Sittings · Document

DRAFT REPORT (11216/2025 – C10-0206/2025 – 2025/0210(BUD)) 2025-09-19

On the Council position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2026

Committee on Budgets · Rapporteur: Andrzej Halicki (Section III – Commission)

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026

This draft report sets out Parliament's position on the Council's position on the 2026 EU budget, restoring cuts and increasing funding for key programmes across all headings. It proposes increases above the Commission's draft budget for research, transport, health, education, agriculture, migration, security, and neighbourhood programmes, and rejects Council cuts to Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, and other flagship initiatives. It also addresses NGEU borrowing costs, liquidity management costs, and the need for adequate staffing and resources for EU institutions.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes to amend the Council's position by restoring all cuts and increasing appropriations for specific programmes across all headings, as detailed in the resolution.

Key points

  1. Parliament rejects the Council's cuts to commitment appropriations, restoring them to the Commission's draft budget levels for most programmes.
  2. Increases are proposed for Horizon Europe (EUR 60 million), CEF Energy (EUR 50 million), CEF Transport (EUR 30 million), and the SME strand of the Single Market programme (EUR 4 million).
  3. Under sub-heading 2b, increases are proposed for the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (EUR 30 million), EU4Health (EUR 5 million), Erasmus+ (EUR 5 million), Creative Europe (EUR 2.5 million), and other programmes.
  4. Under Heading 3, increases are proposed for young farmers (EUR 23 million), agricultural promotion (EUR 30 million), wine sector (EUR 15 million), and LIFE programme strands (EUR 25 million).
  5. Under Heading 4, increases are proposed for the Border Management and Visa Instrument (EUR 30 million) and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (EUR 10 million), while restoring Frontex funding.
  6. Under Heading 5, increases are proposed for military mobility (EUR 35 million) and nuclear safeguards, with targeted reinforcement for Europol.
  7. Under Heading 6, increases are proposed for the Southern Neighbourhood (EUR 35 million), Eastern Neighbourhood (EUR 25 million), and humanitarian aid (EUR 50 million), plus a new budget line for Moldova.
  8. Parliament maintains its own budget at EUR 2,636,241,620 and calls for administrative reforms, AI investments, and cost-effective solutions for building renovations.
  9. For other institutions, Parliament increases appropriations and staff above the draft budget for the Court of Justice, the European Ombudsman, and other bodies to address cybersecurity and operational needs.

Who is affected

  • EU programmes such as Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, EU4Health, LIFE, and CEF receive increased funding.
  • Farmers, young farmers, and the wine sector benefit from increased support under the Common Agricultural Policy.
  • Agencies like Eurojust, the European Institute for Gender Equality, and Europol receive additional funding or staffing.
  • EU institutions, including the Court of Justice and the European Ombudsman, get restored or increased budgets and staff.
  • Ukrainian, Moldovan, and other Eastern Partnership countries receive increased support for stability and civil society.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 1.3 billion: Council's proposed cuts in commitment appropriations.
  • EUR 748.2 million: initial 2026 availabilities for the Single Margin Instrument for commitments.
  • EUR 132.5 million: total amount remaining for unforeseen expenditure in 2026.
  • EUR 4.3 billion: NGEU overrun costs not yet programmed.
  • EUR 2.1 billion: amount covered from the budget for EURI cost overruns.
  • EUR 300 million: estimated liquidity management cost for 2026.
  • EUR 2,636,241,620: Parliament's budget for 2026.
  • 1040%: increase in Parliament's solar PV energy production since 2020.

Legal basis: Article 314 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 106a of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.

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