The General Affairs Council on 16 June 2026, under the Cyprus Presidency, debated a revised negotiating box for the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) that proposes a 2% cut across all headings, while also holding a forward-looking exchange on Hungary under Article 7 TEU. Deputy Minister Marilena Raouna presented the revised box, arguing it preserved balance and ambition, and highlighted partial general approaches on the NRPP, ECF, and Global Europe as signs of progress. Commissioner Michael McGrath welcomed the steps but stressed the need to preserve the Commission's original ambition on competitiveness, security, and flexibility. On Hungary, Raouna described the exchange as forward-looking, while McGrath noted progress—including the expiry of the state of danger, anti-corruption reforms, and Hungary's intention to join the European Public Prosecutor's Office—but insisted on no shortcuts and continued monitoring. Journalist Roland Papp (Népszava) pressed on Hungary's resistance to the migration pact, questioning its impact on rule-of-law credibility; McGrath emphasized cooperative implementation and the solidarity mechanism's flexibility. Raouna framed the presidency as delivering across five pillars, while McGrath praised the record but warned major negotiations, especially the MFF, remain unfinished. Consensus existed on the MFF partial general approaches, timely budget agreement, simplification for competitiveness, the European Democracy Shield, and support for Ukraine and enlargement. Next steps: the Cyprus Presidency continues for two weeks, then the trio of Ireland, Lithuania, and Greece takes over, with Commission support for concluding the MFF and advancing the One Europe, One Market roadmap.
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