The General Affairs Council on 16 June 2026, chaired by the Cyprus Presidency, made headway on the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) by presenting a revised negotiating box that proposes a 2% cut across all headings. Deputy Minister Marilena Raouna argued the reduction preserves balance and ambition, while Commissioner Michael McGrath welcomed the progress but urged maintaining the Commission's original ambition on competitiveness, security, and flexibility. The Council also held a forward-looking exchange on Hungary under Article 7, with Commissioner McGrath noting 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 insisting on no shortcuts and continued monitoring. Journalist Roland Papp 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. The Council reached consensus on partial general approaches for the MFF, timely budget agreement, simplification for competitiveness, the European Democracy Shield, and support for Ukraine and enlargement. The Cyprus Presidency continues for two weeks before handing over to the trio of Ireland, Lithuania, and Greece, with Commission support for concluding the MFF and advancing the One Europe, One Market roadmap.
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