EU Budget 2026: Major Enhancements

The European Parliament (EP) and the Council have provisionally agreed on the EU budget for 2026, prioritizing research, competitiveness, and security. The provisional deal, which occurred on Saturday before the conciliation period’s deadline, proposes a total commitment of €192.8 billion.

The agreement includes an additional €372.7 million directed towards key areas such as research, health, and civil protection. This adjustment comes after the initial funds were cut by EU governments, a decision reversed during these negotiations. The European Parliament has successfully secured increased funding for several crucial programs, including a €20 million increase for Horizon Europe and €23.5 million for transport and energy networks to enhance infrastructure and job creation across member states.

Further allocations were negotiated for agricultural and environmental initiatives. The LIFE program received an additional €10 million, aimed at bolstering the EU’s climate action, while the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund saw a significant increase of €105 million to support farmers and promote European agricultural products. Additionally, the deal allocates funds to improve disaster response capabilities and military mobility, reflecting the EU’s focus on enhancing security and preparedness amid growing geopolitical instability.

The budget also addresses the unexpected €4.2 billion overrun in borrowing costs for the NextGenerationEU recovery package, ensuring that essential programs like Erasmus+ and EU4health are not financially compromised. This budgetary increase is viewed as a strategic move to strengthen the EU’s capacity to address both current and emerging challenges.

Next steps include a formal adoption by the Council, followed by discussions in the Committee on Budgets and a plenary vote in the European Parliament. This budget reflects the EU’s commitment to its citizens by focusing on areas that directly enhance prosperity, security, and solidarity amidst turbulent times.