Underlines that a more competitive, productive and socially inclusive economy helps to generate high-quality, well-paid jobs, thus enhancing people’s standard of living; emphasises that, through programmes such as the European Social Fund+ and Erasmus+, the Union budget plays an important role in fostering societies, reducing inequalities, supporting and developing education and training systems, boosting workforce skills and adaptability through reskilling, upskilling, and vocational education and training (VET), and thus preparing people for employment in a modern economy, leading to economic growth; stresses that targeted support for education and training institutions is fundamental in order to fill labour shortages and address the competitiveness challenges Europe is facing;

Amendment  11

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	14a. Stresses that, through a targeted budget, the EU can create more interconnected educational environments that fuel innovation and opportunities for all in the global, knowledge-based, highly competitive economy; highlights the powerful complementarity between innovation and education, which increases when researchers and learners from all backgrounds can participate in educational mobility programmes; insists, therefore, that the new MFF must adequately support the EU programmes that facilitate mobility and offer opportunities in order to boost innovation and address the competitiveness challenges Europe is facing;

Amendment  12

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	14b. Highlights the key role of the flagship programme Erasmus+ in providing opportunities for educational mobility, learning, cultural exchange and personal and skills development, equipping all beneficiaries, including VET students, to thrive in the modern economy, while promoting European values and fostering active citizenship across the Union; calls for continued and increased funding for Erasmus+, including for individual grants, to maximise its reach and impact across all regions and socio-economic backgrounds;

Amendment  13

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	14c. Emphasises that sport is a key factor in overcoming inequalities and promoting social cohesion and a healthy lifestyle for all European citizens, regardless of background or ability and that it is, at the same time, an important economic driver; reiterates that Erasmus+ already plays a key role in sports with a modest budget, having funded over 1 400 sports organisations since 2021 and supported more than 2 000 mobility opportunities for coaches and staff in 2023; calls, therefore, for increased funding for sport in the EU budget, including increased support for the grassroots level and self-standing initiatives, with a particular focus on people with physical or mental disabilities;

Amendment  14

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	14d. Recognises the European Solidarity Corps as a key initiative inspired by EU values, which fosters youth engagement, social resilience and preparedness in response to societal and humanitarian challenges; highlights the fact that participation in the programme equips young people with valuable skills, easing young people’s transition into employment; calls for increased and sustained investment in the European Solidarity Corps to meet growing demand, expand its reach and ensure broader accessibility for all young people, and underlines the high absorption capacity of the programme;

Amendment  15

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
15. Insists that the Union budget should continue to support important economic and job-creating sectors where the Union is already a world leader, such as tourism and the cultural and creative industries;	15. Insists that the Union budget should increase support for important economic and job-creating sectors where the Union is already a world leader, such as tourism and the cultural and creative sectors and industries; underscores, in this context, the significant role of the cultural and creative industries, which contribute approximately 4 % of the EU’s GDP and employ over 8 million people1a, therefore significantly enhancing job creation, social cohesion and innovation; underlines that investments in these sectors can foster social integration and promote cultural diversity;
	__________________
	1a European Commission, ‘Cultural and Creative Industries’, https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/cultural-and-creative-industries_en.

Amendment  16

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	15a. Recalls that Creative Europe is the only EU funding programme dedicated exclusively to supporting the cultural and creative sectors and industries, also protecting freedom of artistic expression and facilitating access to culture; stresses that culture plays a crucial role in fostering social cohesion and contributing to a united and resilient Europe in the face of global challenges and crises; highlights the fact that investing in the Creative Europe programme generates strong returns in terms of employment, economic growth and competitiveness; strongly believes that Creative Europe should remain a standalone programme with a distinct budget line and a reinforced budget;

Amendment  17

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	15b. Stresses that the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme is key in order to enhance civic engagement and participation and defend fundamental rights; calls for the programme’s budget to be increased in the next MFF to meet the growing demand for civic engagement and democratic participation initiatives and the development of communities in the EU, which provides citizens with a stronger incentive to be involved in educational projects, culture and historical remembrance;

Amendment  18

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 33

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
33. Underlines that, with technological change, it has become easier for malicious and opportunistic foreign actors to spread disinformation, interfere in elections and mount cyberattacks against the Union’s interests; insists that the next MFF must invest in enhanced cybersecurity; points to the importance of digital and media literacy and critical thinking in this regard, and to the need for continued Union budget support for initiatives in these areas;	33. Underlines that, in a society of rapid technological change and information overflow, it has become easier for malicious and opportunistic foreign actors to spread disinformation, encourage online hate speech, interfere in elections and mount cyberattacks against the Union’s interests; insists that the next MFF must invest in enhanced cybersecurity to ensure the long-term stability of the Union; points to the importance of ensuring quality education programmes that bridge the digital divide and help all citizens to acquire digital literacy and media literacy skills in order to develop informed views concerning digital technologies, AI, data and responsible media use; stresses the need for continued Union budget support for initiatives to strengthen Europe’s resilience and technological autonomy, protect and empower users online, and promote Europe’s values of transparency, the rule of law and innovation;

Amendment  19

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 33 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	33a. Recognises the fundamental role of free, pluralistic and independent media and journalism, both in supporting European democracy and in making European citizens resilient to foreign interference and disinformation operations; stresses the need to move towards a more integrated European media and audiovisual area; stresses the need for the new MFF to support collaboration and technological innovation in the media sector and to promote the development of AI-driven solutions based on shared European values; calls for a reinforcement of actions and new initiatives to protect media freedom and to support independent journalism and media, in particular those covering European affairs;

Amendment  20

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 37 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	37a. Highlights the crucial role of education in addressing global challenges and underscores the importance of Erasmus Mundus as a vital instrument of the EU’s external action, as by fostering international academic cooperation and exchanges, Erasmus Mundus enhances the EU’s global influence, strengthens ties with partner countries and equips future leaders with the skills and knowledge to address global challenges, thereby reinforcing the Union’s resilience and its capacity to lead in global affairs;

Amendment  21

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 46

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
46. Emphasises the importance of the Union budget in promoting and protecting democracy and the Union’s values, fostering the Union’s common cultural heritage and European integration, enhancing citizen engagement and youth participation and promoting fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the rule of law; points to the importance of independence of justice, the sound functioning of national institutions, support for civil society and de-oligarchisation;	46. Emphasises the importance of the Union budget in promoting and protecting democracy and the Union’s values, preserving and fostering the Union’s common culture and cultural heritage, youth participation in cultural and civic life, and European integration, and enhancing citizen engagement; stresses that culture and education are essential in reinforcing democratic resilience, promoting fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the rule of law; points to the importance of independence of justice, the sound functioning of national institutions, support for civil society and de-oligarchisation;

Amendment  22

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 46 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	46a. Demands improved monitoring of the projects financed by the programmes, to ensure that the beneficiaries and their projects respect EU values, such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights, and guarantee respect for these values, and to ensure that the beneficiaries do not commit any professional misconduct;

Amendment  23

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 53

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
53. Underlines, therefore, that the next MFF must ensure that, across the board, spending programmes pursue climate and biodiversity objectives, promote and protect rights and equal opportunities for all, including gender equality, support competitiveness and bolster the Union’s preparedness against threats;	53. Underlines, therefore, that the next MFF must ensure that, across the board, spending programmes implement youth mainstreaming, pursue climate and biodiversity objectives, promote and protect fundamental rights and equal opportunities for all, including gender equality, support youth engagement and cultural development, strengthen competitiveness and bolster the Union’s preparedness against threats; strongly believes that the next MFF is a defining moment to reaffirm the EU’s commitment to children’s rights, ensuring that they are not treated as a secondary issue but as a core pillar of EU policy and that child-focused investments are mainstreamed into EU policies for maximised impact and enhanced budgetary efficiency;

Amendment  24

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 59 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	59a. Stresses the important role of the European Schools system and its contribution to the creation of the European Education Area, with its mission of becoming a beacon for high-quality multilingual and multicultural education in Europe; recalls that Parliament set out a number of recommendations for an in-depth assessment and future-proof reform of the European Schools system in its resolution of 12 September 20231a; stresses the need for the European Schools to be endowed with an increased financial allocation in the next MFF to enable them to undergo the necessary reform, improve their governance and administrative efficiency and respond positively to the challenges ahead; _____________ 1a European Parliament resolution of 12 September 2023 on the system of European Schools: state of play, challenges and perspectives (OJ C, C/2024/1757, 22.3.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/1757/oj).

Amendment  25

 

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 60

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
60. Stresses that the next MFF must be designed so as to simplify the lives of beneficiaries, harmonise rules wherever possible and cut unnecessary red tape and must be implemented as close to people as possible;	60. Stresses that the next MFF must be designed so as to make EU programmes more accessible and user-friendly, harmonise rules wherever possible and cut unnecessary red tape and must be implemented as close to people as possible; underlines that application procedures should be simplified so that, for example, small-scale and voluntary organisations, citizens and self-employed people are also able to apply successfully for Union funding, using a bottom-up approach;

Amendment  26

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 61

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
61. Calls for genuine simplification where there are overlapping objectives, diverging eligibility criteria and different rules governing aspects that should be uniform across programmes; considers that an assessment of which spending programmes should be included in the next MFF must be based on the above aspects, on the need to focus spending on clearly identified policy objectives and on the policy intervention logic of each programme;	61. Calls for genuine simplification where there are overlapping objectives, diverging eligibility criteria and different rules governing aspects that should be uniform across programmes; considers that an assessment of which spending programmes should be included in the next MFF must be based on the above aspects, on the need to focus spending on clearly identified policy objectives and on the policy intervention logic of each programme, as well as on its potential transformative effect;

Amendment  27

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 64 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	64a. Considers that, in certain areas, programmes under the next MFF need adequate and automatic mechanisms for adapting grants to actual inflation levels at regular intervals, in order to avoid a substantive loss of purchasing power over time for the final beneficiaries (as happens, for example, with the individual grants under Erasmus+ and the Melina Mercouri Prize);

Amendment  28

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 77

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
77. Deplores the fact that, under the existing architecture and despite the joint declaration by the three institutions as part of the 2020 MFF agreement whereby expenditure to cover NGEU financing costs ‘shall aim at not reducing programmes and funds’, financing for key Union programmes and resources available for special instruments, even after the MFF revision, have de facto been competing with the repayment of NGEU borrowing costs in a context of steep inflation and rising interest rates;	77. Deplores the fact that, under the existing architecture and despite the joint declaration by the three institutions as part of the 2020 MFF agreement whereby expenditure to cover NGEU financing costs ‘shall aim at not reducing programmes and funds’, financing for key Union programmes and resources available for special instruments, even after the MFF revision, have de facto been competing with the repayment of NGEU borrowing costs in a context of steep inflation and rising interest rates; stresses that EU programmes are an investment in the future of young Europeans and directly benefit citizens; underlines that any competition between the programmes and the repayment of NGEU borrowing costs sends the wrong message to citizens;

 

 

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteur for the opinion declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

