On Tuesday 17 February, the European finance ministers, meeting in EU Council, adopted conclusions setting out the broad lines of the EU’s annual budget for 2027, the last year of the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
According to the Member States, this budget plays a “key role” in achieving the European Union’s long-term objectives and political priorities.
Almost four years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the EU Council stresses that the 2027 budget must continue to demonstrate European solidarity with Ukraine, in particular to meet humanitarian needs and support reconstruction. It also recalls the commitments made to cover Ukraine’s financial needs in 2026-2027.
In addition, the ministers reiterate the importance of a “realistic” budget, in line with “actual needs”, in accordance with the principles of unity, annuality, sound financial management and transparency.
They also call for sufficient margins to be preserved under the MFF ceilings in order to deal with unforeseen circumstances and to ensure the necessary funding for the implementation of programmes and the payment of commitments already entered into.
The EU Council calls as well on the Commission to incorporate into its draft budget plan the reallocations provided for in the revision of the MFF, in particular with regard to the financing of the priorities set out in this framework, including migration, and rigorous monitoring of outstanding commitments.
The Member States also want a control of administrative expenditure and greater transparency on interest relating to NextGenerationEU, the European post-health crisis recovery plan launched in 2020.
To see the conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/krs (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)