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MFF, Rule of Law Conditionality and Own Resources

TA-9-2020-0360 · P9_TA(2020)0360 · PE661.562

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 25 Sept 2026

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Parliament's resolution welcomes the political agreements of 5 and 10 November 2020 on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027, the Interinstitutional Agreement, the EU Recovery Instrument and the Rule of Law Regulation. It lists what those agreements contain: an EUR 1,8 trillion package, an EUR 16 billion top-up for EU flagship programmes, a roadmap for new own resources, climate and biodiversity spending shares, and a functioning Rule of Law conditionality. It welcomes the European Council's endorsement of 10 and 11 December 2020 and the entry into force of the package on 1 January 2021 with the legal texts unchanged. It regrets the delay caused by the unanimity rule in the Council, says the European Council conclusions on the Rule of Law Regulation are superfluous, and states that the Regulation applies from 1 January 2021 to all commitments and payments without guidelines. It recalls the Commission's duty to apply the law and its accountability to Parliament, and says it will defend the Regulation before the Court of Justice if a member state seeks its annulment.

Key points

  1. Welcomes the political agreements of 5 November 2020 on the Rule of Law Regulation and of 10 November 2020 on the MFF, the IIA and the EU Recovery Instrument.
  2. The agreements include an EUR 1,8 trillion package: the MFF 2021-2027 (EUR 1074 moving progressively to EUR 1085 billion) and the Recovery Instrument (EUR 750 billion).
  3. They include an EUR 16 billion top-up to the MFF for EU flagship programmes identified by Parliament and to strengthen the budgetary response to unforeseen events.
  4. They include a legally binding roadmap to introduce new own resources sufficient to cover the future repayment costs of the EU Recovery Instrument.
  5. They set a minimum share for climate-related spending of at least 30 % of the MFF and the NGEU and for biodiversity-related spending of 7,5 % in 2024 and 10 % in 2026 onwards.
  6. They include elements to monitor spending on gender equality and mainstreaming and an enhanced role for Parliament in the EU Recovery Instrument and future emergency instruments.
  7. Welcomes the European Council's endorsement of the agreements and the entry into force of the MFF, the IIA, the EU Recovery Instrument and the Rule of Law Regulation on 1 January 2021, with the legal texts unchanged.
  8. Regrets the delay caused by the unanimity rule in the Council and says the European Council conclusions on the Rule of Law Regulation are superfluous.
  9. Recalls that the European Council does not exercise legislative functions and that interpretation of legislation is vested with the Court of Justice.
  10. Recalls that the Commission must abide by law, is independent and is responsible to Parliament, which can use the discharge procedure and other means to enforce the law.
  11. States that the Rule of Law Regulation applies from 1 January 2021 to all commitments and payments, without guidelines, and that Parliament will defend it before the Court if a member state seeks annulment.
  12. Calls for full parliamentary involvement in Next Generation EU and says the unanimity requirement in the Council should be addressed in the Conference on the Future of Europe.

Who is affected

  • Member states: the Rule of Law Regulation applies to all commitments and payments from 1 January 2021.
  • The Commission: must apply the Regulation fully and abide by law, and is accountable to Parliament.
  • The European Council: its conclusions cannot bind the Commission in applying legal acts.
  • EU flagship programmes: receive an EUR 16 billion top-up identified by Parliament.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 1,8 trillion: total package of the MFF 2021-2027 and the Recovery Instrument.
  • EUR 1074 moving progressively to EUR 1085 billion: the MFF 2021-2027.
  • EUR 750 billion: the Recovery Instrument.
  • EUR 16 billion: top-up to the MFF 2021-2027 for EU flagship programmes.
  • At least 30 %: minimum share for climate-related spending of the MFF and the NGEU.
  • 7,5 % in 2024 and 10 % in 2026 onwards: minimum share for biodiversity-related spending of the MFF.
  • 1 January 2021: date the Rule of Law Regulation applies from and the package enters into force.

Legal basis: Articles 2, 14, 15, 16 and 17 TEU and Articles 295, 310, 311, 312, 322 TFEU.