 

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted	19.3.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	25 4 0
Members present for the final vote	Nikolaos Anadiotis, Zsuzsanna Borvendég, Laurence Farreng, Gabriela Firea, Mario Furore, Sunčana Glavak, Catherine Griset, Afroditi Latinopoulou, Lara Magoni, Nikos Pappas, Hristo Petrov, Giusi Princi, Emma Rafowicz, Sabrina Repp, Diana Riba i Giner, Nela Riehl, Manuela Ripa, Sandro Ruotolo, Marco Squarta, Zoltán Tarr, Zala Tomašič, Ivaylo Valchev, Annamária Vicsek, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski
Substitutes present for the final vote	Ioan-Rareş Bogdan, Isilda Gomes, Bernard Guetta, Maria Guzenina
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Georgios Aftias

 

 

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

25	+
ECR	Lara Magoni, Marco Squarta, Ivaylo Valchev
NI	Nikolaos Anadiotis
PPE	Georgios Aftias, Ioan-Rareş Bogdan, Sunčana Glavak, Giusi Princi, Manuela Ripa, Zoltán Tarr, Zala Tomašič, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski
Renew	Laurence Farreng, Bernard Guetta, Hristo Petrov
S&D	Gabriela Firea, Isilda Gomes, Maria Guzenina, Emma Rafowicz, Sabrina Repp, Sandro Ruotolo
The Left	Mario Furore, Nikos Pappas
Verts/ALE	Diana Riba i Giner, Nela Riehl

 

4	-
ESN	Zsuzsanna Borvendég
PfE	Catherine Griset, Afroditi Latinopoulou, Annamária Vicsek

 

0	0

 

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstention

 

 

 

 

 

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CIVIL LIBERTIES, JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS (09.04.2025)

for the Committee on Budgets

on a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world

(2024/2051(INI))

Rapporteur for opinion: Loucas Fourlas

 

 

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs submits the following to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible:

Amendment  1

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (‘the Charter’),

Amendment  2

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the European Court of Auditors special report of 2021 on ‘Gender mainstreaming in the EU budget’,

Amendment  3

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the UN instruments on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the recommendations and reports of the UN Universal Periodic Review, the case-law of the UN Treaty Bodies and the special procedures of the Human Rights Council,

Amendment  4

Motion for a resolution

Citation 12 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the report from the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights of 19 December 2023 entitled ‘EU funds: Ensuring compliance with fundamental rights’,

Amendment  5

Motion for a resolution

Citation 17 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to Article 9 of the Common Provisions Regulation on horizontal principles and to Article 15(1) of Annex III on horizontal enabling conditions, in particular regarding respect for fundamental rights and compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,

Amendment  6

Motion for a resolution

Citation 17 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 9 February 2023, 30 June 2023 and 19 December 2024,

Amendment  7

Motion for a resolution

Recital -A (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	-A. whereas the Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities (Union values); whereas the Union’s aim is to promote peace, its values and the well-being of its peoples; whereas the Union shall offer its citizens an area of freedom, security and justice without internal frontiers;

Amendment  8

Motion for a resolution

Recital F a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	F a. whereas breaches of the values enshrined in Article 2 TEU undermine the cohesion of the European project, erode the rights of EU citizens and weaken mutual trust among Member States;

Amendment  9

Motion for a resolution

Recital G

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
G. whereas the context in which the Commission will prepare its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, with the established global and geopolitical order changing quickly and radically and the Union budget needing to change accordingly;	G. whereas the context in which the Commission will prepare its proposals for the post-2027 MFF is every bit as challenging, from our security at home to the rapid and radical changes to the established global and geopolitical order, amplified by the return of large-scale wars in our neighbourhood that threaten the security of the EU, its Member States and its citizens, and the Union budget needing to change accordingly;

Amendment  10

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives, tackle the growing challenges it faces, manage and repay its debt sustainably, respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs;	1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives, tackle the growing challenges it faces, manage and repay its debt sustainably, respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs, new challenges and opportunities;

Amendment  11

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
3. Emphasises that the post-2027 MFF must also become simpler and more transparent and be protected against misuse, fraud and breaches of the principles of the rule of law and the Union’s values;	3. Emphasises that the post-2027 MFF must also become simpler and more transparent and be protected against misuse, fraud and breaches of the principles of the rule of law and all other Union values enshrined in Article 2 TEU;

Amendment  12

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
4. Underlines that a simpler, more flexible MFF requires more robust parliamentary accountability;	4. Underlines that a simpler, more flexible MFF must fully respect Parliament’s role as co-legislator for the duration of the next programming period, including through mid-term revisions of the MFF-related basic acts and requires more transparency and robust parliamentary scrutiny and accountability;

Amendment  13

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	4 a. Highlights the importance of safeguarding the progress achieved so far in key areas of EU policies, including fundamental rights; emphasises the need to ensure that the post-2027 MFF does not lead to backtracking on the progress made;

Amendment  14

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 5

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
5. Considers that, in view of the structural challenges facing the Union, the post-2027 MFF should adjust its spending focus to ensure that the Union can meet its strategic policy aims as detailed below;	5. Considers that, against the background of growing threats and structural challenges facing the Union, the post-2027 MFF should focus its spending to ensure that the Union can meet its strategic policy aims as detailed below;

Amendment  15

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
6. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness, decarbonising the economy and enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society;	6. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness, decarbonising the economy and enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term, secure, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society;

Amendment  16

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
19. Stresses that cohesion policy funding must tackle the key challenges the Union faces, such as demographic change and depopulation, and target the regions and people most in need; highlights, in particular, the importance of enhanced support to address the EU-wide housing crisis affecting millions of families and young people;	19. Stresses that cohesion policy funding must tackle key challenges the Union faces, such as demographic change and depopulation, and target the regions and people most in need; highlights, in particular, the importance of enhanced support to address the EU-wide housing crisis affecting millions of families and vulnerable young and elderly people who cannot fully enjoy their rights and often face discrimination;

Amendment  17

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 20

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
20. Points out that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has had substantial economic and social consequences, in particular in Member States bordering Russia; insists that the next MFF provide support to these regions;	20. Points out that Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, supported by Belarus, and hybrid actions have had substantial negative economic, security and social consequences, in particular in Member States bordering Russia, Belarus and Ukraine; insists that the next MFF provide support to these regions;

Amendment  18

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
24. Points to the profound technological shift under way, with new technologies such as artificial intelligence both creating opportunities, in terms of economic potential and improvements to the citizens’ lives, and posing reliability and ethical challenges; stresses that the next MFF must support the development and safe application of such technologies and help people to hone the skills they need to work with and use them;	24. Points to the profound technological shift under way, with new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) both creating opportunities, in terms of economic potential and improvements to the citizens’ lives, and posing reliability, ethical and legal challenges; stresses that the next MFF must significantly boost development and innovation in this sector, ensure the safe application of secure AI technologies with a human-centric approach, and help people to hone the knowledge and skills they need to work with and use them, while ensuring a high level of protection of fundamental rights, including democracy and the rule of law; highlights that investing in reskilling and upskilling tools is essential to facilitate the transition;

Amendment  19

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
25. Recalls that security is the foundation for the Union’s prosperity and social model and that the next MFF must invest significantly more in safeguarding the Union against the myriad threats it faces;	25. Recalls that security is the foundation for the Union’s prosperity and social model and that the next MFF must invest significantly more in safeguarding the Union and its citizens against the numerous internal and external threats it faces; underlines that safeguarding security is essential to preserving the Schengen area and freedom of movement;

Amendment  20

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 26

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
26. Underlines that, as the Niinistö report makes clear, the fragmenting global order, increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, the security threat posed by Russia, growing tensions globally, hybrid campaigns, which include cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation, disinformation and interference and the instrumentalisation of migration, and health threats are combining to heighten instability and increase the Union’s vulnerability;	26. Underlines that, as the Niinistö report makes clear, the fragmenting global order, increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather events, the security threat posed by terrorism, international organised crime, hostile actors such as Russia, growing tensions globally, hybrid campaigns, which include cyberattacks, foreign information manipulation, physical sabotage of critical infrastructure, disinformation, intimidation and interference – particularly in electoral processes – and the instrumentalisation of migration, as well as violent extremism and health threats are combining to heighten instability and increase the Union’s vulnerability;

Amendment  21

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 28 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	28 a. Underlines the role of the EU budget in developing critical and dual-use technologies to strengthen the EU’s autonomy, infrastructure, strategic reserves and long-term capabilities, while reducing external dependencies; calls for a comprehensive approach on investments in AI, cybersecurity, cloud systems and connectivity to ensure interoperability and support a competitive, resilient European security industry;

Amendment  22

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 29

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
29. Underscores the importance of a competitive and resilient European defence technological and industrial base and considers that joint EU-level investment in defence can generate economies of scale, and thus significant savings for Member States, and help ensure the interoperability of equipment and systems; points to the need to direct support towards the defence industry within the Union, thus creating quality high-skilled jobs;	29. Underscores the importance of a competitive and resilient European defence technological and industrial base and considers that joint EU-level investment in defence can generate economies of scale, and thus significant savings for Member States, and help ensure the interoperability of equipment and systems; points to the need to direct support towards the defence industry within the Union, thus achieving full strategic autonomy while creating quality high-skilled jobs;

Amendment  23

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 30 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	30 a. Highlights that hybrid threats and attacks can trigger large-scale crises, harming citizens’ safety and well-being, societal stability, and the economy, posing a major challenge to the Union’s internal security; stresses the need for a stronger EU preparedness approach, enhancing strategic foresight, early warning and coordination; underlines the importance of equipping the Union with flexible tools, including financial resources, to address new security challenges swiftly and effectively;

Amendment  24

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 31

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
31. Emphasises that the Union needs to ramp up funding for preparedness across the board; underlines that, in addition to efforts to mitigate climate change through the green transition, significant investment is required to adapt to climate change, in particular to protect against and reduce the impact of natural disasters and severe weather events; considers that support for this purpose must be significantly increased in the next MFF;	31. Emphasises that the Union needs to ramp up funding for civilian and military preparedness and readiness across the board, in particular to foster coordination and cooperation, civil protection capabilities and public-private partnerships, embracing the ‘whole of society’ approach;

Amendment  25

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 31 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	31 a. Stresses the need to strengthen the budget for EU cross-border police, judicial and inter-agency cooperation to enhance Member States’ coordinated responses to transnational crime and security threats such as terrorism; considers, in particular, that adequate funds should be allocated to fostering joint prevention measures, information sharing, joint investigations and operations, and effective prosecution; insists on proper funding and staffing for all EU JHA agencies and bodies that ensure the Union’s safety and best interests;

