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OPINION (2024/2110(BUI))

On guidelines for the 2026 budget – Section III

AFET-AD-766942

Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Michael Gahler

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The Committee on Foreign Affairs opinion on the 2026 EU budget calls for increased funding for external action, including Ukraine, the Southern Neighbourhood, enlargement, and security, while stressing conditionality and strategic communication.

Committee position. The Committee on Foreign Affairs proposes that the Committee on Budgets incorporate these suggestions into its motion for a resolution on the 2026 budget.

Key points

  1. Welcomes the 2024 MFF revision and the EUR 50 billion Ukraine Facility, but says it fell short of Parliament's needs; urges more funding for crisis regions and using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine.
  2. Calls for more funding for the Southern Neighbourhood, especially for Gaza reconstruction and humanitarian aid in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, and continued support for UNRWA and Jordan.
  3. Welcomes the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans and the Facility for Moldova; calls for strict conditionality, tailored assistance for all 10 enlargement countries, and support for civil society and independent media.
  4. Calls on the Commission to present a proposal for a single pre-accession instrument for the next MFF covering all 10 enlargement countries and to speed up their integration into the EU roaming area.
  5. Emphasizes that EU funds should not finance educational literature that romanticizes martyrdom, violence, or terrorism.
  6. Calls for sufficient resources for DG ENEST, DG MENA, and the EEAS, including for strategic communication and countering disinformation, and for maintaining the network of EU delegations.
  7. Calls for a budgetary increase for CFSP actions and CSDP missions, and for not applying the 2% logic to the EEAS, which has 145 delegations.
  8. Welcomes the EUPM Moldova and calls for extending its mandate beyond May 2025 with increased resources.
  9. Calls for increased resources for gender equality and women's empowerment, including eliminating gender-based violence and promoting economic empowerment.
  10. Calls on the Commission to work with the EPLO office in Washington and the EU delegation to strengthen transatlantic ties, including exchange programmes.
  11. Underlines that EU budget disbursements must depend on respect for the rule of law, human rights, and international obligations.
  12. Calls for more EU funds for joint cyber defence and for a future cyber army to counter threats from Russia and China.

Who is affected

  • Ukraine, Southern Neighbourhood countries (Gaza, Lebanon, Syria), Western Balkans, Moldova, and other enlargement countries.
  • EU institutions (Commission, EEAS) and their staff, including delegations.
  • Beneficiaries of EU funds, including governments and civil society, subject to conditionality.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 50 billion Ukraine Facility
  • 145 delegations of the EEAS
  • May 2025 (mandate of EUPM Moldova)