“The simpler and more flexible the EU budget is, the greater the need for strong parliamentary accountability”, said the chair of the European Parliament Committee on Budgets, Johan Van Overtveldt (ECR, Belgian), and the co-rapporteurs on the EU’s long-term budget, Siegfried Mureşan (EPP, Romanian) and Carla Tavares (S&D, Portuguese), after the European Commission published its ‘Roadmap’ for the next multiannual financial framework (see EUROPE 13577/20) on Wednesday 12 February.
Parliament must “fully exercise its role as legislator”, regardless of the structure and funding of the next MFF, warned the three MEPs. The European Commission said it was “looking forward to the forthcoming own-initiative report from the European Parliament” (see EUROPE 13570/13) and encouraged “the participation and contribution of other institutions and bodies” such as the European Court of Auditors, the Committee of the Regions, and the European Economic and Social Committee.
Prior to the publication of its MFF proposal in July 2025, the European Commission also launched a public consultation on Wednesday 12 February, which was aimed at stakeholders and the general public. They are invited to express their views on various aspects of the budget.
The public consultation will be open for the next twelve weeks. A panel of 150 European citizens will then be brought together to debate specific recommendations for the next long-term budget. An online platform will therefore allow everyone to take part in the debate. Meanwhile, as Agence Europe reported (see EUROPE 13571/22), Piotr Serafin, Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration, has embarked on a European tour of Member States. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)