Amendment  26

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 33

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
33. Underlines that, with technological change, it has become easier for malicious and opportunistic foreign actors to spread disinformation, interfere in elections and mount cyberattacks against the Union’s interests; insists that the next MFF must invest in enhanced cybersecurity; points to the importance of digital and media literacy and critical thinking in this regard, and to the need for continued Union budget support for initiatives in these areas;	33. Underlines that, with technological change and digitalisation, it has become easier for malicious and opportunistic foreign actors such as Russia to spread disinformation, interfere in elections and mount cyberattacks against the Union’s interests, impacting both online and offline spheres; insists that the next MFF must invest in enhanced and robust cybersecurity capabilities and democratic and societal resilience, and ensure full resourcing of EU tools to counter interference and disinformation; points to the importance of digital and media literacy and critical thinking, and to the need for continued Union budget support for initiatives in these areas, such as training, online tools and awareness-raising campaigns; underlines that these initiatives should be targeted at all citizens, including marginalised and vulnerable groups;

Amendment  27

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 33 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	33 a. Stresses that in light of the rapid development of information technology and the associated risks, the next MFF should support flexible and effective responses to the evolving security and crime environment; emphasises that attention should be paid to fostering cross-border measures aimed at prevention, cooperation and the fight against online crime, in particular affecting women and children, such as gender-based violence and child sexual abuse;

Amendment  28

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 34

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
34. Underscores the importance of continued funding, in the next MFF, for effective protection of the EU’s external borders; underlines the need to counter trafficking networks and address hybrid attacks and the instrumentalisation of migrants, in particular by a third country or a hostile non-state actor;	34. Underscores the importance of continued funding, in the next MFF, for effective protection of the EU’s external borders; underlines the need to counter transnational criminal networks and better protect victims of trafficking networks, and to strengthen resilience and response capabilities to address hybrid attacks and the instrumentalisation of migrants by third countries or hostile non-state actors;

Amendment  29

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 34 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	34 a. Highlights, in particular, the need for adequate financial support to frontline Member States, to ensure they have the resources to maintain facilities and installations necessary to secure the external borders of the EU, including electronic border security enhancements and other tools for border surveillance;

Amendment  30

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 34 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	34 b. Underlines that, in addition to efforts to mitigate climate change through the green transition, significant investment is required to adapt to climate change, in particular to protect against and reduce the impact of natural disasters and severe weather events; considers that support for this purpose must be significantly increased in the next MFF;

Amendment  31

Motion for a resolution

Subheading 5

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
External action and enlargement	Migration, external action and enlargement

Amendment  32

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 37 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	37 a. Stresses that instability in neighbouring regions, poverty, underlying trends in economic development and demographic changes continue to generate migration flows towards the Union, placing significant pressure on asylum and migration systems; underlines that the post-2027 MFF must support the full and swift implementation of the Union’s Asylum and Migration Pact, as well as effective return and readmission policies, in line with fundamental rights and Union values, including the principle of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility; underlines, moreover, that, in line with the Pact, the EU must pursue enhanced cooperation and mutually beneficial partnerships with third countries on migration, with adequate parliamentary scrutiny, and that such cooperation must abide by EU and international law;

Amendment  33

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 38

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
38. Underlines that the budget must uphold the Union’s role as the world’s leading provider of development aid and climate finance in line with the Union’s global obligations and commitments; insists that the budget must continue to support the Union in its efforts to defend the rules-based international order, democracy, multilateralism, human rights and fundamental values;	38. Underlines that the budget must uphold the Union’s role as the world’s leading provider of development aid and climate finance in line with the Union’s global obligations and commitments; insists that the budget must continue to support the Union in its efforts to defend the rules-based international order, democracy, multilateralism and human rights;

Amendment  34

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 40

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
40. Emphasises that, in a context in which global actors are increasingly using trade interdependence as a means of economic coercion, the Union must bolster its capacity to protect and advance its own strategic interests, develop more robust tools to counter coercion and ensure genuine reciprocity in its partnerships;	40. Emphasises that, in a context in which global actors are increasingly using trade interdependence as a means of economic coercion, the Union must bolster its capacity to protect and advance its own strategic interests, develop more robust tools to counter coercion and ensure genuine reciprocity in its partnerships, using all available instruments – diplomatic, economic and development cooperation;

Amendment  35

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 43

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
43. Stresses that financial support must be conditional on the implementation of reforms and adherence to Union values; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a strong governance model that ensures parliamentary accountability, oversight and control;	43. Stresses that financial support must be conditional on adherence to Union values, respect of obligations stemming from international law and the implementation of reforms, but also on the condition of having stable institutions that guarantee democracy, the rule of law, respect for minorities, and their protection; emphasises, in this regard, the need for a strong governance model that ensures parliamentary accountability, oversight and control;

Amendment  36

Motion for a resolution

Subheading 6

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
Fundamental rights, Union values and the rule of law	Union values: democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights

Amendment  37

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 46

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
46. Emphasises the importance of the Union budget in promoting and protecting democracy and the Union’s values, fostering the Union’s common cultural heritage and European integration, enhancing citizen engagement and youth participation and promoting fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the rule of law; points to the importance of independence of justice, the sound functioning of national institutions, support for civil society and de-oligarchisation;	46. Emphasises the importance of the Union budget in promoting and protecting democracy and the Union’s values, enshrined in Article 2 TEU, fostering the Union’s common cultural heritage and European integration, enhancing citizen engagement and youth participation and protecting and promoting fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter and the rule of law; points to the importance of independence, quality and efficiency of the judiciary, in particular its independence from political interference, the sound functioning of democratic institutions, independence and pluralism of the media, the transparency and anti-corruption framework, good governance, checks and balances, promoting equality for all and efforts to combat all forms of discrimination, including racism;

Amendment  38

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 47

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
47. Stresses that instability in neighbouring regions, poverty, underlying trends in economic development and demographic changes continue to generate migration flows towards the Union, placing significant pressure on asylum and migration systems; underlines that the post-2027 MFF must support the full implementation of the Union’s Asylum and Migration Pact, in line with fundamental rights and EU values; underlines, moreover, that, in line with the Pact, cooperation with third countries on migration must abide by EU law and respect international standards;	deleted

Amendment  39

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 47 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	47 a. Stresses the importance of a well-funded, independent and diverse media landscape in fostering democracy and addressing harmful threats to and attacks against the European Union, such as disinformation and foreign interference; calls for the highest standards of media freedom and editorial independence for journalists to be upheld through enhanced direct funding and support mechanisms; urges the strengthening of existing EU actions to protect media freedom, preventing concentration of media ownership and safeguarding the independence of media regulators; calls for funds to be allocated to initiatives supporting independent journalism and media in both EU Member States and candidate countries;

Amendment  40

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 47 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	47 b. Points to the need to ensure sufficient funding for civil society organisations which promote and protect democracy, the rule of law and fundamental rights at local, national and European levels; stresses that the additional funding should be made available to address the gaps created by withdrawal of international donors for organisations which are engaged in upholding the values enshrined in Article 2 TEU; emphasises that the funds should be accessible to grassroots civil society actors operating at the level of local communities while respecting the rules of sound financial management and transparency standards; underlines the essential role of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme, including its Daphne strand, in promoting European values and citizens’ rights, and stresses the need to continue at least equivalent support for civil society under the next MFF;

Amendment  41

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 48

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
48. Highlights the importance of strong links between respect for the rule of law and access to EU funds under the current MFF; believes that the protection of the Union’s financial interests depends on respect for the rule of law at national level; welcomes, in particular, the positive impact of the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation in protecting the Union’s financial interests in cases of systemic and persistent breaches of the rule of law; calls on the Commission and the Council to apply the regulation strictly, consistently and without undue delay wherever necessary; emphasises that decisions to suspend or reduce Union funding over breaches of the rule of law must be based on objective criteria and not be guided by other considerations, nor be the outcome of negotiations;	48. Underlines that compliance with Union values is a fundamental pre-requisite to access EU funds; believes that the protection of the Union’s financial interests depends on respect for the rule of law at national level as it affects the sound management of EU funds, mutual recognition of judgments, mutual trust and the functioning of the single market, and on the quality, complementarity and credibility of our rule of law toolbox; welcomes, in particular, the positive impact of the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation in protecting the Union’s financial interests in cases of systemic and persistent breaches of the rule of law; calls on the Commission and the Council to apply the regulation strictly, uniformly, consistently and without undue delay wherever necessary; emphasises that decisions regarding the suspension or reduction of Union funding over breaches of the rule of law must be based on objective criteria, on effective and lasting improvements observed on the ground, and not be guided by other considerations, nor be the outcome of negotiations;

Amendment  42

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 49

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
49. Points to the need for a strong link between the rule of law and the Union budget post-2027 and welcomes the Commission’s intention to bolster links between the recommendations in the annual rule of law report and access to funds through the budget; calls on the Commission to outline, in the annual rule of law report from 2025 onwards, the extent to which identified weaknesses in rule of law regimes potentially pose a risk to the Union budget; welcomes, furthermore, the link between respect for Union values and the implementation of the budget and calls on the Commission to actively monitor Member States’ compliance with this principle;	49. Points to the need for a stronger link between the rule of law and other Union values, and the Union budget post-2027 and welcomes the Commission’s intention to bolster links between the recommendations in the annual rule of law report and access to funds through the budget; calls on the Commission to outline, in the annual rule of law report and the report on the application of the Charter from 2025 onwards, the extent to which identified weaknesses potentially pose a risk to the Union budget and proper functioning of the single market; calls on the Commission to adjust its reports so that the recommendations are accompanied by clear objectives to be achieved, deadlines and sanctions in case of non-compliance; calls on the Commission to actively monitor Member States’ and accession countries’ compliance with those recommendations, and to ensure that social and economic rights are equally protected and promoted, and that marginalised groups are not excluded from benefiting from Union funds;

Amendment  43

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 50

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
50. Calls for the consolidation of a robust rule of law toolbox, building on the current conditionality provisions under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the horizontal enabling conditions in the Common Provisions Regulation; underlines the need for far greater transparency and consistency with regard to the application of tools to protect the rule of law and for Parliament’s role to be strengthened in the application and scrutiny of such measures; insists, furthermore, on the need for consistency across instruments when assessing breaches of the rule of law in Member States;	50. Calls for the improvement and consolidation of a robust rule of law toolbox, building on the current conditionality provisions under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and the horizontal enabling conditions in the Common Provisions Regulation, and the relevant provisions of the Financial Regulation, which should be consistently applied across all EU funds under the new MFF; underlines the need for far greater transparency and consistency with regard to the application of tools to protect the rule of law and for Parliament’s role to be strengthened in the application and scrutiny of such measures; insists, furthermore, on the need for consistency across instruments when assessing breaches of the rule of law in Member States; against this background, acknowledges the key role that the EU JHA agencies and bodies play in ensuring the protection of the EU’s financial interests, in the framework of an effective EU anti-fraud and anti-corruption architecture;

Amendment  44

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 51

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
51. Recalls that the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation provides that final recipients should not be deprived of the benefits of EU funds in the event of sanctions being applied to their government; believes that, to date, this provision has not been effective and stresses the importance of applying a smart conditionality approach so that beneficiaries are not penalised because of their government’s actions; calls on the Commission to explore additional ways of ensuring that local and regional authorities, civil society and other beneficiaries can continue to benefit from Union funding in cases of breaches of the rule of law by national governments without weakening the application of the regulation;	51. Recalls that the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation provides that final recipients should not be deprived of the benefits of EU funds in the event of measures being applied to their Member State or its government entities; believes that, to date, this provision has not been effective and stresses the importance of applying a smart conditionality approach so that beneficiaries are not penalised because of their government’s actions; calls on the Commission to explore additional ways of ensuring that local and regional authorities, civil society and other beneficiaries can continue to benefit from Union funding in cases of breaches of the rule of law by Member States without weakening the application of the regulation and the proper management of EU funds;

Amendment  45

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 52

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
52. Stresses that a long-term budget that is fully aligned with the Union’s strategic aims requires that key objectives be mainstreamed across the budget through a set of horizontal principles, building on the lessons from the current MFF;	52. Stresses that a long-term budget that is fully aligned with the Union’s strategic aims and principles requires that key objectives be mainstreamed across the budget through a set of horizontal principles, building on the lessons from the current MFF;

Amendment  46

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 53

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
53. Underlines, therefore, that the next MFF must ensure that, across the board, spending programmes pursue climate and biodiversity objectives, promote and protect rights and equal opportunities for all, including gender equality, support competitiveness and bolster the Union’s preparedness against threats;	53. Underlines, therefore, that the next MFF must ensure that, across the board, spending programmes pursue the security of the Union and its citizens and climate and biodiversity objectives, promote and protect fundamental rights and equal opportunities for all, including firm commitment to advancing gender equality, support competitiveness and bolster the Union’s preparedness and readiness against threats;

Amendment  47

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 54

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
54. Points out that effective mainstreaming is best achieved through a toolbox of measures, primarily through policy design, thorough impact assessments and solid tracking of spending and, in specific cases, spending targets;	54. Points out that effective mainstreaming is best achieved through a toolbox of measures, primarily through policy design, thorough impact assessments and solid tracking of spending and, in specific cases, spending targets; stresses the importance of gender mainstreaming in EU policies, programmes and initiatives, so as to deliver equality in practice;

Amendment  48

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 58

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
58. Regrets that the Union’s ability to implement policy effectively within the current MFF has been undermined by stretched administrative resources and a dogmatic attachment to a policy of stable staffing, despite increasing demands and responsibilities; points, for example, to the failure to provide sufficient staff to properly enforce the Digital Services13 and Digital Markets Acts14 , thus undercutting the legislation’s effectiveness;	58. Regrets that the Union’s ability to implement policy effectively within the current MFF has been undermined by stretched administrative resources and a dogmatic attachment to a policy of stable staffing, despite increasing demands and responsibilities; points, for example, to the failure to provide sufficient staff to properly enforce the Digital Services13 and Digital Markets Acts14, and the increasing challenges that JHA agencies and bodies have to respond to, thus undercutting the legislation’s effectiveness;
_________________	_________________
13 Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act) (OJ L 277, 27.10.2022, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj).	13 Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act) (OJ L 277, 27.10.2022, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj).
14 Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2022 on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector and amending Directives (EU) 2019/1937 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Digital Markets Act) (OJ L 265, 12.10.2022, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/1925/oj).	14 Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 September 2022 on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector and amending Directives (EU) 2019/1937 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Digital Markets Act) (OJ L 265, 12.10.2022, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/1925/oj).

Amendment  49

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 59

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
59. Stresses that up-front investment in interoperable IT infrastructure and data mining can also generate longer-term cost savings and hugely enhance policy delivery and tracking of spending;	59. Stresses that up-front investment in interoperable IT infrastructure and data mining capabilities can also generate longer-term cost savings and hugely enhance policy delivery and tracking of spending;

Amendment  50

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 59 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	59 a. Calls for adequate financing for EU institutions, agencies and bodies, ensuring they have the necessary resources to perform their tasks and effectively address evolving challenges; stresses that, where the mandates of any JHA agencies or bodies are revised and expanded, their funding should be increased accordingly;

Amendment  51

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 60

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
60. Stresses that the next MFF must be designed so as to simplify the lives of beneficiaries, harmonise rules wherever possible and cut unnecessary red tape and must be implemented as close to people as possible;	60. Stresses that the next MFF must be designed so as to simplify the lives of beneficiaries, harmonise rules wherever possible and cut unnecessary red tape and must be implemented in a transparent manner that is easy to follow for beneficiaries;

Amendment  52

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 62

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
62. Insists that a simpler budget must also be a more transparent budget, enabling better control of spending and reducing the risks of double funding; underlines that any reduction in programmes must be offset by a far more detailed breakdown of the budget by budget line, in contrast to some programme mergers in the current MFF, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI – Global Europe), which is an example not to follow; calls, therefore, for a sufficiently detailed breakdown by budget line to enable proper accountability and ensure that decision-making in the annual budgetary procedure is meaningful;	62. Insists that a simpler budget must also be a more transparent budget, enabling better accountability and scrutiny as well as control of spending and reducing the risks of double funding, misuse and fraud; underlines that any reduction in programmes must be offset by a far more detailed breakdown of the budget by budget line, in contrast to some programme mergers in the current MFF, such as the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI – Global Europe), which is an example not to follow; calls, therefore, for a sufficiently detailed breakdown by budget line to enable proper accountability and transparency and ensure that decision-making in the annual budgetary procedure is meaningful;

Amendment  53

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 66

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
66. Believes that, while allocating a significant portion of funding to objectives up-front, spending programmes should retain a substantial in-built flexibility reserve, with allocation to specific policy objectives to be decided by the budgetary authority; notes that the NDICI – Global Europe’s emerging challenges and priorities cushion provides a model for such a flexibility reserve, but that the decision-making process for its mobilisation must not be replicated in the future MFF; points to the need for a detailed budgetary breakdown to ensure decisions by the budgetary authority are meaningful;	66. Believes that, while allocating a significant portion of funding to objectives up-front, spending programmes should retain a substantial in-built flexibility reserve, with allocation to specific policy objectives to be decided by the co-legislators and the budgetary authority, as applicable; notes that the NDICI – Global Europe’s emerging challenges and priorities cushion provides a model for such a flexibility reserve, but that the decision-making process for its mobilisation must not be replicated in the future MFF; points to the need for stronger and effective scrutiny powers of the co-legislators over the setting of policy priorities and objectives and for a detailed budgetary breakdown to ensure decisions by the budgetary authority are meaningful;

Amendment  54

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 73

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
73. Considers that the RRF, with its focus on performance and links between reforms and investments and budgetary support, has helped to drive national investments and reforms that would not otherwise have taken place;	73. Considers that the RRF, with its focus on performance and links between reforms and investments and budgetary support, has helped to drive national investments and reforms that would not otherwise have taken place; highlights the example set by the RRF in establishing a reversed conditionality, making the allocation of funds contingent upon certain reforms being carried out beforehand, particularly in the area of the rule of law, and calls for this approach to be continued in the future;

Amendment  55

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 83

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
83. Considers that all instruments and tools should be explored in order to provide the Union with those resources, in line with its priorities and identified needs;	83. Considers that all instruments and tools should be explored in order to provide the Union with those resources, in line with its priorities and identified needs, and aligned with Union values and principles;

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR OPINION HAS RECEIVED INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for opinion declares that he received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the opinion, prior to the adoption thereof in committee:

Entity and/or person

Constantinos Hadjisavvas

 

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur for the opinion.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur for opinion declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

 

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted	8.4.2025
Result of final vote	+ : 46 - : 18 0 : 6
Members present for the final vote	Abir Al-Sahlani, Giuseppe Antoci, Jaume Asens Llodrà, Pernando Barrena Arza, Nikola Bartůšek, François-Xavier Bellamy, Ioan-Rareş Bogdan, Krzysztof Brejza, Saskia Bricmont, Jorge Buxadé Villalba, Jaroslav Bžoch, Mélissa Camara, Damien Carême, Caterina Chinnici, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Paulo Cunha, Lena Düpont, Marieke Ehlers, Estrella Galán, Raquel García Hermida-Van Der Walle, Branko Grims, Evin Incir, Paolo Inselvini, Marina Kaljurand, Assita Kanko, Fabienne Keller, Mary Khan, Moritz Körner, Alice Kuhnke, András László, Murielle Laurent, Fabrice Leggeri, Jeroen Lenaers, Lukas Mandl, Erik Marquardt, Michael McNamara, Ana Catarina Mendes, Verena Mertens, Nadine Morano, Matjaž Nemec, Ana Miguel Pedro, Emil Radev, Chloé Ridel, Ilaria Salis, Birgit Sippel, Krzysztof Śmiszek, Cecilia Strada, Georgiana Teodorescu, Alice Teodorescu Måwe, Tomas Tobé, Milan Uhrík, Tom Vandendriessche, Kristian Vigenin, Charlie Weimers, Jadwiga Wiśniewska, Alessandro Zan, Javier Zarzalejos
Substitutes present for the final vote	Fredis Beleris, Anna-Maja Henriksson, Javier Moreno Sánchez, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Pekka Toveri, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Roberto Vannacci, Ana Vasconcelos, Michał Wawrykiewicz, Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Mireia Borrás Pabón, Siegbert Frank Droese, Martine Kemp

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

46	+
PPE	Beleris Fredis, Bellamy François-Xavier, Bogdan Ioan-Rares, Chinnici Caterina, Cunha Paulo, Düpont Lena, Grims Branko, Kemp Martine, Lenaers Jeroen, Mandl Lukas, Mertens Verena, Morano Nadine, Pedro Ana Miguel, Radev Emil, Teodorescu Måwe Alice, Tobé Tomas, Toveri Pekka, Wawrykiewicz Michal, Zarzalejos Javier, Zoido Álvarez Juan Ignacio
Renew	Al-Sahlani Abir, Cifrová Ostrihonová Veronika, García Hermida-Van Der Walle Raquel, Henriksson Anna-Maja, Keller Fabienne, Körner Moritz, McNamara Michael, Oetjen Jan-Christoph, Vasconcelos Ana
S&D	Incir Evin, Kaljurand Marina, Laurent Murielle, Mendes Ana Catarina, Moreno Sánchez Javier, Nemec Matjaz, Ridel Chloé, Sippel Birgit, Smiszek Krzysztof, Strada Cecilia, Vigenin Kristian, Zan Alessandro
Verts/ALE	Asens Llodrà Jaume, Bricmont Saskia, Camara Mélissa, Kuhnke Alice, Marquardt Erik

 

18	-
ECR	Weimers Charlie
ESN	Droese Siegbert Frank, Khan Mary, Uhrík Milan
PfE	Bartusek Nikola, Borrás Pabón Mireia, Buxadé Villalba Jorge, Bzoch Jaroslav, Ehlers Marieke, László András, Leggeri Fabrice, Vandendriessche Tom, Vannacci Roberto
The Left	Antoci Giuseppe, Barrena Arza Pernando, Carême Damien, Galán Estrella, Salis Ilaria

