The General Affairs Council on 16 June 2026, under the Cyprus Presidency, proposed a 2% cut across all headings of the next multiannual financial framework (MFF), as presented by Deputy Minister Marilena Raouna in a revised negotiating box. Commissioner Michael McGrath welcomed the progress but urged preserving the Commission's original ambition on competitiveness, security, and flexibility. The Council also discussed Hungary under Article 7, with Raouna describing the exchange as forward-looking and 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, while insisting on continued monitoring and no shortcuts. Journalist Roland Papp questioned Hungary's resistance to the migration pact and its impact on rule-of-law credibility; McGrath emphasized cooperative implementation and the solidarity mechanism's flexibility. Consensus was reached 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, after which the trio of Ireland, Lithuania, and Greece takes over, with Commission support for concluding the MFF and advancing the One Europe, One Market roadmap.
EU Matrix analysis