General budget of the European Union for the financial year 2026 - all sections

Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety · Rapporteur: Antonio Decaro

✦ In short Full text Procedure & committee votes

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

The Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety opinion on the 2026 EU budget calls for adequate funding for climate, environment, and food safety priorities, including water resilience, biodiversity, and the green transition.¶¶ It stresses the need to meet climate and biodiversity targets, regrets cuts in certain areas, and calls for increased funding for agencies, disaster response, and research.¶¶¶

Key points

Calls for the 2026 budget to support the green and digital transition, competitiveness, innovation, water resilience, and address geopolitical challenges and natural disasters.¶
Urges adequate financial and human resources for agencies to implement EU legislation on climate, environment, and food safety, and to phase out environmentally harmful subsidies.¶
Highlights the importance of secondary legislation and administrative simplification for efficient budget use and legal certainty.¶
Welcomes continued funding for global partnerships and external climate objectives under Global Gateway, aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.¶
Emphasizes the European Green Deal's role in competitiveness and climate neutrality, and calls for budgetary coherence in balancing these objectives.¶
Notes the 30% climate spending target and the increase in payment appropriations (+199.3%), but regrets the 9% cut in commitments that could jeopardize climate goals.¶
Concerned that biodiversity spending will reach only 7.8% in 2026, missing the 10% target; calls for remedial measures and increased funding for cross-border projects.¶
Notes stable commitments (EUR 56.97 billion) and increased payments (EUR 53.13 billion) under Heading 3, but calls for higher ambition.¶
Calls for support for community-led initiatives and social enterprises in climate solutions, and for integrated economic, social, and environmental development.¶
Recalls the RRF and REPowerEU as drivers of green investment, and the obligation for Member States to allocate at least 37% of RRF spending to climate measures.¶
Calls for targeted investments in climate adaptation, disaster prevention, water infrastructure, and nature-based solutions, with flexibility for Member States.¶
Stresses the need for accessible green public services, including sustainable housing, clean mobility, and nature-based health infrastructure.¶

Who is affected

EU agencies (EEA, ECHA, EFSA) – need more resources and communication capacities.¶¶¶
Farmers and fishers, especially small and young – need support for sustainable practices.¶
Regions transitioning from fossil fuels – Just Transition Fund cuts risk weakening assistance.¶
Vulnerable communities – Social Climate Fund helps but may be insufficient.¶
Union industries, particularly SMEs – Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism funding supports fair competition.¶

Figures and deadlines

At least 30% of the MFF supports climate action.¶
Payment appropriations for climate-related expenditures increased by +199.3%.¶
Commitment appropriations reduced by 9%.¶
Biodiversity expenditure target of 10% for 2026 is unlikely to be met; projected at 7.8%.¶
Heading 3 commitments: EUR 56.97 billion; payments: EUR 53.13 billion.¶
Member States must allocate at least 37% of RRF spending to climate measures.¶
LIFE budget increase of 3.5%, with 6% rise for nature and biodiversity.¶
Just Transition Fund funding reduced by 17.1%.¶

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text and ¶ links to the paragraph it rests on. Check the text itself before relying on it.