European Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin called on the European Parliament to reach a timely agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034, stressing the urgency of finalising the deal still in 2026. Speaking during a plenary debate on the interim report by rapporteurs Carla Tavares and Siegfried Mureșan, Serafin warned that the EU faces a volatile global environment marked by war in Ukraine, conflict in the Middle East, energy price spikes and trade tensions. He argued that the MFF must serve as an anchor of predictability while also building in flexibility to respond to crises.
Serafin outlined the Commission's proposal to increase EU spending from 1.13% to 1.26% of gross national income (GNI), with significant rises in areas such as external border protection (by a factor of four), security and defence, and research and innovation. He stressed that joint spending delivers better value for money, citing the cost of internal border controls as a reason to invest in external border protection. However, he acknowledged that member states face fiscal pressure, meaning not all ambitions can be funded. The only viable route to an ambitious budget, he argued, is through the adoption of new own resources, and he called on Parliament to continue supporting this.
Flexibility and partnership plans
The Commissioner defended the Commission's proposal for National and Regional Partnership Plans, which he said are designed to give member states and regions flexibility to use limited resources effectively. He rejected the idea that these plans weaken cohesion, agricultural or social objectives, framing them instead as a tool for better resource allocation.
Divergence with Council and Parliament
Serafin acknowledged that the Commission does not see eye to eye with Parliament on every topic, and that the Council is expected to take a different approach, particularly on the size of the budget. He urged Parliament to adopt its position with a strong majority, which would serve as a negotiating argument in upcoming talks. The debate also touched on the broader question of the EU's nature and how it should respond to global challenges. Serafin expressed confidence that Europeans want a stronger Union investing in common projects, warning that "either we will hang out together or we will be hanged separately."
No concrete proposals beyond existing Commission plan
The speech did not introduce new concrete proposals or numerical targets beyond those already in the Commission's MFF proposal. Serafin reiterated the need for new own resources and flexibility, but offered no specific figures or deadlines beyond the 2026 timeline. His remarks were largely declarative, urging unity and timely agreement without detailing new policy shifts.
trade-offs and cleavages
The debate highlights a cleavage between increasing EU-level spending and respecting national fiscal constraints. Serafin's push for new own resources reflects a preference for greater EU fiscal autonomy, which may face resistance from member states wary of transferring revenue-raising powers to Brussels. The proposal to increase border protection spending by a factor of four pits security investment against potential savings from reducing internal border controls, a trade-off that benefits EU border agencies and security industries but may strain national budgets. The emphasis on flexibility in partnership plans could weaken the traditional cohesion policy framework, potentially benefiting national administrations seeking tailored solutions but raising concerns for regional authorities and civil society groups that rely on predictable funding streams. Overall, the speech signals a moderate shift toward a more centralised, flexible EU budget focused on security and competitiveness, but without concrete commitments on revenue or spending levels beyond the existing proposal.
65 — The debate is a routine step in the MFF negotiation process, but the Commissioner's call for new own resources and the emphasis on flexibility are significant for the upcoming interinstitutional talks. The speech does not break new ground but reinforces the Commission's position ahead of negotiations with the Council and Parliament.