European Citizens' Panel on the new European budget

Citizens help shape the EU’s long-term budget

In May 2025, 150 randomly selected citizens from all 27 EU Member States concluded their deliberations on the priorities for the upcoming long-term EU budget. Their insights profoundly shaped the European Commission's proposal for the 2028–2034 period, published on 16 July 2025.

Covering areas such as regional development, innovation, education, defence, and migration, the proposal outlines a reformed budget that is more streamlined, adaptable, and responsive to both long-term objectives and emerging challenges.

Drawing on the Panel’s guiding call for a “strong future-ready EU budget”, the proposal translates citizens’ priorities into concrete measures across key policy areas.

Examples of how the proposal reflects citizens’ recommendations:

Making the EU budget more adaptable
The Commission proposes a more flexible structure that allows funding to be quickly deployed or reallocated, improving the EU’s crisis response.
Supporting regions and communities
New National and Regional Partnership Plans will adapt EU support to local needs, in line with citizens’ calls for more regional cohesion.
Prioritising education and skills
Echoing citizens’ priorities on lifelong learning, the proposal boosts Erasmus+ funding and expands support for reskilling and upskilling opportunities throughout life.
Strengthening the European Defence Union and enhancing security and digital readiness
The proposal includes increased investments in defence, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure to ensure a secure and sovereign Europe.

About the Panel

Over several months, participants exchanged views and ideas, drawing on their life experience as citizens. Working together, they identified shared priorities, envisioned the EU’s future, and recommended where EU funding could have the greatest impact. Their work focused on two main 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 result was a set of forward-looking recommendations that now serve as a central reference for shaping the next Multiannual Financial Framework.

What happens next?

The proposed budget must now be unanimously approved by the 27 Member States in the Council of the EU and requires the consent of the European Parliament. As negotiations progress, the recommendations of the European Citizens’ Panel will remain a key reference in shaping a budget that reflects the priorities of EU citizens.

More information is available in the Commission’s factsheets on the 2028–2034 EU budget. A feedback event is planned in the coming months to update citizens on the implementation of their recommendations.

Timeline

The European Citizens’ Panel on the new European budget took place over three weekends between March and May 2025.

28 - 30 March
Session 1 - Brussels
- Exchange of first ideas participants find most promising for this exercise.
- Introduction to the "new European budget".
  Recordings: 28 March 2025 | 30 March 2025
25 - 27 April
Session 2 - online
- Stocktake of Session 1 and development of ideas by theme and topic.
- First phase of developing recommendations.
  Recordings: 25 April 2025 | 27 April 2025
16 - 18 May
Closing Session - Brussels
- Drawing conclusions of debates and recommendations to the European Commission.
- Explanation of next steps – impact on policymaking.
  Recordings: 16 May 2025 | 18 May 2025

European budget: What’s at stake?

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.