On Thursday 19 March, the EU heads of state or government will discuss the Union’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034. The security and competitiveness aspects of the second budget pillar (‘Competitiveness, prosperity, security’) will be discussed as a priority.
“In a way, this is about leaders having a first approach to Heading II and how it can best be used to achieve the objectives set out in the competitiveness agenda”, said a senior European diplomat on Tuesday 17 March.
It will also be an opportunity to analyse the expenditure-revenue equation proposed by the European Commission, as the Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council will present to the EU27 a first negotiating box with figures by June.
According to the latest draft conclusion of the European Council, a copy of which has been obtained by Agence Europe, the leaders are expected to indicate that they have examined the budget’s contribution “to EU competitiveness, including the reduction of strategic dependencies, and the financing for EU ambitions“.
See the latest draft conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/l8a (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit)