On the Council position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025
BUDG-PR-763249
Committee on Budgets · Rapporteur: Victor Negrescu (Section III – Commission)
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This draft report sets out Parliament's position on the Council's amendments to the 2025 EU budget, restoring cuts and increasing funds for key programmes.¶¶¶ It proposes increases across all headings, particularly for Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, EU4Health, and humanitarian aid, and adjusts the financing of NGEU borrowing costs.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Budgets proposes to amend the Council's position by restoring cuts and increasing appropriations across all headings, with specific reinforcements for key programmes and a different approach to financing EURI costs.¶¶¶
Key points
- Calls for a robust EU budget that responds to crises and supports people, stressing the need for investments in line with citizens' expectations.¶¶¶
- Notes that the MFF revision was partly successful but leaves low margins; insists on respecting the revision and avoiding further cuts.¶¶¶
- Rejects the Council's cuts of EUR 1.52 billion in commitments and EUR 876 million in payments, arguing they create artificial margins.¶
- Proposes to finance 65% of EURI overrun costs via the de-commitment compartment, contrary to the Council's 35% approach.¶¶
- Increases Horizon Europe by EUR 242 million, CEF Transport by EUR 40 million, CEF Energy by EUR 30 million, Digital Europe by EUR 15 million, and Single Market SME strand by EUR 5 million.¶¶¶
- Reinforces Heading 2a by EUR 755,965 for technical assistance and Heading 2b by EUR 241.75 million for Erasmus+, EU4Health, Civil Protection, and other programmes.¶¶¶
- Increases Heading 3 by EUR 145.25 million for young farmers, fruit and vegetables, school schemes, and LIFE.¶¶¶
- Adds EUR 62 million to Heading 4 for AMIF, BMVI, and agencies, and EUR 41 million to Heading 5 for security and defence.¶¶¶
- Boosts Heading 6 by EUR 256.2 million for neighbourhood, humanitarian aid, and Western Balkans, including EUR 30 million in reserve for Georgia.¶¶¶
- Restores Commission administrative expenditure under Heading 7 and increases budgets for other institutions, rejecting Council cuts.¶¶¶
- Adopts a balanced package of pilot projects and preparatory actions and reinforces payments on amended lines.¶¶
- Maintains Parliament's own budget at EUR 2,499,233,329 and supports priorities like cyber-security and citizen engagement.¶¶¶
Who is affected
- EU citizens and beneficiaries of programmes like Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, and EU4Health, who would see increased funding.¶¶¶
- Farmers, especially young and small-scale, receive additional income support and market measures.¶¶
- Member states and regions benefit from reinforced cohesion policy and technical assistance.¶¶
- Agencies such as Frontex, Europol, and eu-LISA get restored or increased funding and staff.¶¶¶
- EU institutions other than Parliament receive budget increases, except the Council and European Council.¶¶¶
Figures and deadlines
- EUR 199,716.8 million in commitment appropriations proposed by the Commission, 1.08% of GNI.¶
- EUR 152,684.1 million in payment appropriations proposed by the Commission, 0.83% of GNI.
- Council cuts: EUR 1.52 billion in commitments and EUR 876 million in payments.¶
- EURI overrun costs estimated at EUR 2.6 billion, twice the Commission's forecast.¶
- EUR 1,192.8 million from Flexibility Instrument for EURI cascade, as proposed by Commission.¶
- EUR 1,468.9 million available for unforeseen expenditure in 2025.¶
- EUR 2,499,233,329 for Parliament's own budget for 2025.¶
Legal basis: Article 314 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union¶