The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) warns that a weak long-term EU budget would undermine competitiveness, cohesion, agriculture and democracy. In a set of eight newly adopted opinions, the Committee calls for a stronger, fairer and future-proof multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2028 to 2034, highlighting key risks, including proposed cuts to the common agricultural policy (CAP), dilution of cohesion and social investment and insufficient support for youth, skills and innovation.

As negotiations on the EU’s next long-term budget continue, European organised civil society is sending a clear message through the EESC: the EU cannot afford a budget that falls short of its ambitions. With this new set of policy recommendations to the European institutions, the EESC calls for a substantially stronger MFF, one that protects cohesion and agriculture, invests in people and skills, increases EU competitiveness and ensures that no region or generation is left behind.

‘The next EU budget is not a technical exercise, it is a political choice about what kind of Europe we want,’ EESC President Séamus Boland stressed during the plenary.

‘The EU budget must be future-proof. Cohesion, good governance and strong social rules are essential for making funding work and supporting the green and digital transitions,’ said MFF rapporteur Dominika Biegon.

Europe faces unprecedented investment needs, from the green and digital transitions and security challenges to demographic shifts, skills shortages and geopolitical pressures. However, the EESC warns that the Commission's proposed MFF increase would barely keep pace with inflation, while NextGenerationEU debt repayment risks crowding out future investment.

Beyond budget levels, the EESC strongly warns against merging key EU policies into a single fund, forcing cohesion, agriculture, fisheries, social inclusion and security to compete with each other. This would weaken long-term investment, increase regional inequalities and undermine EU trust.

The Committee insists that cohesion policy must remain available to all regions and rejects proposals to cut the CAP. Investment in people must also be central, with stronger funding for Erasmus+ and youth programmes.

Across all areas, the EESC sends the same signal: the EU's ambitions cannot be delivered on the cheap. Civil society urges the Commission, Parliament and Council to treat the next MFF as a strategic investment plan, not a mere budgetary compromise. (tk/fb)