European public goods: financing the EU’s sustainability growth and facing global challenges

The EESC's ECO section has adopted an own-initiative opinion on the financing of European public goods (EPGs) as a strategic priority for the EU’s sustainability, growth and global role. ECO stresses that the provision of EPGs is central to the well-being of citizens and to Europe’s ability to respond to multiple crises, from climate change to geopolitical instability. To provide EPGs in an adequate scope, the ECO section underlines the need for an ambitious, adequately financed multiannual financial framework (MFF) post-2027, backed by a robust system of EU own resources.

Key points

In this opinion, ECO

• calls for European public goods (EPGs) to be at the heart of the post-2027 EU budget, with stronger investment in areas essential to the Union’s functioning and resilience. These include the single market, economic and monetary union, cohesion, strategic autonomy (health, food, energy), defence, research and the rule of law, alongside green and digital transitions and social priorities.
• warns that failing to act would mean a “cost of non-Europe”, with up to EUR 2.8 trillion in lost GDP gains by 2032. It calls for an ambitious, flexible Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and stresses that financing EPGs requires new and adequate EU own resources.
• finds that special attention must be given to ‘functional EPGs’ – those linked to Article 3 TEU – that can ensure the normal functioning of the EU: the completion of the single market; the completion of the economic and monetary union; economic, social and territorial cohesion; EU open strategic autonomy (e.g. the joint EU health policy, food security, the EU energy union); defence and security; EU research and development; and the rule of law.

Additional information

EESC section: Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion (ECO)

Opinion type: Own-initiative opinion

Rapporteur: Stefano PALMIERI (Workers – GR II, Italy)

Reference: ECO/667-EESC-2025

Date of adoption by section: 5/9/2025

Date of adoption in plenary: 17-18/09/2025

Contact

Thomas Kersten

Press Officer

Tel.: +32 (0)2 546 8931

Email : thomas.kersten@eesc.europa.eu

Gerald Klec

Policy Officer

Tel.: +32 (0)2 546 9740

Email: eco@eesc.europa.eu