20/03/2026 (Agence Europe) – The European Council held on Thursday 19 March did not address the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034 in its conclusions, deferring the subject to subsequent meetings. However, earlier in the week, preparatory discussions at ministerial level took place at the ‘General Affairs’ Council on 17 March (see EUROPE 13830/1), where the Member States debated the governance, architecture and own resources of the future budget. The Cyprus Presidency plans to present an initial negotiating box with indicative figures by June, with a view to reaching an agreement before the end of 2026. The leaders are expected to return to this issue regularly, with several meetings scheduled over the course of the year, including the informal ministerial meeting on General Affairs, scheduled for 3 March (see EUROPE 13818/10) and postponed to 10 and 11 May, and an extraordinary European Council planned for the end of November (see EUROPE 13798/21). (NP)