About: MFF

The EU steps up for a more equal post-corona future

The EU's ambitious new budget proposal to drive recovery following the coronavirus pandemic is a good start. But long-term investment will also be needed in health, social protection, and human development, writes Emily Wigens.

2020 will go down in history as the EU’s turning point thanks to COVID-19

In the two months since mid-March, the European Union has seen a change of course that was unthinkable at the start of the year. Entrenched taboos are falling away, and things that had been awaited for more than 20 years are happening within days and weeks. We must not waste this historic moment, writes Luca Jahier.

The day after

The EU's next seven-year financial framework will be the budget that rebuilds Europe or shatters it irreparably. And the current proposal on the table is too far from what we really need, write MEPs Eider Gardiazabal Rubial and Margarida Marques and explain the proposals offered by the Socialists and Democrats.

COVID-19 emergency makes EU budget deal more urgent than ever

The seriousness of the coronavirus outbreak makes hefty cuts to cohesion policy in the EU's next long-term budget all the more unjustified, writes Enrico Rossi, the governor of Italy's Tuscany Region.

Why it makes sense to adopt new own resources for the EU budget

The European Union is forgetting the revenue side of the EU budget to pursue its policies. The new own resources can provide a link to an EU policy, increase ownership, and shape behaviour of citizens, businesses and governments, write a group of Slovak diplomats.

EU regions affected by Brexit should not be left behind

While studies and reports about the consequences of Brexit on EU27 regions are multiplying, it is increasingly clear that the EU needs to create mechanisms to support territories negatively affected by the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the Union, write Marc Joulaud and Lambert Van Nistelrooij.

Story-telling is key for Europe

While Cohesion Policy remains a cornerstone of EU's action to boost growth and reduce inequalities in the continent, the policy lacks visibility, writes MEP Lambert van Nistelrooij.

An EU budget to protect people in poverty or our defence and security industries?

We need an EU budget that protects people instead of investing in borders and defence industries, argue Leo Williams and Vito Telesca.

Five steps for a climate-friendly EU Budget

The EU’s next Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) must reflect the commitment the EU has made to decarbonise its economy, in line with the aims of the Paris Agreement. Strong overall coherence to ensure that funds are spent in targeted and intelligent ways is the key to its success, writes Jonathan Gaventa.

Why the EU’s first post-Brexit budget must prioritise investment in climate action

Reflecting on the next EU budget post-Brexit, Eliot Whittington explains why now is the time for the EU to show leadership and unity to drive climate action and make a net-zero carbon economy the new normal.

EU and Africa have a unique chance to rationalise their cooperation

While 2018 is undoubtedly an important year for the European Union in terms of its own future, it is also a year for resetting its relations with developing countries and in particular with its continental neighbour on the other side of the Mediterranean, the African Union, writes James Mackie.

Upcoming EU budget debate is a chance to engage citizens

EU spending is highly complex and inflexible. An own resources budget would help the bloc respond to new challenges and better address the concerns of its citizens, writes Ivailo Kalfin.

EU budget: Deal done, mission not accomplished

Now that a budget deal has been brokered between EU heads of states and governments, NGOs intend to be uncompromising in tracking the spending decisions at national level, writes Markus Trilling .

A budget for the eurozone?

The attempt by the UK government to instrumentalise the need for further integration in the eurozone in an attempt to dismantle parts of the Union is highly unlikely to succeed, argue Fabian Zuleeg and Janis A. Emmanouilidis.

EU budget debate: Some one trillion euro questions and answers

Keti Medarova-Bergstrom and Pawel Swidlicki put their heads together to identify why and where EU budgetary spending has got it wrong in the past and propose how roughly €1 trillion can better serve Europe's environment, economy and people in the next funding period.

Regional funds: It’s not the quantity, it’s the quality

Western and Eastern European governments fighting over some billions less or more to the EU's next multi-annual budget (2014-2020) would better focus on how to spend this precious resource, writes Miroslav Mojžiš.