EU ministers clashed over the size and priorities of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034 at the General Affairs Council on 26 May 2026, with a 16-member-state coalition demanding ambitious cohesion and CAP funding while a frugal bloc pushed for deep cuts.
Romania, speaking for the Friends of Cohesion group, called for increased allocations for cohesion and agricultural policy, opposed rebates, and insisted on inclusive access to competitiveness instruments. The Netherlands demanded a significant reduction in the overall MFF volume, cuts across all headings, and retention of correction mechanisms and the 25% customs collection cost rate. Finland and Sweden argued the overall volume is too high, with Sweden stressing that deepening the single market is primarily a regulatory challenge, not a financial one. Denmark supported modernization but said the proposed increase is excessive.
Commissioner Piotr Serafin (Budget) stressed that the MFF must be adequately funded and flexible to support the '1 Europe, 1 Market' roadmap, warning against cuts to single-market programs and urging timely adoption. He also appealed for maintaining robust assurance systems for EU funds.
Estonia and Lithuania highlighted the need for top-up funding for eastern border regions and support for Ukraine. Greece and Portugal backed the Friends of Cohesion declaration, with Greece opposing direct rebates and supporting joint borrowing for European public goods. Several member states (Netherlands, Finland, Sweden, Denmark) co-signed a non-paper on strengthening rule-of-law conditionality.
The presidency will revise the negotiating box ahead of further talks. The debate exposed a fundamental cleavage between net contributors seeking fiscal restraint and cohesion-oriented states defending traditional spending priorities. Affected stakeholders include EU regions reliant on cohesion funds, SMEs depending on CAP support, border regions needing security funding, and sectors that benefit from single-market programs.