A new European budget fit for our ambitions

In the coming weeks, 150 randomly selected citizens from all 27 EU Member States will discuss the new long-term EU budget, which will be proposed by the Commission in July 2025.

As the EU looks ahead, profound changes are taking place – for our society and our security, our economy and our planet. The EU budget should continue improving the quality of life and the livelihoods of citizens, farmers, researchers, businesses and regions across Europe and beyond. At the same time, there is a need to address pressing priorities such as defence and security. 

And while the need for EU action grows, the EU budget has limited financial resources. Hence the participants will focus on two questions:  

• On what priorities should the EU budget be spent in the future? 
• Which types of activities should the EU budget support to help deliver on those priorities?

The European long-term budget defines the size of the budget and what it is spent on for several years. The current long-term budget runs from 2021 to 2027 and amounts to EUR 1.2 trillion, representing approximately 1% of the EU GDP. It is topped up by approximately EUR 800 billion from NextGenerationEU, a temporary instrument to power the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The European budget has shown that it delivers for citizens. For instance, by funding projects and activities supporting the social and economic development of European regions, supporting farmers and rural areas, protecting the environment and combating climate change, promoting the digital transition of our societies, and supporting research and innovation. And in recent years, it has become our lifeline in times of crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, to support our energy independence and support Ukraine.