Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Council and Parliament agreed on the 2025 EU budget, focusing on key policies and geopolitical challenges.
The European Council and the European Parliament today on 16 Nov 2024 reached an arrangement on the EU’s annual budget for 2025. Next year’s budget strongly concentrates on the EU’s main policy preferences and addresses the currently complex geopolitical context.
What are the total commitments and payments for 2025?
As reported by the EU sources, total commitments are put at €192.768,6 million and the total payments at €149.615,7 million, excluding allocations foreseen for special instruments outside the MFF. €800,5 million have been preserved available this year under the expenditure ceilings of the current multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027, permitting the EU to react to unforeseeable conditions.
In his remarks, Péter Banai, Hungarian Minister of State and chief Council negotiator for the 2025 EU budget said: “We have agreed on a balanced budget that gives us the means to deliver on the EU’s preference areas while keeping the interest of taxpayers in mind. Next year’s budget ensures a prudent course keeping enough financial leeway to react to unforeseen circumstances. This is a realistic strategy taking into account the current economic and geopolitical context and the requirement to accommodate new challenges that may arise in 2025. Furthermore, the agreement provides the necessary financing for the reconstruction of countries affected by natural.”
What changes occurred between the draft and the final budget?
In the background, the EU Commission, in its initial draft budget for 2025, formally assumed on 12 July 2024, set total commitments at €193.046,9 million and the total payments at €147.090,5 million, excluding appropriations expected for special instruments outside the MFF. The EU Council, in its position, assumed on 13 September 2024, set the entire commitments at €191.527,0 million and the total payments at €146.214,6 million, excluding appropriations foreseen for certain instruments outside the MFF.
The European Parliament, in its amendments assumed on 23 October 2024, put total commitments at €194.282,3 million and total expenses at €147.897,2 million, excluding appropriations anticipated for special instruments outside the MFF.
