BUDG Committee Holds Key Exchange on Post-2027 MFF as Council Negotiations Heat Up

On 5 November 2026, the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgets (BUDG) will hold a dedicated exchange of views on the proposal for the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

The meeting comes at a critical juncture in interinstitutional negotiations, featuring the participation of Piotr Serafin, Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration. The session reflects mounting parliamentary scrutiny over the long-term EU budget following recent proposals by the Council Presidency to trim overall spending levels.

With Member State discussions in the Council entering a decisive phase, the debate in BUDG will focus heavily on preserving key investment priorities and defining the mechanism for new EU "own resources", one of the most fiercely contested elements of the negotiation package.

Escalating Parliamentary Scrutiny and Legislative Dynamics

The Commission originally presented its comprehensive 2028–2034 MFF proposal on 16 July 2025, laying out a modernized framework designed to drive European competitiveness, green transition, and digital sovereignty. Following the Parliament's adoption of its interim report on 28 April 2026, MEPs have consistently warned against austerity measures.

The BUDG Committee session serves as a crucial platform for Parliament to assert its leverage under the special legislative procedure (Article 312 TFEU). Key operational dynamics include:

• Consent Mechanism as Veto Power: While the European Parliament does not act as a formal co-legislator on the MFF Regulation itself, it holds the absolute right of consent. Without a simple majority in plenary (and formal consent by an absolute majority), the Council cannot legally adopt the final text.

• Rejection of Prescriptive Council Cuts: MEPs across major political groups continue to challenge Council efforts to reduce funding envelopes across competitiveness, research, and regional development, emphasizing that an underfunded budget will not receive parliamentary backing.

• Debate on Own Resources: Commissioner Serafin’s participation underlines the Commission’s push to bridge national positions by refining the revenue package—including proposed levies on corporate contributions, carbon border adjustments, and emissions trading—to reduce direct national contributions.

Impact on ERTICO Partners

The budgetary direction set during these parliamentary and ministerial exchanges will dictate the resources available for smart, sustainable, and connected mobility across Europe:

• Defense of Research & Innovation Envelopes: The BUDG Committee’s pushback against budget cuts is essential for protecting the upcoming Framework Programme 10 (FP10). ERTICO and its partners rely heavily on robust FP10 allocations to co-fund research in automated driving, artificial intelligence for traffic management, and C-ITS solutions.

• Securing Digital Infrastructure Funding: As negotiations refine the future structure of deployment instruments like the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Transport), parliamentary support is vital to ensure that digital and physical infrastructure along Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) corridors remains fully funded.

• Engagement with National Allocation Plans: With the MFF proposed to rely more heavily on national and regional partnership plans, ERTICO partners will need to coordinate with national authorities to ensure intelligent transport systems (ITS) and active mobility remain core priorities in national funding allocations.

Looking Ahead

The BUDG exchange of views kicks off a busy month of high-level budgetary negotiations in Brussels:

• 5 November 2026: BUDG Committee holds its exchange of views with Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin.

• 26–27 November 2026: EU leaders convene at the European Council summit for a major debate on the post-2027 MFF parameters.

• Late 2026 – Early 2027: Member States in the Council aim to finalize an internal compromise (General Approach), setting the stage for formal interinstitutional negotiations to secure European Parliament consent before final publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

ERTICO will continue to track every stage of the MFF negotiations, advocating for sustained investment in research, digital infrastructure, and green transport innovation across Europe.

Source: European Parliament