On July 16, 2025, the European Commission announced its new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period 2028-2034. This long-term planning tool for the European Union has an unprecedented budget of €1.984 trillion over seven years.
This new framework aims to address major challenges and reflect the European Union’s political priorities: digital and climate transition, economic competitiveness, migration policy, and strengthening European defense.
The MFF is now structured into four main headings (compared to seven previously), each with a defined budget ceiling.
Priorities
The next MFF sets six long-term strategic priorities to align the EU budget with its ambitions:
1. Investing in people, Member States, and regions
- Reducing regional disparities
- Supporting agriculture and fisheries
- Strengthening social rights and inclusion
2. Establishing national and regional partnership plans
- A more targeted and flexible approach, tailored to local specificities
- Respect for the fundamental principles of the rule of law and transparency
3. Promoting education, social rights, and democracy
- Increased support for education and mobility programs, including Erasmus+
- Development of the AgoraEU program dedicated to promoting European values
- Strengthened support for the cultural sector
4. Boost prosperity through competitiveness, research, and innovation
- Make the European Union a global player in the digital and technological transition
- Creation of a new European fund for competitiveness
- Maintain the central role of the Horizon Europe program
5. Protecting people and strengthening preparedness and resilience
- Specific budgetary mechanism with a lending capacity of up to €400 billion
- Support for food security, agricultural market stability, and protection against external shocks
6. Protect Europe and strengthen its place in the world
- €131 billion dedicated to defense and security
- Support for transport and energy to promote military mobility and cross-border infrastructure
- €34 billion for border management and migration policy
- €200 billion to strengthen external partnerships
- €15 billion reserve to respond to emerging crises
The budget
Proposed breakdown of the European budget for 2028-2034 (source: European Commission):
- €865 billion to bridge the gaps between European regions
- €409 billion to strengthen Europe’s global competitiveness
- €49 billion for education, mobility, and the promotion of democratic values
- €200 billion to build strong partnerships with the rest of the world
A summary chart will present this breakdown according to the four main headings of the budgetary framework.
Next steps
The Commission’s proposal must now be examined by the Member States within the Council. The adoption of the MFF regulation requires unanimity, after approval by the European Parliament.
Provisional timetable:
- 2025–2027: interinstitutional negotiations between the Commission, the Council of the EU, and the European Parliament
- End of 2027: final adoption of the framework by the Council by unanimous vote, after approval by the Parliament
- January 1, 2028: entry into force of the new MFF
Our support
For more than 20 years, Welcomeurope has been supporting public, private, and non-profit actors in the preparation and success of their European projects.
We help our partners anticipate future MFF orientations, identify their funding levers, and structure their projects to maximize their chances of success.
Schedule a free introductory meeting now to discuss your needs and your eligibility for future European funding.
