New EU budget: Focus on SMEs, prioritisation, involving regions

"Given the tight budgetary situation in the Member States, the haggling over the EU budget will be particularly difficult this time round. It is right that the EU should seek to realise potential efficiency gains, and also that competitiveness should be enshrined as a clear priority in the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Nevertheless, we must not allow ourselves to be dazzled by new structures, formats and programme names. Ultimately, the economy must be strengthened in those areas where increased prosperity, social cohesion and innovation take place.

Craft businesses and SMEs make up the bulk of businesses in Europe. Without them, we will not succeed in steering the European Union successfully into the future. We need firm commitments on funding for SMEs across all pillars of the MFF and its programmes.

It is also crucial that the regions continue to play a key role in the allocation of funds. It is there that the expertise lies as to how the funds should best be invested to achieve the greatest possible benefit. We need a legal framework that enables both stronger and weaker regions to plan independently using a substantial share of the cohesion funds. 

This Council meeting must mark a milestone on the path to the next MFF. Precisely because all programmes are being restructured, an agreement must be reached by the end of this year. This is the only way to ensure a smooth transition in funding from 2028 onwards. Failure to do so would unsettle businesses and lead to massive uncertainty in planning."