PES calls for an ambitious long-term EU budget that delivers for people and regions

The Party of European Socialists (PES) held the 4th meeting of its Working Group on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), bringing together representatives from PES parties and organisations, in the European Parliament and national parliaments, and the Committee of the Regions to coordinate priorities ahead of the decisive phase of negotiations on the EU's long-term budget for 2028-2034.

Discussions focused on the need for a strong and ambitious European budget capable of responding to growing affordability pressures, supporting social cohesion, and delivering on Europe's strategic priorities, including housing, health, sustainability, and security. The message remained clear: the EU cannot do more with less.

Participants stressed that the future EU budget must continue to provide robust support for cohesion policy, the European Social Fund, public health, affordable housing, climate and environment and strategic investments, while resisting attempts to weaken key programmes and treaty-based policies under the pretext of simplification.

Participants praised the work done by the S&D Group in the European Parliament after the EP voted on its negotiating position with an absolute majority of members, with MEP Carla Tavares co-leading the negotiations within the pro-European platform.

Victor Negrescu, chair of the meeting, and PES Vice-President and Vice-President of the European Parliament, said:

"The next European budget is not a technocratic exercise disconnected from people's daily lives. At a time when Europeans are facing growing affordability pressures, housing difficulties and economic uncertainty, our political family is fighting for a strong and ambitious budget that protects social cohesion, invests in public services, and delivers tangible improvements for citizens across all regions of Europe. This also requires a budget in line with the Union's ambitions, supported by new genuine own resources to ensure sustainable and fair financing for Europe's priorities. Such a budget must be built upon the ambitious position already secured by the European Parliament."

The meeting highlighted the importance of advancing discussions on new sources of revenue for the EU budget, including innovative and genuine revenue streams capable of supporting Europe's common priorities while ensuring fairness and long-term sustainability.

The PES MFF Working Group reaffirmed its commitment to closely coordinating positions across institutions and Member States in the coming weeks, as negotiations on the next MFF enter a crucial political phase.

Online participants to the MFF Working Group meeting