The EU’s long-term budget

The EU’s long-term budget helps millions of students, thousands of researchers, cities, businesses, regions and NGOs. It contributes to healthier and safer food, new and better roads, railways and airports, a cleaner environment and better security at the EU’s external borders. The idea behind it is that pulling resources together makes Europe stronger and is key to boosting prosperity and peace. It continues to do that by financing projects that benefit the lives of millions of Europeans.

The EU’s long-term budget is also sometimes referred to as the multiannual financial framework (MFF). It sets the limit on how much money the EU can spend over a period of at least five years in different policy areas. Recent long-term budgets have been set for seven years.

One of the reasons the EU has a long-term budget as well as annual budgets is to make it easier to plan for the programmes that the EU wants to fund and increase their efficiency.

What does the EU spend money on?

• The budget supports research and innovation, investment in trans-European networks and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which aim to boost growth and create jobs in the EU.
• The EU’s common agricultural policy (CAP) together with the common fisheries policy and environment receives the most funding under the current long-term budget.
• This is followed by “cohesion” programmes that aim to support poorer regions.
• The long-term budget also funds international humanitarian aid and development projects.

The long-term budget also needs to have a degree of flexibility to deal with unforeseen crises and emergencies. It therefore includes a number of instruments to ensure that money can be used where it is most needed in unplanned circumstances. For example, the EU solidarity fund is designed to provide financial assistance in the event of a major disaster in a member state. It also has a globalisation adjustment fund intended to help workers find new employment if they have been made redundant as a result of structural changes in world trade patterns or an economic crisis.

Unlike national budgets, the EU’s budget is more of an investment budget. It doesn’t fund social protection, primary education or national defence. Instead the focus is mostly on areas where the EU can make a difference by boosting growth and competitiveness.

Sources of income

• contributions from member states
• import duties on products from outside the EU
• fines imposed on companies breaking EU competition rules.

The Parliament wants to reform the way the budget is funded as it’s “non-transparent and totally incomprehensible to the EU’s citizens”.

A new, simpler system should introduce new sources of income. Parliament suggests money could come from a new corporate tax scheme (including taxation of large companies in the digital sector), revenues from trading with emissions and a plastics tax. This could reduce EU countries’ direct contributions.

Find out more details about the EU’s revenue.

Budget decision

For the next long-term budget covering 2021-2027, the Commission published its proposal in May 2018. Parliament adopted its position in November 2018. The Council still hasn’t made its negotiating position clear. Unanimity is required among member states to reach a deal. Any deal requires Parliament’s consent.

Current status of the negotiations

The Parliament and Commission are waiting for the Council to come up with its proposal on what the next long-term budget should look like so that the three institutions can begin negotiations. It is hoped that member states in the Council will reach an agreement in early 2020.

More information

Full news

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