 

6	0
ECR	Inselvini Paolo, Kanko Assita, Teodorescu Georgiana, Tynkkynen Sebastian, Wisniewska Jadwiga
PPE	Brejza Krzysztof

 

Key:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstentions

 

 

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS (20.03.2025)

for the Committee on Budgets

on a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world

(2024/2051(INI))

Rapporteur for opinion: Sven Simon

 

 

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Constitutional Affairs submits the following to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible:

Amendment  1

Motion for a resolution

Recital A

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
A. whereas, under Article 311 TFEU, the Union is required to provide itself with the means necessary to attain its objectives and carry through its policies;	A. whereas, under Article 311 TFEU, the Union is required to provide itself with the means necessary to attain its objectives and carry through its policies;  whereas, in accordance with the same article, the Union budget must be financed wholly from own resources; whereas it is therefore important to have a suitable EU budget that serves Union citizens, while strengthening budgetary transparency and accountability;

Amendment  2

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives, tackle the growing challenges it faces, manage and repay its debt sustainably, respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs;	1. Underlines that the post-2027 long-term budget must be designed and resourced so as to enable the Union to deliver on its policy objectives, tackle the growing challenges it faces, including Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and future EU enlargements, manage and repay its debt sustainably, respond to shocks and crises and adjust to evolving spending needs;

Amendment  3

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
4. Underlines that a simpler, more flexible MFF requires more robust parliamentary accountability;	4. Underlines that a simpler, more flexible MFF requires more robust parliamentary scrutiny and accountability; stresses that closer involvement of Parliament in the preparation, adoption and scrutiny of the MFF Regulation and the Own Resources Decision is imperative to enhance the democratic oversight of both the revenue and the expenditure sides of the EU budget; underlines the important and valuable role of the European Court of Auditors in this regard; points out that all elements of the MFF must be implemented in accordance with the principle of mutual sincere cooperation as laid down in Article 13 TEU;

Amendment  4

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 8

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
8. Points out that Draghi puts the annual investment gap with respect to innovation and infrastructure at EUR 750-800 billion per year between 2025 and 2030; underlines that, while the Union budget cannot cover that shortfall alone, it must play a vital role;	8. Points out that Draghi puts the annual investment gap with respect to innovation and infrastructure at EUR 750-800 billion per year between 2025 and 2030; underlines that, while the Union budget cannot cover that shortfall alone, it must play a vital role; agrees with the recommendations of the Draghi report, according to which the Union cannot meet its competitiveness goals without a major overhaul of its governance, policies and institutions;

Amendment  5

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 27 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	27 a. Stresses, in this context, the need for reflection on a dedicated budget, falling under the scrutiny of Parliament, that would help enhance European defence readiness and capacity development, in particular by financing joint procurements and the development of armaments in the EU;

Amendment  6

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 28 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	28 a. Highlights the need for the immediate upscaling and much better coordination of defence spending by the Member States, which clearly cannot wait until the next MFF enters into force;

Amendment  7

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 41

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
41. Considers that the next MFF is pivotal for preparing the Union for enlargement and the candidate countries for accession; recalls that the stability, security and democratic resilience of the candidate countries are inextricably linked to those of the EU and require sustained strategic investment to support their convergence with Union standards;	41. Believes that EU enlargement presents an opportunity to strengthen the EU and further unlock its global potential; considers that the next MFF is pivotal for preparing the Union for enlargement and the candidate countries for accession; underlines the important roles that citizens and civil society organisations play in the process of enlargement; points out that substantial future EU enlargements cannot be achieved without a larger EU budget and sufficient new own resources; calls for the necessary budgetary and institutional reforms to be agreed as soon as possible; recalls that the stability, security and democratic resilience of the candidate countries are inextricably linked to those of the EU and require sustained strategic investment to support their convergence with Union standards; highlights the fact that the gradual integration of candidate countries into the Union’s programmes, and more broadly into the single market, would facilitate a harmonious and successful enlargement process;

Amendment  8

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 57

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
57. Insists that, post-2027, sufficient financial and staff resources be allocated from the outset so that Union institutions, bodies and decentralised agencies can ensure effective and efficient policy design, delivery and enforcement, continue to attract the best people from all Member States, thus ensuring geographical balance, and have leeway to adjust to changing circumstances;	57. Underlines the importance of the effective functioning of the EU’s institutions; insists that, post-2027, sufficient financial and staff resources be allocated from the outset so that Union institutions, bodies and decentralised agencies can ensure effective and efficient policy design, delivery and enforcement, continue to attract the best people from all Member States, thus ensuring geographical balance, and have leeway to adjust to changing circumstances;

Amendment  9

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 63

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
63. Reiterates its long-standing position that all EU-level spending should be brought within the purview of the budgetary authority; calls, therefore, for the full budgetisation of (partially) off-budget instruments such as the Social Climate Fund, the Innovation Fund and the Modernisation Fund, or their successors;	63. Reiterates its long-standing position that all EU-level spending should be brought within the purview of the budgetary authority, thereby ensuring transparency, full democratic control and the protection of the EU’s public finances and financial interests; calls, therefore, for the full budgetisation of (partially) off-budget instruments such as the Social Climate Fund, the Innovation Fund and the Modernisation Fund, or their successors;

Amendment  10

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 87

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
87. Recalls that the requirement for close interinstitutional cooperation between the Commission, the Council and Parliament from the early design stages to the final adoption of the MFF is enshrined in the Treaties and further detailed in the IIA;	87. Intends to fully exercise its role as legislator and budgetary and discharge authority, in line with the Treaties, and expects the Commission and the Council to fully respect the prerogatives of Parliament under the Treaties; recalls that the requirement for close interinstitutional cooperation between the Commission, the Council and Parliament from the early design stages to the final adoption of the MFF is enshrined in the Treaties and further detailed in the IIA;

Amendment  11

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 88

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
88. Emphasises Parliament’s commitment to play its role fully throughout the process; believes that the design of the MFF should be bottom-up and based on the extensive involvement of stakeholders; underlines, furthermore, the need for a strategic dialogue among the three institutions in the run-up to the MFF proposals;	88. Emphasises Parliament’s commitment to play its role fully throughout the process and be involved as an equal arm of the budgetary authority; believes that the design of the MFF should be bottom-up and based on the appropriate and transparent involvement of stakeholders; underlines, furthermore, the need for a strategic dialogue among the three institutions in the run-up to the MFF proposals;

Amendment  12

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 91 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	91 a. Recalls its proposals that the ordinary legislative procedure be applied for the adoption of the MFF Regulation so that Parliament acquires full budgetary prerogatives; highlights the fact that Article 312(2), second subparagraph, TFEU provides for a passerelle clause in this regard;

 

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR OPINION HAS RECEIVED INPUT

 

The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

INFORMATION ON ADOPTION IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Date adopted	19.3.2025
Result of final vote	+ : 20 - : 6 0 : 0
Members present for the final vote	Gerolf Annemans, Gabriele Bischoff, Salvatore De Meo, Vasile Dîncu, Klára Dobrev, Nikolas Farantouris, Daniel Freund, Jean-Paul Garraud, Charles Goerens, Sandro Gozi, Emmanouil Kefalogiannis, Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Thijs Reuten, Ernő Schaller-Baross, Bartłomiej Sienkiewicz, Sven Simon, Reinier Van Lanschot, Adrián Vázquez Lázara, Loránt Vincze, Charlie Weimers
Substitutes present for the final vote	Tom Berendsen, Marieke Ehlers, Branko Grims, Idoia Mendia, Ana Miguel Pedro, Gheorghe Piperea
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Michal Wiezik

 

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

20	+
PPE	Berendsen Tom, De Meo Salvatore, Grims Branko, Kefalogiannis Emmanouil, Pedro Ana Miguel, Simon Sven, Vincze Loránt, Vázquez Lázara Adrián
Renew	Goerens Charles, Gozi Sandro, Wiezik Michal
S&D	Bischoff Gabriele, Dîncu Vasile, Dobrev Klára, López Aguilar Juan Fernando, Mendia Idoia, Reuten Thijs
The Left	Farantouris Nikolas
Verts/ALE	Freund Daniel, Van Lanschot Reinier

 

6	-
ECR	Piperea Gheorghe, Weimers Charlie
PfE	Annemans Gerolf, Ehlers Marieke, Garraud Jean-Paul, Schaller-Baross Erno

 

0

0

 

Key:

+ : in favour

- : against

0 : abstentions

 

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY (9.4.2025)

for the Committee on Budgets

on a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world

(2024/2051(INI))

Rapporteur for opinion: Alexandra Geese

 

 

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality submits the following to the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible:

Amendment  1

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
– having regard to Articles 311, 312, 323 and 324 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),	– having regard to Articles 8, 208, 311, 312, 323 and 324 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU),

Amendment  2

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to Articles 2, 3, 6, 14, 17 and 21 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU),

Amendment  3

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to Articles 3, 21, 23 and 34 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union on non-discrimination, equality and social security,

Amendment  4

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/692 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 establishing the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1381/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EU) No 390/20141a,   ______________ 1a OJ L 156 5.5.2021, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/692/oj.

Amendment  5

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/522 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 March 2021 establishing a Programme for the Union’s action in the field of health (‘EU4Health Programme’) for the period 2021-2027, and repealing Regulation (EU) No 282/20141a,   ______________ 1a OJ L 107, 26.3.2021, p.1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/522/oj.

Amendment  6

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (Common Provisions Regulation)1a, in particular Article 9 thereof on horizontal principles and Annex III thereto on horizontal enabling conditions – Article 15(1), regarding, in particular, respect for fundamental rights and compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union,   ______________ 1a OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 159, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1060/oj.

Amendment  7

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 f (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),

Amendment  8

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 g (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the European Consensus on Development signed on 7 June 2017, which provides the framework for a common approach to development policy that will be applied by the EU institutions and the Member States,

Amendment  9

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 h (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the EU Gender Action Plan (GAP III),

Amendment  10

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 i (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Commission communication of 11 December 2019 entitled ‘The European Green Deal’ (COM(2019)0640),

Amendment  11

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 j (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to its resolution of 15 January 2020 on the European Green Deal1a,   ______________ 1a OJ C 270, 7.7.2021, p.2.

Amendment  12

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 k (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to its resolution of 16 January 2018 on women, gender equality and climate justice1a,   ______________ 1a OJ C 458, 19.12.2018, p. 34.

Amendment  13

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 l (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Commission communication of 11 February 2025 entitled ‘The Road to the next multiannual financial framework’ (COM(2025)0046),

Amendment  14

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 m (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Commission communication of 7 September 2022 on the European care strategy (COM(2022)0440),

Amendment  15

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 n (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to its resolution of 5 July 2022 towards a common European action on care1a,   ______________ 1a OJ C 47, 7.2.2023, p. 30.

Amendment  16

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 o (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the EU gender equality strategy 2020-2025,

Amendment  17

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 p (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the special report of the European Court of Auditors entitled ‘Gender mainstreaming in the EU budget: time to turn words into action’, published in 2021,

Amendment  18

Motion for a resolution

Citation 1 q (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/692 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 establishing the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1381/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EU) No 390/20141a,   ______________ 1a OJ L 156, 5.5.2021, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/692/oj.

Amendment  19

Motion for a resolution

Citation 15 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	– having regard to the Commission communication of 30 June 2021 entitled ‘A long-term Vision for the EU’s Rural Areas - Towards stronger, connected, resilient and prosperous rural areas by 2040’ (COM(2021)0345),

Amendment  20

Motion for a resolution

Recital A a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Aa. whereas gender equality is a core value of the Union, as enshrined in Article 2 TEU; whereas Article 8 TFEU states that ‘in all its activities, the Union shall aim to eliminate inequalities and to promote equality’, thus establishing the principle of gender mainstreaming, according to which the gender equality perspective must be integrated across all policies and programmes, including all levels of the budgetary process; whereas budgets are never gender-neutral and therefore need to be established with the clear objective of anti-discrimination and the goal of reaching all individuals and their specific needs;

Amendment  21

Motion for a resolution

Recital B a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ba. whereas equality between women and men is a precondition for women’s participation in the labour market, in leading positions and in science and research, and thus for gender equality, and has an impact on the economy of the Member States;

Amendment  22

Motion for a resolution

Recital C

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
C. whereas spending through the Union budget, if effectively targeted, aligned with the Union’s political priorities and coordinated with spending at national level, helps to avoid fragmentation in the single market and to boost the overall impact of public investment; whereas public investment is essential to incentivise private investment;	C. whereas spending through the Union budget, if effectively targeted, aligned with the Union’s political priorities and coordinated with spending at national level, helps to protect and promote fundamental rights, including women’s rights and the rule of law, foster cohesion and equality, as well as avoid fragmentation in the single market and to boost the overall impact of public investment; whereas public investment is essential to incentivise private investment;

Amendment  23

Motion for a resolution

Recital D a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Da. whereas persons with disabilities, especially women and girls, face barriers that hinder their access to fundamental rights, education, employment and social services; whereas the multiannual financial framework (MFF) must ensure adequate and specific funding to promote their full inclusion in society and the labour market;

Amendment  24

Motion for a resolution

Recital D b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Db. whereas simplifying processes within the MFF will make it easier for women to thrive, thereby reducing regulatory barriers that disproportionately impact them;

Amendment  25

Motion for a resolution

Recital D c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Dc. whereas a competitiveness check could assess the unique challenges businesses, including women-led businesses, face in accessing resources, capital and opportunities, ensuring that new policies address these gaps and promote an environment where women-led businesses can both flourish and thrive;

Amendment  26

Motion for a resolution

Recital D d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Dd. whereas annual updates on the Competitiveness Compass, reported through the Single Market and Competitiveness Report could measure tangible outcomes specifically for women-led businesses; whereas this could be useful for the MFF revision;

Amendment  27

Motion for a resolution

Recital D e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	De. whereas addressing skills shortages and providing targeted support to women so that they can enter industries with high growth potential, such as digital technology and green energy, and take on leadership roles, could help turbocharge European economic growth;

Amendment  28

Motion for a resolution

Recital E a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ea. whereas 99 % of European businesses are defined as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); whereas these employ more than 85 million workers, including women, and the vast majority of them are classified as micro enterprises;

Amendment  29

Motion for a resolution

Recital F a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Fa. whereas the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) is the only EU agency for gender equality; whereas because of a lack of resources, EIGE is only able to respond to a quarter of requests for technical assistance on gender mainstreaming, in spite of this being one of its main tasks, which has resulted in the prioritisation of EU institutions to the detriment of the Member States that receive little to no technical assistance;

Amendment  30

Motion for a resolution

Recital F b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Fb. whereas it is of the outmost importance to improve education opportunities and modernise vocational education and training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), with a particular focus on girls and women, in order to fill the current gender gaps in the STEM fields’ workforce and to enhance awareness about opportunities and risks concerning new technologies such as artificial intelligence;

Amendment  31

Motion for a resolution

Recital G a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ga. whereas improving gender equality is estimated to increase the EU’s gross domestic product (GDP) per capita by 6.1 % to 9.6 %, amounting to between EUR 1.95 trillion and 3.15 trillion by 2050, according to EIGE1a;
	_________________
	1a https://eige.europa.eu/newsroom/economic-benefits-gender-equality.

Amendment  32

Motion for a resolution

Recital H a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Ha. whereas competiveness should be integral to the MFF revision to ensure that competitiveness is integrated into the EU budget, enhancing European women’s competitiveness while driving sustainable and strong economic growth;

Amendment  33

Motion for a resolution

Recital H b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Hb. whereas Parliament has repeatedly called for sufficient funding for the Daphne strand of EIGE, the equality and rights strand of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, civil society organisations under the NDICI programme, the EU4Health programme, and the Social Innovation strand of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+); whereas Parliament has repeatedly also called for the application of gender mainstreaming in the main European funds such as Horizon Europe, the common agricultural policy, the Cohesion Fund and NextGenerationEU;

Amendment  34

Motion for a resolution

Recital H c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Hc. whereas preparedness mainstreaming should be integral to the MFF revision to ensure that women live in an EU that is prepared for crises;

Amendment  35

Motion for a resolution

Recital H d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Hd. whereas EIGE is expected to deliver on its new tasks of monitoring the implementation of recently adopted new pieces of legislation and strategies, such as the Gender-Balance on Boards Directive, Directive on Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, Pay Transparency Directive, Standards for Equality Bodies Directive, Work-Life Balance Directive, Care Strategy, Barcelona Targets and post-2025 Gender Equality Strategy; whereas the Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission of 16 December 2020 on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources1a (IIA) includes provisions regarding the allocation of resources to agencies when a legislative proposal assigns new tasks to them;   ______________ 1a OJ L 433I, 22.10.2020, p. 28, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/agree_interinstit/2020/1222/oj.

Amendment  36

Motion for a resolution

Recital H e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	He. whereas women play a crucial role in resource efficiency and sustainable economic practices; whereas rising costs of commodities because of resource scarcity further exacerbate socio-economic inequalities;

Amendment  37

Motion for a resolution

Recital H f (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Hf. whereas a well-functioning welfare state and accessible public services, including transportation, healthcare and childcare, are essential for women’s career advancement and mobility; whereas a lack of public services increases the double burden of unpaid care work, limiting women’s participation in the labour market and affecting work-life balance;

Amendment  38

Motion for a resolution

Recital H g (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Hg. whereas priority should be given to initiatives that empower women in leadership roles, with a focus on increasing women’s participation in decision-making processes, and particularly, but not only, for women in business and the STEM sector;

Amendment  39

Motion for a resolution

Recital H h (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Hh. whereas single women, particularly in old age, are at the highest risk of poverty; whereas gender pension gaps and disparities in career progression contribute to women’s increased vulnerability to financial insecurity in old age; whereas EU policies must address the gendered dimensions of poverty and social exclusion in long-term budget planning;

Amendment  40

Motion for a resolution

Recital H i (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Hi. whereas only 0.01 % of all funding worldwide supports projects that address both climate change and women’s rights, according to the UN Development Programme1a;
	_________________
	1a https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2017-0403_EN.html.

Amendment  41

Motion for a resolution

Recital H j (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Hj. whereas exceeding the planetary boundaries, including climate, biodiversity, water and novel entities, has negative aggravating impacts on the economy and on national and EU budgets, which in turn impacts negatively on women in both direct and indirect ways: as a phenomenon in itself and as budgetary constraints;

Amendment  42

Motion for a resolution

Recital H k (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Hk. whereas women’s and girls’ health is particularly at risk from pollution and climate change because of gendered differences in exposure, socio-economic status, vulnerability and access to healthcare; whereas the Declaration of the Seventh Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health signed by EU environment and health ministers in Budapest in July 2023 commits to stepping up action to strengthen health protection in view of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution;

Amendment  43

Motion for a resolution

Recital H l (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Hl. whereas the 8th Environment Action Programme provides the legally binding framework for ensuring that, by 2050, the EU’s natural environment is ‘restored, resilient and adequately protected’ and that ‘all pollution is reduced to levels no longer considered harmful to human health and natural ecosystems’; whereas reducing and preventing pollution will be beneficial for the health of women and girls, given that their health is particularly at risk due to differences in exposure, socio-economic status, vulnerability and access to healthcare;

Amendment  44

Motion for a resolution

Recital H m (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Hm. whereas the first-ever European Climate Risk Assessment confirms that climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss pose severe and escalating health risks in Europe, with heat stress and wildfires among the most urgent threats, disproportionately affecting women, girls and other vulnerable populations due to differences in exposure, socio-economic status, vulnerability and access to healthcare; whereas during the 2023 summer heatwave in Europe, heat mortality was 55 % higher for women;

Amendment  45

Motion for a resolution

Recital H n (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	Hn. whereas the challenges facing our common security architecture have become more complex in recent years; whereas military defence is central to this and women should be encouraged to play a greater role in ensuring Europe’s security; whereas this background provides important context for the MFF;

Amendment  46

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 1 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	1a. Highlights the Union’s commitments to equality, especially those outlined in the gender equality strategy and the United Nations’ SDGs, specifically goals 5 and 10; stresses that the post-27 MFF should mainstream gender equality and help eliminate inequalities across the Union and in the world, including by dedicating EU budget expenditures that are higher than the current ones and by supporting gender equality and other equality objectives in line with the Treaties;

Amendment  47

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 3

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
3. Emphasises that the post-2027 MFF must also become simpler and more transparent and be protected against misuse, fraud and breaches of the principles of the rule of law and the Union’s values;	3. Emphasises that the post-2027 MFF must also become simpler and more transparent and be protected against misuse, fraud and breaches of the principles of the rule of law, fundamental rights and the Union’s values;

Amendment  48

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	4a. Recalls that gender equality is a core value of the Union, enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union; emphasises that it is the responsibility of the Union and its Member States to safeguard Union values and work towards them and in line with them at all times;

Amendment  49

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	4b. Highlights the importance of safeguarding the progress achieved so far in key areas of EU policy, including gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights; emphasises the need to ensure that the post-2027 MFF does not lead to backtracking on the progress made;

Amendment  50

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 4 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	4c. Calls for a re-emphasis on the fact that no EU funds, under the multiannual financial framework (MFF), are attributed to or inadvertently benefit terrorist organisations, while calling for the Union to maintain its commitment to supporting conflict resolution in fragile regions, which is paramount to guaranteeing women’s rights, among others, globally;

Amendment  51

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
6. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness, decarbonising the economy and enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society;	6. Is convinced that boosting competitiveness, decarbonising the economy, enhancing the Union’s innovation capacity and addressing economic and social inequalities are central priorities for the post-2027 MFF and are vital to ensure long-term, sustainable and inclusive growth and a more resilient economy and society;

