The European Commission has presented its long-awaited proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034, which contains elements of real discontinuity, some good ideas, but has also raised significant doubts and concerns.

The Commission's proposal sets the EU's seven-year budget at €1.763 trillion in commitments (at constant 2025 prices), representing 1.26% of the EU's Gross National Income (GNI). This includes the costs of repayment of the Next Generation EU (NGEU) instrument.

However, the proposal has been met with criticism, particularly regarding the lack of real resources for key priorities such as climate and environment. The Commission claims that 35% of the budget will be dedicated to climate and environment spending, but this target is largely theoretical and lacks concrete guarantees.

The proposal also raises concerns about the renationalization of EU spending, with a significant shift of power towards national governments and a weakening of the European Parliament's role.

In the next two years, the EU will have to negotiate and finalize the budget proposal, which will be a challenging task given the current political climate. The Commission's proposal will likely undergo significant changes before its adoption, and it remains to be seen whether the final budget will meet the EU's climate, democracy, and social challenges.

*Key aspects of the proposal*

The proposal includes the introduction of National and Regional Partnership Plans, with a total allocation of €865 billion, which will integrate 14 existing funds, including the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and cohesion policy.

The second chapter of the proposal, "Competitiveness, Prosperity and Security", combines important programs and initiatives such as Life and Horizon, with a focus on strategic industrial sectors, including defense.

The proposal also sets out a framework for the implementation of the "do no significant harm" (DNSH) principle, with some flexibility and derogations possible in case of crises and natural disasters.

*Concerns and criticisms*

The proposal has been criticized for its lack of ambition and transparency, particularly regarding climate and environment spending. The Commission's claim that 35% of the budget will be dedicated to climate and environment spending has been met with skepticism, given the lack of concrete guarantees and the risk of double counting.

The proposal also raises concerns about the role of the European Parliament and the regions, with a significant shift of power towards national governments and the Commission.

*What's next?*

The EU will have to negotiate and finalize the budget proposal over the next two years, which will be a challenging task given the current political climate. The Commission's proposal will likely undergo significant changes before its adoption, and it remains to be seen whether the final budget will meet the EU's climate, democracy, and social challenges.