European Parliament defines its position on the 2027 EU budget

On October 21, 2026, the European Parliament adopted its negotiating position for the 2027 EU budget in Strasbourg. Members of Parliament voted in favor of commitment appropriations totaling €194 billion, which represents an increase of €1.17 billion over the initial proposal submitted by the European Commission. Additionally, payment appropriations were set at €203.3 billion. The accompanying resolution, which guides future negotiations with the Council, was passed with 400 votes in favor, 189 against, and 84 abstentions.

The budget proposal prioritizes infrastructure, competitiveness, research, education, and security. Specifically, lawmakers requested increased funding of €63 million for the 'Horizon Europe' research program, €260 million for transport and energy networks, €96 million for Erasmus+, €50 million for EU4Health, and €80 million for civil protection. Cypriot MEP Michalis Hadjipantela, who serves as the rapporteur for the institutional sections of the budget, emphasized the necessity of combining fiscal discipline with adequate resource allocation to meet current institutional needs.

This vote marks the final stage of the current long-term budgetary cycle. The approved position serves as the foundation for upcoming negotiations between the Parliament and the Council, representing EU member state governments. The first round of discussions is scheduled for November 3, 2026, with the objective of finalizing the budget before the end of the year.