The European Commission has begun drafting the EU budget for 2028–2034, aiming to make it more flexible and focused on new priorities.
According to Financial Times, the current budget is burdened by post-pandemic debt and expenses related to the Green Deal and defense. A document published by the European Commission states that the EU must prioritize spending efficiency and resource reallocation. The new budget is expected to place greater emphasis on security, defense, innovation, and digital technologies, potentially shifting the balance from traditional priorities such as agriculture and regional cohesion.
MEP Siegfried Mureșan noted that the EU “cannot do more with a smaller budget” and called for a rational distribution of funds. Meanwhile, Spain has proposed increasing the EU budget to 2% of the bloc’s GDP, allocating half of the funds to the Green Transition and considering the issuance of new debt obligations. However, this idea has faced criticism due to the existing debt burden, which will require annual payments of around €30 billion after 2027.
