The European Parliament adopted Guidelines for the 2026 EU budget – Section III during the plenary session on 2 April. The guidelines outline Parliament’s priorities for next year’s budget: strategic preparedness and security, economic competitiveness and resilience, sustainability, climate, and the single market. In addition, The Parliament calls for increased investment in research, innovation, enterprises, health, energy, migration, border protection, digital and green transitions, job creation, and opportunities for young people.

The guidelines also emphasize the vital role of Erasmus+, the European Social Fund Plus, and the EU Solidarity Corps in supporting employment, social protection, education, training, youth engagement, and equal opportunities across the EU. Additionally, the Parliament underlines sustained funding for the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, with particular attention to gender equality. Looking ahead, the Commission is expected to present its proposal for next year’s budget in June 2025. Parliament’s negotiators will use the guidelines as the basis for their discussions with the Council and the Commission. The budget needs to be agreed between the Council and the Parliament by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, the Parliament’s BUDG Committee has set out its position for the next EU long-term budget. The Committee is urging the creation of a far more ambitious and adaptable EU budget to address today’s geopolitical tensions, economic shifts, and climate challenges. In addition, it opposes the Commission’s idea of having a single national plan for each Member State, instead backing a decentralised strategy with stronger regional participation and enhanced parliamentary scrutiny. Co-rapporteur Siegfried Mureşan (EPP, Romania) stressed the importance of a budget that mirrors the EU’s evolving priorities, particularly in areas like competitiveness and defence, while safeguarding traditional commitments such as agriculture and regional cohesion. Meanwhile, co-rapporteur Carla Tavares (S&D, Portugal) underlined that citizens and regions must remain central to the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), while reinforcing the rule of law and fundamental EU values.

The European Parliament’s plenary is expected to vote on the report during its first session in May, setting out Parliament’s priorities and feeding into the Commission’s proposal for the next long-term EU budget. The Commission is expected to unveil its proposal in July.