Amendment  52

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	6a. Calls for more SME-friendly policies that take into consideration gender equality between men and women when appropriate;

Amendment  53

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	6b. Calls for a reinforced Single Market Enforcement Taskforce that would prioritise the minimising of the burdens faced by all businesses, including women-led businesses, by ensuring that women can easily access and realise their entrepreneurial potential within the single market;

Amendment  54

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 c (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	6c. Calls for the EU to ensure a level playing field for entrepreneurs, including women entrepreneurs, by fighting fragmentation and gold plating, which often result in additional barriers for businesses, and underlines that the future MFF revision should take this regulatory reality into consideration;

Amendment  55

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 d (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	6d. Calls for better digital solutions for entrepreneurs, including women entrepreneurs, and welcomes the introduction of the Digital Business Wallet for simplified business processes;

Amendment  56

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 6 e (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	6e. Underlines the need to provide businesses with easy access to essential services such as funding, business angels and business venture capitalists, training, networking opportunities and mentoring support programmes;

Amendment  57

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 7

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
7. Underlines that, as spelt out in the Letta and Draghi reports, the European economy and social model are under intense strain, with the productivity, competitiveness and skills gap having knock-on effects on the quality of jobs and on living standards for Europeans already grappling with high housing, energy and food prices; is concerned that a lack of job opportunities and high costs of living increase the risk of a brain drain away from Europe;	7. Underlines that, as spelt out in the Letta and Draghi reports, the European economy and social model are under intense strain, with the productivity, competitiveness and skills gap having knock-on effects on the quality of jobs and on living standards for Europeans already grappling with high housing, energy and healthcare costs and high food prices, and that women, young people and minorities are the most vulnerable and are at risk of financial insecurity; is concerned that a lack of job opportunities and high costs of living increase the risks of accelerating social inequality and fuelling social tensions;

Amendment  58

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
11. Emphasises that funding for research and innovation should be significantly increased, should be focused on the Union’s strategic priorities and should continue to be determined by the principle of excellence; considers that there should be sufficient resources across the MFF and at national level to fund all high-quality projects;	11. Emphasises that funding for research and innovation should be significantly increased, should be focused on the Union’s strategic priorities and should continue to be determined by the principle of excellence; considers that there should be sufficient resources across the MFF and at national level to fund all high-quality projects; stresses the need for increased funding for programmes advancing science and research on the health and economic burdens of pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss, which disproportionately impact women, for a strengthened science-to-policy uptake;

Amendment  59

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	11a. Underlines that women face disproportionate challenges, including under-representation on company boards, which also leads to difficulties accessing funding and mentorship, gender based discrimination, gender stereotypes and workplace harassment, leading to an unbalanced labour market and disproportionate care and unpaid domestic work burdens, which can impede women’s economic growth and competitiveness; stresses that the next MFF should tackle opportunity gaps for women entrepreneurs and incentivise women’s access to capital and networks, particularly through the lens of a dynamic cost analysis which will help identify and remove policies that disadvantage women, including women entrepreneurs;

Amendment  60

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 11 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	11b. Highlights the need, emphasised in the Commission’s political guidelines 2024-2029, to address skills gaps, and the importance of having the Union budget and the next MFF include a strategic plan for education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) that also includes an approach to encourage more girls and women into STEM education and careers, as jobs in these fields show evident gender disparities, with nearly twice as many men as women; points out that this, as stated in the Draghi Report, may represent the underuse of existing talent;

Amendment  61

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
13. Considers that the Union must develop a competitiveness framework in line with its own values and political aims and that competitiveness must therefore be understood as encompassing not only economic growth, but also social, economic and territorial cohesion and environmental sustainability;	13. Considers that the Union must develop a competitiveness framework in line with its founding values of democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human dignity and with its political aims; considers that competitiveness must therefore be understood as encompassing not only economic growth, but also social, economic and territorial cohesion and environmental sustainability; stresses that a truly competitive and thriving economy cannot be achieved without the full participation of women in the workforce and in business leadership; highlights the importance of increasing women’s participation in STEM fields because their skills, knowledge and qualifications can help boost the European economy and support the goals defined in various EU policies;

Amendment  62

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 13 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	13a. Calls for a strategic framework within the MFF that embeds competitiveness across EU-funded programmes and initiatives, recognising that innovation, digital transformation, education and good employment for citizens, including women and girls, are important factors for competitiveness, and underlines that competiveness can foster such factors;

Amendment  63

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
14. Underlines that a more competitive, productive and socially inclusive economy helps to generate high-quality, well-paid jobs, thus enhancing people’s standard of living; emphasises that, through programmes such as the European Social Fund+ and Erasmus+, the Union budget can play an important role in supporting education and training systems, boosting workforce adaptability through reskilling and upskilling, and thus preparing people for employment in a modern economy;	14. Underlines that a more competitive, productive and socially inclusive economy helps to generate high-quality, well-paid jobs, thus enhancing people’s standard of living; stresses that the economic loss due to the gender employment gap amounts to EUR 370 billion per year and that improving gender equality could lead to an increase in GDP of up to EUR 3.15 trillion by 2050; emphasises that, through programmes such as the European Social Fund+ and Erasmus+, the Union budget can play an important role in supporting education and training systems, boosting workforce adaptability through reskilling and upskilling, and thus preparing people for employment in a modern economy; highlights the fact that the under-representation of girls and women in several fields of education and professions contributes to gender pay gaps, a labour market characterised by gender stereotypes and subsequent labour market division;

Amendment  64

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 14 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	14a. Calls on the Commission to place greater emphasis on increasing upskilling opportunities for women and girls, including older women, which in turn will help reduce gender gaps in skills development and ensure that women are equipped to boost productivity and contribute to the EU’s overall economic growth;

Amendment  65

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 15

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
15. Insists that the Union budget should continue to support important economic and job-creating sectors where the Union is already a world leader, such as tourism and the cultural and creative industries;	15. Insists that the Union budget should continue to support important economic and job-creating sectors where the Union is already a world leader, such as tourism and the cultural and creative industries; while also recognising the essential role of the care sector, including healthcare, education and social care, in ensuring economic resilience, social cohesion and quality employment;

Amendment  66

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	17a. Presses for stronger measures to promote gender equality and improve work-life balance for all citizens; underlines the persistent gender gap in unpaid care work, which disproportionately burdens women; believes that prioritising investment in affordable, high quality childcare, expanding paid parental leave and adopting policies that foster inclusive communities are essential; places particular importance on the need to eliminate discrimination against women in the workplace, especially following maternity leave; stresses that caregiving responsibilities must not be a barrier to women’s career progression; calls for sufficient funding for the implementation of the European Care Strategy to ensure quality, accessible and affordable care for all; stresses, further, the need for investment in childcare and long-term care facilities to ensure women’s participation in the labour market;

Amendment  67

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 17 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	17b. Highlights the fact that gender inequalities are more evident in certain sectors, namely agriculture and fisheries, which are crucial for ensuring food security and the strategic autonomy of the EU; considers it to be essential, therefore, that the next MFF continue to support these sectors, which are predominantly in rural areas, where the gender disparities in employment are greater than those in urban areas;

Amendment  68

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
19. Stresses that cohesion policy funding must tackle the key challenges the Union faces, such as demographic change and depopulation, and target the regions and people most in need; highlights, in particular, the importance of enhanced support to address the EU-wide housing crisis affecting millions of families and young people;	19. Stresses that cohesion policy funding must address the key challenges the Union faces, such as increased socio-economic hardship and barriers in accessing social rights such as healthcare, including sexual and reproductive healthcare, social security and housing, climate change, increasing disparities at inter and intra-regional level, and demographic change and depopulation, all of which have a disproportionate effect on women and girls, while respecting human rights and the principles of social justice, and that cohesion policy funding must target the regions and people most in need, such as women and minorities; highlights, in particular, the importance of enhanced support to address the EU-wide housing crisis affecting millions of families and young people;

Amendment  69

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19a. Recognises that there are still regional disparities within the EU in achieving gender equality, an important element for development and, therefore, for cohesion; stresses, therefore, that the next MFF should have a more comprehensive vision for the harmonious development of the European territory, aiming for cohesion; underlines that the EU must urgently address key challenges that affect its long-term stability and growth, particularly demographic change and regional disparities; emphasises, in this regard, that a central focus should be on supporting the most vulnerable regions and populations to ensure that no one is left behind and that improving social cohesion becomes a critical priority, alongside tackling urgent issues such as the EU-wide housing crisis, which impacts millions of families, women, young and vulnerable people across the Union, who cannot fully enjoy their rights and often face discrimination;

Amendment  70

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 19 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	19b. Calls on the Commission to cut red tape for entrepreneurs, including women entrepreneurs, through simplification efforts to reduce the reporting burden on SMEs, with a particular focus and emphasis on women-led businesses where possible;

Amendment  71

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 21

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
21. Highlights that the green and digital transitions are inextricably linked to competitiveness, the modernisation of the economy and the resilience of society and that, therefore, the post-2027 MFF must continue to support the twin transitions;	21. Highlights that the green and digital transitions are inextricably linked to competitiveness, the modernisation of the economy and the resilience of society and that, therefore, the post-2027 MFF must continue to support the twin transitions; emphasises the need to accelerate the green transition through targeted budgetary support while ensuring sufficient resources for sustainable investment, especially with regard to women and girls;

Amendment  72

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 22

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
22. Recalls that the Union is committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, which requires a decarbonisation of the economy through the deployment of clean technologies, improved energy and transport infrastructure and more energy-efficient housing; notes that the Commission estimates additional investment needs to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at 1.5 % of GDP per year compared to the decade 2011-2020 and that, while the Union budget alone cannot cover the gap, it must remain a vital contributor;	22. Recalls that the Union is committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050, which requires a decarbonisation of the economy through the deployment of clean technologies, improved energy and transport infrastructure and more energy-efficient housing; stresses that achieving climate neutrality by 2050 is also crucial in terms of gender equality and necessitates a swift phase-out of direct and indirect EU funding for fossil fuels by 2027; calls for investment to be redirected toward clean energy innovation, pollution reduction and climate resilience; notes that the Commission estimates additional investment needs to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 at 1.5 % of GDP per year compared to the decade 2011-2020 and that, while the Union budget alone cannot cover the gap, it must remain a vital contributor;

Amendment  73

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 23

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
23. Underlines that industry will be central in the transition to net zero and that support will be needed in helping some industrial sectors and their workers to adapt; stresses that the transition must leave no one behind, requiring investment in regions that are heavily fossil-fuel dependent and increased support for households, in particular through the Social Climate Fund;	23. Underlines that industry will be central in the transition to net zero and that support will be needed in helping some industrial sectors and their workers to adapt; stresses that the transition must leave no one behind, requiring investment in regions that are heavily fossil-fuel dependent and increased support for households, in particular through the Social Climate Fund; calls for the allocation of targeted funding for the remediation of sites contaminated by PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which have a significantly negative impact on fertility in women and girls, to ensure environmental and public health protection;

