The EU’s ambitions cannot be delivered on the cheap

This article is brought to you in association with the European Economic and Social Committee.

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,’ stressed EESC President Séamus Boland 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.

A budget that matches Europe’s challenges

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

‘The EU must increase real resources – tied to strategic objectives and backed by stronger, fairer genuine own resources – to reduce pressure on national contributions,’ said own-resources rapporteur Katrīna Zariņa.

‘The EU cannot respond to global competition, climate change and security challenges with a budget designed for the past,’ explained MFF rapporteur Luca Jahier. ‘Without real investment capacity, strategic autonomy remains a slogan rather than a strategy.’

No dilution of cohesion, agriculture or social investment

The EESC strongly warns against merging key EU policies into a single, multi-purpose 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 trust in the EU.

‘Simplification must not become an excuse for centralisation,’ said rapporteur Florian Marin. ‘The EU’s strength lies in its regions, cities and communities; they must remain part of the decision-making process.’

Defending cohesion and a just transition

Cohesion policy must remain available to all regions, in line with the EU Treaties, and funding must not be weakened by national political failures. The EESC also warns against blurring the concept of a just transition, stressing that social fairness cannot be reduced to technological change alone.

‘A green transition that leaves people behind will not succeed,’ explained Arnold Puech d’Alissac, co-rapporteur on the CAP. ‘Fairness is not an add-on, it is a condition for the EU’s transformation.’

A strong CAP for food security and rural Europe

The EESC delivers a clear warning on agriculture. European organised civil society rejects proposals to cut the CAP or merge it into broader funding structures. Instead, the Committee calls for a stand-alone, fully funded CAP, restored to 0.5% of EU GDP and adjusted for inflation.

‘Food security is not optional,’ said rapporteur Joe Healy. ‘The EU cannot demand high standards from its farmers while cutting the budget that allows them to meet those standards.’

The Committee also supports stronger social conditionality, fairer food supply chains and better crisis-management tools for farmers.

Investing in youth, skills and democracy

Investment in people must be a central pillar of the next MFF. The EESC calls for stronger funding for Erasmus+, vocational education and training, youth participation and the European Solidarity Corps, with dedicated funding for youth, inclusion and skills development.

‘If the EU wants skilled workers, engaged citizens and democratic participation, it must invest early and consistently,’ said Nicoletta Merlo, rapporteur on Erasmus+. ‘Cutting youth and education budgets today means paying a much higher price tomorrow.’

A clear message to EU decision-makers

Across all opinions, the EESC sends the same signal: the EU’s ambitions cannot be delivered on the cheap. Organised civil society urges the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council to treat the next MFF as a strategic investment plan for the EU’s future, not a mere budgetary compromise.

‘The EU budget is the bloc’s most powerful policy tool,’ said MFF rapporteur Konstantinos Diamantouros. ‘Used wisely, it can boost cohesion, competitiveness and confidence in the European project, but only if it is bold enough to meet the moment.’

EESC opinions that belong to the package related to the 2028-2034 MFF:

ECO/682

ECO/683

ECO/684

NAT/960

SOC/842

SOC/845

TEN/859

INT/1102