European Economic
and Social Committee
REFLECTIONS BY CIVIL SOCIETY PARTNERS: EU budget
A confident Europe must invest in youth, sovereignty and solidarity
As the European Union prepares its 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), Young European Leadership (YEL) calls for a forward-looking budget that empowers youth, supports vulnerable Member States and asserts the EU’s leadership on the global stage.
The EU must take decisive ownership of Europe’s security agenda, beginning with the war in Ukraine. While transatlantic cooperation remains vital, it is essential that Europeans – not Washington – set Europe’s policy priorities. The MFF must include robust funding for sustained support for Ukraine and for developing the EU’s own strategic capabilities. A confident, sovereign Europe begins with budgetary autonomy. Furthermore, the EU must continue to provide long-term assistance to the Member States most affected by the war, including those hosting large numbers of Ukrainian refugees or facing inflationary and energy-supply pressure. Solidarity must be more than just a slogan – it must be a line item.
Lastly, young people must be treated as co-architects of the EU’s future, not passive recipients. The next MFF should:
- substantially increase Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps funding, with a special focus on inclusion and access;
- create dedicated, long-term funding streams for youth civil society organisations, particularly those working across borders;
- include a youth component in EU external action, supporting young leaders, peacebuilders and social innovators beyond EU borders;
- apply youth impact assessments to all MFF programmes, ensuring that the next generation is a cross-cutting priority.
YEL also encourages the EU to explore innovative instruments, such as participatory budgeting and youth-led funding mechanisms, to make EU spending more transparent, inclusive and democratic.
The 2028-2034 MFF is more than just a financial blueprint. It is a test of the EU’s political maturity. At YEL, we believe a confident Europe must invest in youth, sovereignty and solidarity to meet the challenges ahead and shape the world to come.
Augusto GONZALEZ
President, Young European Leadership (YEL)
