On Parliament’s estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 2026

PR_BUI_EstimEP

MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

on Parliament’s estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 2026

(2024/2111(BUI))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to Article 314 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 of 17 December 2020 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021-2027 and to the joint declaration agreed between Parliament, the Council and the Commission in this context and the related unilateral declarations,

– having regard to Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2022/2496 of 15 December 2022 amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027,

– having regard to the Council Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/765 amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027 (MFF Revision),

– having regard to its legislative resolution of 16 December 2020 on the draft Council regulation laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027,

– having regard to its resolution of 15 December 2022 on upscaling the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework: a resilient EU budget fit for new challenges,

– having regard to its resolution of 3 October 2023 on the proposal for a mid-term revision of the multiannual financial framework 2021-2027,

– having regard to its resolution of 27 February 2024 on the draft Council regulation amending Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2093 laying down the multiannual financial framework for the years 2021 to 2027,

– having regard to Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2024 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (recast) (the Financial Regulation),

– having regard to the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on budgetary discipline, on cooperation in budgetary matters and on sound financial management, as well as on new own resources, including a roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources,

– having regard to the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2025 and the joint statements agreed between Parliament, the Council and the Commission annexed hereto,

– having regard to the Secretary-General’s report to the Bureau on drawing up Parliament’s preliminary draft estimates for the financial year 2026,

– having regard to the preliminary draft estimates drawn up by the Bureau on 10 March 2025 pursuant to Rules 25(7) and 104(1) of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the draft estimates drawn up by the Committee on Budgets pursuant to Rule 104(2) of Parliament’s Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to Rule 104 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on Budgets (A10-0000/2025),

A. whereas the budget proposed on 10 February 2025 by the Secretary-General for the Parliament’s preliminary draft estimates for 2026 amounts to EUR 2 641 609 620 and represents an increase of 4,30 % or EUR 108 914 512 compared to 2025 budget;

B. whereas the Union annual inflation was 2,8 % in January 2025 according to Eurostat, up from 2,7 % in December 2024 ; whereas the level of expenditure in Heading 7 of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2021-2027 is based on a 2 % yearly increase;

C. whereas the credibility of the Parliament depends on its ability to deliver on its core budgetary, legislative and scrutiny work to the highest standard, while setting an example vis-à-vis other Union institutions to plan and conduct its spending prudently and efficiently and to reflect the prevalent economic realities;

General framework

1. Is concerned with the situation of Heading 7 in the current MFF; recalls that the constraints are the results of the cuts applied by the Council to the Commission’s already very low initial proposal when agreeing on the current MFF 2021-2027; regrets the Council’s opposition to the Commission’s proposal to increase the ceiling of Heading 7 in the MFF revision as from 2024; points out the failure to address the issue of the ceiling of Heading 7 in the MFF revision; highlights that the forecasted negative margin for 2026 presupposes the use of special instruments in Heading 7 for that purpose;

2. Recalls that almost two-thirds of the budget is fixed by statutory obligations; notes that out of the increase of EUR 109 million compared to the 2025 budget an increase of EUR 85,6 million is due to statutory financial obligations, mainly for salary updates of officials and temporary staff (EUR 52,7 million), of contract agents (EUR 9,2 million) and of accredited parliamentary assistants (EUR 15,1 million); recalls that the salary indexation, in line with the Staff Regulations and Statute for Members of the European Parliament, is currently forecasted by the Commission for April 2025, July 2025, April 2026 and July 2026 at 1,2 %, 4,6 %, 0,6 % and 3,4 % respectively;

3. Notes that the Parliament does not request any additional posts for 2026, the third year in a row;

4. Notes that the increase for non-statutory expenditures between 2025 and 2026 is 2,5 %;

5. Welcomes the initiative of the Secretary-General to conduct a major screening exercise aimed at identifying opportunities for administrative simplification and reducing administrative burdens, increasing efficiency and allowing for a smart use of resources, including achieving savings where possible; asks the Secretary-General to provide the Committee on Budgets with regular updates on the actions taken and their impact in terms of budget and staff;

Strengthening Parliament’s core functions

6. Takes note of the four new thematic Directorates-General (DGs) created in September 2024, responsible for legislative, budgetary and scrutiny activities, from the previous Directorate-General for Internal Policies, in order to improve the functioning of Parliament as a co-legislator, as one arm of the budgetary authority, and as discharge authority; requests the Secretary-General to provide the Committee on Budgets with regular updates on the evolution of staff in these DGs;

7. Takes note of the budget of EUR 17,10 million to strengthen Parliament's administrative capacity in supporting Members in their parliamentary work;

Digital transition

8. Notes that the overall IT budget represents 7,48 % of the total budget in the 2026 estimates; stresses the importance of a sound cybersecurity infrastructure in geopolitically turbulent times; recalls the planned gradual increase of the cybersecurity financial appropriations to 10 % of Parliament’s ICT budget by 2027;

9. Welcomes the adoption by the Bureau on 10 February 2025 of the Framework on an internal cybersecurity risk management, governance and control framework; recalls that investments in cybersecurity are key to protect the democratic voice of the Parliament and the Union;

