About: Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF)
Germany’s EU Presidency: Merkel had to fix it
The turn of the year marks the end of the German presidency of the EU Council. When Angela Merkel's government took over in July, it was already clear that all previous plans had gone up in smoke and there was only one priority left: dealing with the pandemic. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU leaders unlock historic €1.8 trillion budget deal
EU leaders accepted on Thursday (10 December) the compromise reached between Germany and Hungary and Poland to unblock the EU budget package totalling €1.8 trillion, after the European Commission clarified that the Rule of Law mechanism will be valid from 1 January.
Polish PM says extra summit may be needed to unblock EU budget
The European Union may need to hold an extra summit to secure agreement on its planned economic recovery fund and budget, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Tuesday (8 December).
Commission considers options for recovery fund without Hungary and Poland
The European Commission is assessing options to circumvent Hungary and Poland’s veto to the EU budget and the recovery fund, and could come up with a proposal early next year if their blockade remains, a senior EU official confirmed on Wednesday (2 December).
Tweets of the Week: Rule of Law, Brexit mascot and vaccine efficacy claims
Hungary and Poland scupper rule of law aims, Brexit talks seem to be going down in flames, and vaccines efficacy sparks spurious claims!
Hungary and Poland veto stimulus against pandemic
Hungary and Poland blocked the approval of the EU’s seven-year budget and the recovery fund totalling €1.81 trillion, as both countries continued to oppose the rule of law mechanism attached to the EU funds.
Hunger-striking MEP wants more EU money for health, climate and jobs
In an unprecedented move, French MEP and general rapporteur for the 2021 budget, Pierre Larrouturou, begins his 13th day of hunger strike on Monday (9 November). His objective: to achieve more resources for health, climate and employment by taxing financial transactions. EURACTIV France reports.
EU budget chief sees deal on bloc’s long-term finances on Monday
The European Parliament and the bloc's national governments are likely to reach a deal on the EU's €1.1 trillion long-term budget for 2021-2027 on Monday (9 November), the European Commission's Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn said.
Parliament and Council near agreement on rule of law conditionality
The European Parliament and the Council were close to reaching an agreement on Thursday (29 October) on the Rule of Law conditionality attached to EU funds, but they continued to disagree on how to trigger the mechanism.
Europe urged to align budget with green finance rules
The EU’s sustainable finance taxonomy should be systematically applied to track green investments in the bloc’s next long-term budget and coronavirus recovery fund, which together amount to €1.8 trillion over the next seven years, according to a new report launched on Wednesday (28 October).
EU budget deal ‘virtually impossible’ without face-to-face talks
Reaching an agreement over the EU's €1.8 trillion seven-year budget and recovery plan will be "virtually impossible" without face-to-face meetings, warned the German EU Presidency.OpinionPromoted content
Financing the energy transition should take into account regional differences between Member States
An increased EU’s emission reduction target by 2030 is currently a hotly debated topic in Brussels. Regardless of whether the target will be 55% or 60%, reaching EU’s ambitious climate change targets requires significant investment outlays. Paweł Strączyński is PGE’s...
Erasmus celebrated worldwide as MEPs push for more funding
As Europe celebrates its flagship educational mobility programme, lawmakers in the European Parliament are fighting to increase the budget for what is widely regarded as one of the EU's greatest achievements.
Sassoli calls for ‘imagination’ to overcome budget negotiations deadlock
European Parliament President David Sassoli asked EU leaders on Thursday (15 October) to increase their financial contributions to the EU budget and called for “imagination” to make progress on the stalled negotiations.
Budget battle heats up as negotiators hit stalemate
The European Parliament and the Council failed to make any progress on Wednesday (14 October) on the budget negotiations and accused each other of presenting misleading figures of the additional funds requested for the EU’s long-term budget.OpinionPromoted content
COVID recovery: no generation left behind
European COVID recovery plans must address youth unemployment and wellbeing if they are to avoid the mistakes of the previous crisis. The European Youth Forum is the platform organisation advocating for youth rights in Europe. Dr Justa Hopma, 34, started...
No progress on EU’s long-term budget negotiations
EU member states and the European Parliament continued to disagree on Friday (18 September) on whether to increase the Union’s long-term budget, complicating attempts to reach a quick agreement on the badly needed recovery fund for the member states.
European Parliament votes for new taxes in EU to repay recovery borrowing
The European Parliament voted on Wednesday (16 September) in favour of assigning new tax revenues to the European Union to repay the bloc's intended joint borrowing of €750 billion for economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parliament wants to top up EU budget with €110 billion
The European Parliament on Monday (7 September) requested a €110 billion increase to the EU’s seven-year budget and legally binding commitments on the introduction of new levies to finance the bloc's €750 billion stimulus against the COVID-19 crisis, EURACTIV has learnt.
Economy agenda: Recovery and taxation to dominate the EU’s priorities
The implementation of the EU’s recovery fund and taxation will dominate the second half of the year, as both issues will top the German presidency agenda, and new resources are needed to finance the stimulus package to respond to the coronavirus crisis.
Parliament insists on revisiting budget cuts despite Michel, von der Leyen charm offensive
European Council and Commission presidents tried to gain the European Parliament support on Thursday (23 July) for the recovery plan backed earlier this week by the EU27 but lawmakers insist on negotiating budget cuts.
Parliament threatens to withhold consent on budget cuts, potentially delaying recovery plans
The European Parliament will adopt a critical stance against the European Council's recovery plans on Thursday (23 July), opposing cuts to EU-funded programmes in the bloc's long-term budget while also hitting out at the alleged 'weak' nature of rule of law conditionality.
Leaders edge closer to deal as EU recovery fund talks enter fourth day
EU leaders have edged closer to a compromise on a new long-term budget and a multi-billion euro coronavirus recovery fund and will reconvene on Monday (20 July) afternoon for a fourth day of negotiations.