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OPINION (2026/0196(BUD))

On the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2027 – all sections

AFET-AD-790817

Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Matjaž Nemec

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 25 Sept 2026

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The Committee on Foreign Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgets to incorporate its suggestions into the 2027 EU budget resolution. It warns that Heading 6 funding is insufficient for geopolitical and security challenges, and asks for more money for neighbourhoods, enlargement, humanitarian aid, civil society and the EEAS. It wants the NDICI cushion preserved for crises, more funding for the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhoods, Ukraine, Moldova, the South Caucasus and Africa, and continued conditionality on rule of law and human rights. It puts 50% of Serbia's Reform and Growth Facility allocations in reserve over democratic backsliding, and calls for freezing support to the Georgian government while backing independent Russian and Belarusian civil society.

Committee position. The Committee on Foreign Affairs asks the Committee on Budgets to incorporate its suggestions into the 2027 budget resolution. It seeks higher Heading 6 funding for neighbourhoods, enlargement, humanitarian aid, civil society and the EEAS, with conditionality on rule of law and human rights.

Key points

  1. Warns that the remaining NDICI cushion is only EUR 159 million, regrets its use for geopolitical and trade initiatives such as EUR 500 million for the EU-India trade agreement, and insists on preserving flexibility for crises.
  2. Notes the Commission's draft budget follows Heading 6 financial programming, that frontloading causes reductions compared with 2026, and that the available margin is only EUR 100 million.
  3. Increases appropriations for the Eastern and Southern Neighbourhoods and other NDICI and Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance lines, financed by rebalancing borrowing cost repayment ratios.
  4. Calls for sufficient, merit-based and conditional support for candidate countries, with Common Foreign and Security Policy alignment as a consideration, and for predictable long-term geographic and thematic programmes.
  5. Calls for increased support against hybrid threats, cyberattacks and foreign information manipulation, and for external financing to complement the Union's security and defence objectives, including its defence industrial base.
  6. Urges a substantial and sustained increase in humanitarian aid, delivered under neutrality, transparency and accountability with robust oversight, and calls for resources for the Global Gateway strategy.
  7. Calls for additional funding for East and Central Africa, an enhanced Heading 6 contribution to the Union Secure Connectivity Programme, and more support for international nuclear safety and safeguards.
  8. Puts 50% of Serbia's Reform and Growth Facility allocations in reserve over democratic backsliding, while protecting and increasing funds for civil society and independent media, and urges rigorous conditionality.
  9. Calls for support for Albania's democratic governance and rule of law, predictable support for Moldova, continued South Caucasus peace support, and continued freezing of financial support to the Georgian government.
  10. Calls for predictable assistance under the Ukraine Facility and Ukraine Support Loan, reinforced Eastern Neighbourhood funding including for DG ENEST, and more Southern Neighbourhood funding including a dedicated envelope for Gaza reconstruction.
  11. Calls on the Commission to honour its contribution to UNRWA in due form and time, and to increase NDICI thematic programmes, particularly human rights, democracy and civil society, and funding for Sub-Saharan Africa and the Sahel.
  12. Calls for predictable support for civil society, human rights defenders and journalists, including Russian and Belarusian exiles, for gender equality and LGBTIQ+ rights, for Sudan humanitarian aid, and for a higher EEAS budget.

Who is affected

  • Serbia: 50% of its Reform and Growth Facility allocations are put in reserve over democratic backsliding.
  • Georgia: financial support should continue to be frozen over erosion of democracy.
  • Ukraine: predictable assistance under the Ukraine Facility and Ukraine Support Loan.
  • EEAS: budget should be increased to the level it requested, with more security and staff.
  • Palestinian Authority and UNRWA: strengthened support and honoured EU contributions.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 159 million: the remaining NDICI cushion.
  • EUR 500 million: disbursed as part of the EU-India trade agreement in January 2026.
  • EUR 100 million: the available margin under Heading 6.
  • 50%: share of Serbia's Reform and Growth Facility allocations put in reserve.
  • 2%: cap on administrative expenditure that should not apply to the EEAS.