European Commission Launches Proposal for EU Budget 2028–2034

17 Jul 2025 | Noticias

The European Commission has presented its proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034, outlining the Union’s long-term budget and spending priorities. The proposal emphasises strategic investment in resilience, defence, digital transformation, green transition, territorial cohesion, sustainable development, competitiveness, and the Union’s security.

The total proposed MFF amounts to around €2 trillion until 2034, representing 1.26% of the EU’s gross national income (GNI). This marks an increase from the previous framework’s €1.21 trillion, which accounted for 1.13% of EU GNI. However, approximately 0.11% of the budget is allocated to servicing COVID-related debt, meaning the real increase amounts to just 0.02%.

The budget is structured around four main pillars:

  • National and Regional Partnerships Plans: Approximately €865 billion (43.25% of the total), covering agriculture, fisheries (Common Agricultural Policy – CAP), cohesion, and social policies, with one plan per each of the 27 Member States. This pillar represents less than half of the total MFF, a decrease compared to the previous period where the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) alone accounted for 60%. National and regional plans will be jointly prepared with the Commission but executed without its direct control.
    • 14% of this fund (€121 billion) is reserved for social objectives including skills, poverty reduction, social inclusion, and rural development.
    • €218 billion is earmarked for less developed regions.
    • The ESF+ allocation falls from €142.7 billion in the previous period to €121 billion, a cut of around €21.6 billion.
    • The CAP is set at €300 billion, a real-terms reduction of about 30%, with the Maritime and Fisheries Fund at €2 billion.
  • European Competitiveness Fund: Around €410 billion focused on competitiveness, research, and innovation. This pillar remains under EU control and consolidates previously independent programmes. Notably, the Horizon Europe research programme budget is expected to double to €200 billion. It also includes funding for security, defence, space (€131 billion), and strategic sectors such as decarbonisation, health, biotechnology, bioeconomy, and digitalisation—areas that include employment-related investments.
  • Global Europe: €200 billion dedicated to external action, including €100 billion earmarked for support to Ukraine, a point of contention with some Member States. This pillar is also under EU control. Erasmus+ and other cultural and educational programmes receive €49 billion.
  • Other Expenses: €292 billion covers various expenses including debt repayment from the COVID crisis, estimated at €25–30 billion annually. These payments will be financed through the Emissions Trading System and new EU own resources, expected to generate €58.2 billion per year.

The proposal maintains significant investment in social cohesion but the share dedicated specifically to social investments—particularly through the ESF+—may decline relative to other priorities. This raises questions about the future capacity to address persistent inequalities and support vulnerable groups such as Roma communities, who continue to face systemic barriers in education, employment, housing, and healthcare.

The future MFF should reinforce the European social model, based on solidarity, equality, and social justice. Strong alignment with the European Pillar of Social Rights and the EU Roma Strategic Framework will be essential to ensure commitments translate into measurable outcomes.

The legislative process now moves to interinstitutional negotiations involving the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council, expected to continue through 2025 and 2026. The outcome of these discussions will determine the EU’s budget priorities and the role of social investment in the coming years.

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