2024-11-16 09:03:00
The EU budget for the coming year is in place. Almost 200 billion euros can be planned for 2025. Negotiators from the EU Parliament and the member states agreed on this on Saturday night, as both announced. According to parliamentary information, more than 230 million euros are available for priorities such as health research, humanitarian aid and border protection.
The agreement still has to be officially confirmed by the EU states and the European Parliament, but this is considered a formality. Last year, the states and parliament agreed on 189.4 billion euros for the 2024 budget.
According to Parliament, the budget also provides more money for the EU civil protection mechanism than was originally proposed by the EU Commission. This is used to respond to natural disasters, for example. It is also planned that member states will be able to use up to ten percent of the billions in EU cohesion funds to prevent and rebuild after such disasters.
In June, the EU Commission proposed a budget of 199.7 billion euros for the coming year. According to the Brussels authority, the green and digital transformation as well as the strengthening of Europe’s strategic autonomy should continue to be promoted. The EU countries wanted to budget 191.53 billion euros. The MEPs in Strasbourg proposed significantly more for the 2025 budget at almost 201 billion euros.
The 2025 plan will be the fifth under the so-called Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period 2021-2027. The common budget is around 1.1 trillion euros. As the Union’s largest net contributor, Germany contributes almost a quarter of the funds. The German federal government basically emphasizes that Germany also benefits more from the EU internal market than any other European economy.
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What are the key priorities for funding in the 2025 EU budget, and how will they impact member states?
**Interview with EU Budget Negotiator**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today. The recent agreement on the EU budget for 2025, amounting to nearly 200 billion euros, has generated significant interest. Can you walk us through the key highlights of this budget and what it means for EU member states?
**Alex Reed:** Absolutely! This budget is a significant step forward. It allocates more than 230 million euros specifically for critical areas such as health research, humanitarian aid, and border protection. Additionally, there’s enhanced funding for the EU civil protection mechanism, which is vital for responding to natural disasters, and it allows member states to utilize up to ten percent of cohesion funds for disaster prevention and recovery.
**Interviewer:** That sounds promising, especially in the context of ongoing challenges like natural disasters and public health. However, the proposed budget marked a departure from earlier suggestions by the EU Commission. How do you anticipate this will impact the EU’s green and digital transformation agenda?
**Alex Reed:** The final budget reflects a compromise that aims to balance national aspirations with EU-wide goals. While the EU Commission proposed a budget of nearly 199.7 billion euros, member states had a different figure in mind. Nevertheless, the final agreement supports the green and digital agendas, reinforcing the EU’s commitment to strategic autonomy and sustainability.
**Interviewer:** As discussions around funding priorities continue, it’s clear that some countries significantly contribute more to the budget than others. With Germany being the largest net contributor, what implications does this have for solidarity within the EU?
**Alex Reed:** That’s a crucial point. Germany, as a major contributor, underscores the argument that its economic strength benefits significantly from the EU internal market. However, this can lead to tensions among member states regarding funding priorities. It’s vital for all members to feel that they’re getting their fair share of benefits from the budget.
**Interviewer:** Interesting dynamics at play. Given this context, how do you think EU citizens will react to the budget decisions? Will they feel empowered or frustrated by the outcomes?
**Alex Reed:** Public sentiment varies widely across the EU. Some citizens may feel empowered by an increased focus on health and disaster response, while others may feel frustrated by perceived inequalities in contributions versus benefits. I believe this opens up important discussions about fiscal responsibility and cooperation among member states.
**Interviewer:** Before we wrap up, let’s pose a question to our readers: How do you feel about the allocation of almost 200 billion euros in the 2025 EU budget? Do you believe this funding will adequately address the pressing challenges Europe faces today, or do you think member states should be contributing more or less?
**Alex Reed:** That’s a key debate! I’m eager to hear readers’ thoughts on this important issue.
