On the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025

OPINION

The Committee on Foreign Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following into its motion for a resolution:

A. whereas the growing instability and the rise of unprecedented challenges in the immediate European neighbourhood and the international environment increases the demands on the Union to act with a budget fit for that purpose and to significantly strengthen its security and defence capabilities;

B. whereas that sufficient funding is key to the EU’s credibility as a stronger, more assertive, and more strategic actor on the world stage;

1. Calls to double the budget allocated to the development of capabilities under the Common Security and Defence Policy in order to ensure the safety of its citizens, and maintain stability both within Europe and globally;

2. Points out that the unprecedented challenges in the global environment, along with the threats the EU is facing must be met by a substantial EU reaction, matched by appropriate and sufficient budgetary means for the EU to protect itself and the citizens and live up to the geopolitical challenges; welcomes the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) earlier this year which led to an increase in Heading 6; furthermore welcomes the adoption of two new instruments, namely the Ukraine Facility and the Western Balkans Facility, which will provide additional targeted support to Ukraine and the six Western Balkans countries;

3. Is particularly concerned about the approach taken in the MFF revision to only have a net increase of Heading 6 of EUR 3,1 billion whereas the other EUR 4,5 billion shall be covered through redeployments within this heading; is not convinced that these redeployments will actually materialise to that extent;

4. Notes that the Commission presented a budget proposal of EUR 16 258 million, close to MFF ceiling in Heading 6 with a remaining available margin of EUR 44,8 million; notes furthermore that Council increased the budget for humanitarian aid by EUR 30 million, believes however that this amount will not be sufficient to be able to respond to emerging crises;

5. Notes with concern the reductions for the Neighbourhood East in NDICI which is underfunded by EUR 150 million for the remainder of this MFF; considers it therefore necessary for the 2025 Union budget to increase this budget line by EUR 50 million;

6. Believes that further targeted reinforcements are needed in areas such as the fight against disinformation, capacity development, enlargement, election observation, nuclear safety, support for civil society organisations, even if this will require the use of flexibility instruments;

7. Recognises that is still necessary to increase the financial support of the EU to UNRWA in 2025, due to the agency’s critical financial situation that jeopardizes its ability to fulfil its important role effectively;

8. Believes that the European External Action Service is structurally underfunded and should not be treated like the other institutions regarding the approach to the administrative budget; notes that the requirements for an institution with 145 diplomatic missions and offices around the world is fundamentally different to institutions operating at a single location;

9. Strongly believes that a considerable reinforcement of humanitarian aid, accompanied by clear objectives in terms of the rule of law and governance, is needed for the Union to be able to respond to emerging crises.