Leaked a while ago to Brussels in view of the Committee’s Budget Committee meeting for the next Multiannual EU budget 2028-2034 (Multiannual Finannual Financial Framework – MFF). In his statements from Brussels MEP and Budget Member Nicolas Farantouris He points out that the “Commission promotes the next perennial budget of the EU 2028-2034 a” national file “model for each Member State to manage the state itself the funds and even consolidating programs & funds”, such as the Funds for Regional Cohesion and Funds.
As the Greek MEP points out, “in states without meritocratic processes or with corrupt governments, this money will be in danger of ending up at the expense of the country and the people.”
That is why Nicolas Farantouris calls on the committee “the funds for regional cohesion and the common agricultural policy to remain independent and without cuts at European level (that is, not to” merge “with other actions).”
Commission’s proposal
The European Commission’s proposal is wearing from 2028-12034 and sets the “ceiling” of the European funds to be given for this time. It is then divided into the annual budgets.
The Commission proposes an expanded model of “national folders – national plans”, with the integration of programs and funds. To date, there are separate programs and funds (eg separate cohesion funds, separate CAP funds, etc.). According to MEP Nicolas Farantouris, “the hitherto model is now doubted and will be the subject of our tough negotiations with the Commission.”
In other words, the Commission promotes the idea of shaping national plans on the RRF model (recovery fund). This will link the payment of funds to the implementation of targets and mountains. It is not clear how this will affect the advanced (eg what we have in cohesion funds today).
As Mr Farantouris points out, “the integration of programs and funds and the concentration of funds into a large, national plan, raises issues in terms of aiming and fulfilling key policies (eg cohesion).”
It also creates risks “in terms of the amount of funds available for specific purposes (basically cohesion and CAP)”.
Finally, as he points out, “the risks to countries that have no guarantees of meritocratic use of funds are important.”
In view of these, Nikolas Farantouris calls for cohesion policy and the CAP to remain separate programs and protect their funds.