28
Apr
2026
Watch
Interim report on the proposal for the multiannual financial framework for 2028-2034 (debate)
Mr President, Commissioner, the MFF is a bold venture into the future, as we are programming the Union until 2034. And this is a vision with figures in our unpredictable world. And this is never business as usual – always exceptional circumstances. Now we have war back on our continent; therefore, we should equip our first‑ever Commissioner for Defence with a real budget. Now this is all about 'off budget'. Equally important is to make it more transparent by ring‑fencing cohesion, agriculture, fisheries and social fund. Equally important is to involve regions in the design and implementation. That makes Europe more visible and therefore more useful for the citizens. When distributing competitiveness funds and Horizon on the basis, of course, of excellence, we should take care also about geographical balance. Flexibility? Nobody's contesting the need for this, especially in dealing with the external world. But there cannot be excessive discretion for the Commission. We need our own resources to repay New Generation, not at the cost of existing programmes. It should be placed above the ceilings. It would be good to have a deal by the end of the year. People are not interested in interinstitutional disputes. They want us to deliver.