Amendment  74

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
24. Points to the profound technological shift under way, with new technologies such as artificial intelligence both creating opportunities, in terms of economic potential and improvements to the citizens’ lives, and posing reliability and ethical challenges; stresses that the next MFF must support the development and safe application of such technologies and help people to hone the skills they need to work with and use them;	24. Points to the profound technological shift under way, with new technologies such as artificial intelligence both creating opportunities, in terms of economic potential and improvements to the citizens’ lives, and posing reliability and ethical challenges; stresses that the next MFF must support the development and safe application of such technologies, while also committing to addressing algorithmic biases that contribute to gender-based violence, and that it must help people to hone the skills they need to work with and use them;

Amendment  75

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 24 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	24a. Calls for the presence and influence of women in the digital field to be strengthened, with particular emphasis on the acquisition of transversal skills, such as leadership, empowerment, negotiation and gender mainstreaming strategies; underlines that enhancing training and mentoring in key technology areas is essential, including cybersecurity, front-end development, graphic design and digital marketing, in order to bridge the skills gap in the digital sector and enable women to thrive in the digital age, ultimately contributing to economic growth in their regions;

Amendment  76

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
25. Recalls that security is the foundation for the Union’s prosperity and social model and that the next MFF must invest significantly more in safeguarding the Union against the myriad threats it faces;	25. Recalls that peace and human security are the foundations for the Union’s prosperity and social model and that the next MFF must invest significantly more in safeguarding the Union and its people against the myriad threats it faces;

Amendment  77

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 25 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	25a. Underlines that security should be understood in its broadest sense, through a human-centred approach, including social, educational, environmental and cultural dimensions, which require strong democracies and equality, including gender equality; insists that investment in defence take into account these broader aspects of security.

Amendment  78

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 31

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
31. Emphasises that the Union needs to ramp up funding for preparedness across the board; underlines that, in addition to efforts to mitigate climate change through the green transition, significant investment is required to adapt to climate change, in particular to protect against and reduce the impact of natural disasters and severe weather events; considers that support for this purpose must be significantly increased in the next MFF;	31. Emphasises that the Union needs to ramp up funding for preparedness across the board; underlines that, in addition to efforts to mitigate climate change through the green transition, significant investment is required to adapt to climate change, in particular to protect against and reduce the impact of natural disasters and severe weather events; stresses that gender-responsive budgeting must be integrated into climate adaptation measures to ensure targeted support for women and vulnerable groups in climate-fuelled disasters; underlines that vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant women, elderly people, those already sick and those facing socio-economic inequalities, face disproportionate health risks; considers that support for this purpose must be significantly increased in the next MFF, particularly as women and girls are disproportionately affected by these crises; stresses that all funding for fossil fuels and environmentally harmful activities must be phased out, as environmental degradation exacerbates social inequalities;

Amendment  79

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 32

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
32. Recalls that the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked economic and social havoc globally and that a key lesson from the experience is that there is a need to invest in preparedness for health threats, in medical research and in the resilience of public health systems in the Union; considers that the next MFF must build on the work done in the current programming period;	32. Recalls that the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked economic and social havoc globally, with a disproportionate effect on women, and that a key lesson from the experience is that there is a need to invest in preparedness for health, climate and environmental threats, in addressing shortages of medicines, in advancing science on the health and economic burdens of pollution, in medical research and in the resilience of public health systems in the Union; stresses that preparedness must prioritise the protection of the most vulnerable, including children, pregnant women, elderly people, those already sick, and socio-economically disadvantaged groups; calls for health-protective investment in key health-determining sectors such as energy, transport, agriculture, industry and urban planning to strengthen long-term climate resilience and protect public health; considers that the next MFF must build on the work done in the current programming period, maintaining and increasing the EU4Health programme; considers that additional resources must be allocated to developing gender-sensitive medicines and to ensuring, among other things, timely provision of and accessibility to safe sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services;

Amendment  80

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 32 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	32a. Underlines the importance of a comprehensive security approach that integrates the rule of law, gender equality and the participation of women in decision-making and extends beyond military threats to include challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, demographic shifts, organised crime, cyberattacks and public health crises; highlights the fact that societal resilience depends on adequately funding under-resourced sectors, particularly social and healthcare services, where women make up the majority of both the workforce and the beneficiaries and are also disproportionately affected during crises; stresses that societal security requires significant investment, particularly in underfunded and undervalued sectors such as social services, where both the workforce and the beneficiaries are predominantly women; calls for increased funding to strengthen the resilience and preparedness of social infrastructure as a key pillar of overall societal security;

Amendment  81

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 34

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
34. Underscores the importance of continued funding, in the next MFF, for effective protection of the EU’s external borders; underlines the need to counter trafficking networks and address hybrid attacks and the instrumentalisation of migrants, in particular by a third country or a hostile non-state actor;	34. Underscores the importance of continued funding, in the next MFF, for proper, humane and fair management of the EU’s external borders; including the effective functioning of independent monitoring mechanisms which are of vital importance for reducing the risk of fundamental rights violations, in particular for women and children; underlines the need to better protect vulnerable people, especially women and girls, from trafficking networks and to address hybrid attacks;

Amendment  82

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 34 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	34a. Calls for consistent and sustainable budgeting for all gender-related activities in the EU defence and security sector, in line with the EU action plan on women, peace and security; emphasises the need for dedicated funding for gender-related actions within common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions, including a specific budget line for the Gender Advisors within civilian CSDP missions;

Amendment  83

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 35

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
35. Insists that, in a context of heightened global instability, the Union must continue to engage constructively with third countries and support peace, stability, prosperity, security, democracy and sustainable development globally, in line with its values;	35. Insists that, in a context of heightened global instability, the Union must continue to engage constructively with third countries and support peace, stability, prosperity, security, democracy, the rule of law, human rights, gender equality, human development and sustainable development globally, in line with its values;

Amendment  84

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 35 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	35a. Recalls the Union’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 as well as its broader commitments to international peace and security, multilateralism, human rights, sustainable development, and international solidarity; stresses that these commitments must be underpinned by sufficient investments in the next MFF; emphasises the urgent need to protect and advance human rights, particularly women’s health and rights, as well as the rights of minorities, and people in vulnerable situations; insists that the EU external funding instruments all have specific objectives and where possible should not be merged, and that humanitarian aid, development cooperation and the pre-accession instrument must remain separate instruments to continue achieving their specific objectives;

Amendment  85

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 36 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	36a. Recalls that EU development cooperation must be based on the principles highlighted in Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union and on the objectives set out in Article 208 TFEU, which is the reduction and, in the long term, the eradication of poverty, which disproportionately affects women and children;

Amendment  86

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 37

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
37. Stresses that the next MFF must continue to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change, to providing relief in the event of natural disasters, ensuring global food security, improving healthcare systems, reducing poverty and inequality and boosting competitiveness and the security of global supply chains; emphasises, in particular, the need for support for the Union’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods;	37. Stresses that the next MFF must continue to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from fighting climate change, reducing and preventing pollution to providing relief in the event of natural disasters, ensuring global food security, improving healthcare systems and human development, reducing poverty and inequality including gender equality, raising the level of education and boosting competitiveness and the security of global supply chains; emphasises, in particular, the need for support for the Union’s Southern and Eastern Neighbourhoods, sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Latin America;

Amendment  87

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 37 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	37a. Underlines the need for the next MFF to allocate sufficient resources to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment through all EU external action; calls for the next instrument for international cooperation to pay particular attention to the promotion of gender equality, with the establishment of a target of 85 % of official development assistance (ODA) going to projects that have gender equality as a significant or principal objective, and 20 % of ODA going to projects which have gender equality as their principal objective; highlights the need for urgent action in response to the global rollback of women’s rights and emphasises that the current MFF does not envisage a dedicated budget for the implementation of the gender action plan (GAP) III;

Amendment  88

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 37 b (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	37b. Stresses the importance of the Gender Action Plan (GAP III) in accelerating progress towards gender equality globally by making it a priority in all the EU’s external actions and in particular by setting up the target of 85 % of all new actions contributing to gender equality and women’s empowerment by 2025; points out to the need to continue and follow-up on these efforts under the post-2027 MFF, with adequate resources dedicated to the implementation of the upcoming GAP IV, in line with the women, peace and security agenda; highlights the urgent need to address the issue of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict through a gender lens;

Amendment  89

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 38

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
38. Underlines that the budget must uphold the Union’s role as the world’s leading provider of development aid and climate finance in line with the Union’s global obligations and commitments; insists that the budget must continue to support the Union in its efforts to defend the rules-based international order, democracy, multilateralism, human rights and fundamental values;	38. Underlines that the budget must uphold the Union’s role as the world’s leading provider of development aid and climate finance in line with the Union’s global obligations and commitments including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and the women, peace and security agenda; insists that the budget must continue to support the Union in its efforts to defend the rules-based international order, democracy, multilateralism, human rights non-discrimination, equality and fundamental values; further underlines that the EU must increase the level of funding for promoting human rights and gender equality globally and strive to fill gaps resulting from the withdrawal of funding by the United States Agency for International Development and the reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule;

Amendment  90

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 42 a (new)

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
	42a. Stresses the need to ensure that the next MFF provides robust and dedicated funding for democracy support and human rights, particularly in light of the growing global trend toward authoritarianism; stresses the importance of reinforcing democratic resilience, safeguarding the civic space, and protecting fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, association and the press; highlights the need to strengthen support for human rights defenders, LGBTI rights, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as integral components of the EU’s external action; urges a firm financial commitment to counter democratic backsliding and support inclusive, rights-based governance worldwide; calls for dedicated funding in the next MFF to assist human rights defenders, especially women, with emergency grants, legal aid and relocation, reinforcing the Union’s commitment to human rights and civil society protection, including in the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders;

Amendment  91

Motion for a resolution

Paragraph 46

Motion for a resolution	Amendment
46. Emphasises the importance of the Union budget in promoting and protecting democracy and the Union’s values, fostering the Union’s common cultural heritage and European integration, enhancing citizen engagement and youth participation and promoting fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the rule of law; points to the importance of independence of justice, the sound functioning of national institutions, support for civil society and de-oligarchisation;	46. Emphasises the importance of the Union budget in the elimination of discrimination, as well as gender inequality and gender-based violence, promoting and protecting democracy and the Union’s values, as enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union, including the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights, promoting non-discrimination and equality, including gender equality, women’s and girls’ rights and LGBTIQ people’s rights, fighting gender-based and domestic violence, fostering the Union’s common cultural heritage and European integration, enhancing citizen engagement and youth participation and promoting fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the rule of law; emphasises the interdependence between women’s rights and the rule of law; in this regard, underlines the need for an increased support for Civil Society Organisations that promote gender equality, women’s rights and LGBTIQ rights; points to the importance of independence of justice, the sound functioning of national institutions,