10. Welcomes investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) amounting to EUR 1 million; calls for the use of AI to be increased in order to gain efficiencies, while keeping in mind the related risks, including ethics and data protection;

Green transition

11. Takes note of the budget of EUR 8,45 million for investments on energy efficiency and environment in the 2026 estimates to further improve the environmental performance of its buildings; notes that this corresponds to an increase of 74 % compared to 2025 budget;

12. Notes that the budget for buying carbon credits has almost doubled compared to 2025, estimated at EUR 900 000 for 2026; calls the administration to take all possible measures to decrease the Parliament’s emissions over buying carbon credits; welcomes the introduction of an enhanced train offer for missions to Strasbourg as of July 2025, as a positive step towards reducing CO2 emissions;

Multilingualism

13. Highlights that multilingualism is a key principle on which the Parliament’s works is based; takes note of the revision of the Code of Conduct on Multilingualism planned for spring 2025; asks the Secretary-General to timely inform the Committee on Budgets on any budgetary impacts following this revision;

Infrastructure

14. Welcomes the new approach related to buildings, where after a period of acquisition the Parliament has entered an era of consolidation, taking into account sustainability, accessibility and mobility of Members and staff;

15. Takes note that EUR 4 million are included in the 2026 estimates for studies and the contractor's preparatory works related to the SPAAK building renovation while the overall costs are estimated at EUR 36 million; notes therefore that EUR 32 million of costs related to the SPAAK building renovation are not included in the 2026 estimates; notes that the Secretary-General intends to cover these costs by a mopping-up transfer or the use of a loan; requests the Secretary-General to provide the Committee on Budgets with detailed information on a possible loan to cover these costs, in accordance with Article 272 (6) of the Financial Regulation, as soon as possible; notes that as of December 2024, the direct costs of the SPAAK project amount to EUR 14,12 million;

16. Notes that EUR 15,95 million are planned to be invested in Europa Experiences in 2026; takes note of the decision to revise the concept of Europa Experience by the Bureau in November 2024 and expects the revised concept to be more cost-efficient and more attractive to visitors; notes that there are still no Europa Experiences in Bucharest, Riga, Madrid, Lisbon, Nicosia, Valletta and Vilnius; recalls that Europa Experiences should allow all citizens to have a better understanding of the functioning of Union institutions;

17. Recognises the importance of visitors groups as an important tool to connect citizens with the work of Members; welcomes in that regard the increase of the ceilings and cost factors for the calculation of the financial contribution to sponsored visitors as from 1 January 2025, notes that about 15 % of the quota for visitors is historically not being used by Members; calls the Secretary-General to propose to the Bureau to make the unused quota available to interested Members; notes that the budget for visitors groups represents 22 % of the overall budget of the Directorate-General for Communication;

18. Takes note that the opening of Parliament offices in Moldova and the Western Balkans has not been budgeted in 2026, as these would be set up within EEAS premises; stresses the importance of Parliament’s presence in these countries as a sign of European solidarity and a sign of commitment of the Parliament to the accession process;

19. Takes note of the early termination of the contract with the previous provider of the Crèche Wayenberg after a number of serious allegations against the contractor; welcomes the agreement with a new provider that foresees better working conditions of the nursery staff; acknowledges that this results in an increase of the budget necessary for this purpose, but emphasises that decent working conditions for external staff should, where relevant, be a priority consideration in public procurement of Parliament as a matter of principle;

Others

20. Reiterates its request, adopted at Plenary level at several occasions, to the Bureau to start the work on a technical solution enabling Members to exercise their right to vote remotely, during benefiting from maternity or paternity leave, during a long-term illness or in cases of force majeure, taking advantage of the lessons learnt during the pandemic on the technical aspects of this voting method;

21. Believes that Parliament should lead by example concerning the rights of persons with disabilities, both as an employer and as a public institution; welcomes Parliament’s policy aiming to ensure the fully independent use of Parliament buildings by persons with disabilities and supports further measures and adaptations that will be necessary in this regard; notes that the budget foresees EUR 3,7 million for this purpose;

22. Notes that mission expenses of Members and staff amount to EUR 116 million in Parliament’s budget; calls for a reflection of Parliament’s bodies on mission practices and a revision of mission rules and practices with the overall aim to reduce the number of missions, and the associated financial and environmental costs; in this context, calls for limiting the use of Business class flights for Members and staff as well as the use of flights where train travel is feasible;

23. Recalls that during the conciliation between the Bureau and the Committee on Budgets on the Preliminary Draft Estimates of the European Parliament for 2025 last April, the Secretary-General committed to initiating discussions with the responsible governing bodies before the end of 2024 on the possibility of allowing APAs, under certain conditions, to accompany Members of the European Parliament on official delegations and missions; regrets that no progress has been achieved so far; calls on the Secretary-General to continue his efforts and work towards a solution to be submitted to the responsible bodies without any further delay;

24. Welcomes the exceptional 10 % increase in scholarships for each trainee in 2026, budgeted for EUR 1 million in 2026 to help them cope with growing housing costs in Brussels and Luxembourg;

25. Adopts the estimates for the financial year 2026;

26. Instructs its President to forward this resolution and the estimates to the Council and the Commission.