What changed between the plenary report of 15 Oct 2024 and the plenary report of 20 Nov 2024

Added:FINAL Budget 2025 – Elements for joint conclusions

Added:These joint conclusions cover the following sections:

Added:1. Budget 2025

Added:2. Statements

Added:Summary overview

Added:According to the elements for joint conclusions:

Added:- The overall level of commitment appropriations in the 2025 budget is set at EUR 199 438,4 million. Overall, this leaves a margin below the MFF ceilings for 2025 of EUR 800,5 million in commitment appropriations.

Added:- The overall level of payment appropriations in the 2025 budget is set at EUR 155 209,3 million. Overall, this leaves a margin below the MFF ceiling for 2025 of EUR 28 302,7 million in payment appropriations.

Added:- The Flexibility Instrument for 2025 is mobilised in commitment appropriations for an amount of EUR 1 162,4 million, of which EUR 4,7 million for sub-heading 2a Economic, social and territorial cohesion, EUR 1 136,8 million for sub-heading 2b Resilience and Values, EUR 15,6 million for heading 5 Security and Defence and EUR 5,2 million for heading 6 Neighbourhood and the World.

Added:- In accordance with Article 11(1) a of the MFF Regulation, the Single Margin Instrument is mobilised in commitment appropriations for an amount of EUR 721,0 million for heading 7 European Public Administration.

Added:The 2025 payment appropriations related to the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument in the years 2022 to 2025 are estimated by the Commission at EUR 1 398,8 million. The estimated payment schedule of the related outstanding amounts for these years is detailed in the following table:

Added:1. Budget 2025

Added:1.1. 'Closed' lines

Added:Unless stated otherwise below in these conclusions, all budget lines are confirmed as proposed by the Commission in the Draft Budget for 2025 as amended in Amending Letter No. 1/2025.

Removed:Section III – European Commission - A people-centred EU budget 2025: Investments tailored to improving people’s lives and boosting the Union’s competitiveness and sustainability

Added:Additionally, unless stated otherwise, all budget lines amended by the Council and agreed by the Parliament in its reading are confirmed as amended by the Council.

Removed:1. Is adamant that, in times of geopolitical and institutional change, financial pressure, climate change and biodiversity crisis, as well as of societal challenges, a reliable, robust, flexible, investment oriented EU budget remains instrumental for the implementation of the Union’s policies and is key in responding to people’s increasing needs, in leaving no-one behind through the green and digital transitions, in delivering prosperity and security for people and in boosting the competitiveness and sustainability of the Union economy, in order to defend the social dimension of Union spending; reinforces, therefore, in its reading, budgetary lines that have a direct impact on improving peoples’ lives and that respond to the global challenges;

Added:For the other budget lines, the Conciliation Committee has agreed on the conclusions included in sections 1.2 to 1.7 below.

Removed:2. Emphasises that Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine has brought further substantial economic and social consequences for people across Europe, especially the most vulnerable, in frontline countries and in Ukraine; acknowledges that a confluence of political, security, socio-economic, climate, biodiversity and environmental challenges demand a comprehensive and resolute response from the Union, including by exploiting to the fullest possible extent the prevention as well as the crisis response capacity of the EU budget; considers it crucial for the Union to be able to act swiftly and adequately in emergency situations caused by major natural disasters, linked to the worsening climate and biodiversity crisis, humanitarian emergencies or public health crises in Member States and accession countries as well as to support third countries suffering from such crises;

Added:1.2. Horizontal issues

Removed:3. Notes with concern that while inflation has begun to subside compared to previous years’ peaks, its longer-term impact on the cost of living, energy insecurity, energy poverty and food prices continues to be a burden for people across Europe, on households’ purchasing power and on companies’, in particular SMEs’, competitiveness and productivity; stresses that, against this background, a combination of policy responses will have to be deployed to adequately address the broad range of challenges; reminds that the Union budget, in complementarity with the national budgets of the Member States and private finance should play a central role in this regard; recalls that the EU budget is an investment budget in line with Union’s political priorities and programmes which generates a return on investment and growth possibilities; emphasises that more solidarity among people of Europe, as well as between Member States is needed, as well as more investments in efficient policies and programmes which improve the Union's security and competitiveness and which have a positive impact on people’s lives, in particular in areas such as public health, housing and environment;

Added:Decentralised agencies

Removed:4. Highlights that the Budget 2025 procedure takes place in a context of institutional changeover where the next Commission’s policy priorities, strategic focus and legislative initiatives and their budgetary implications are not yet known in any detail; stresses that most expenditure programmes of the 2021-2027 financial programming period are being executed according to plan and that the obligation to implement multiannual programmes in a reliable and predictable manner must be in line with the necessity to swiftly respond to new developments and unforeseen events and crises; highlights that, given the new institutional cycle, cooperation across the institutional settings is crucial as investments and political decisions taken today will shape the EU’s agenda for the next decades and beyond;

Added:The EU contribution (in commitment and payment appropriations) and the number of establishment plan posts for all decentralised agencies are set at the level proposed by the Commission in the Draft Budget for 2025 as amended in Amending Letter No. 1/2025, with the following exceptions:

Removed:5. Underlines that while the MFF revision represented a clear improvement on the status quo, the EU budget is still under pressure, with limited margins and flexibility, with cuts and redeployments to key programmes and with reduced ambition in important future-oriented policy areas; acknowledges that the revision has resulted in providing additional resources for Ukraine, the Western Balkans, the implementation of the new Asylum and Migration Pact, the European Defence Fund as well as moderate increases in the flexibility mechanism; regrets, however, that the revision has also resulted in cuts to flagship programmes, such as Horizon Europe and EU4Health; welcomes that the Commission has proceeded with translating the outcome of the MFF revision into the Financial Programming as well as amending budgets 2024 and the draft general budget for 2025 (the “DB”);

Added: Under sub-heading 2b:

Removed:6. Notes that the 2025 Budget will be the first full annual budgetary procedure under the revised MFF ceilings and rules; insists that the spirit and letter of the MFF revision be respected and the additional appropriations resulting from the revision be fully authorised and committed; reminds that a certain level of redeployments, in particular under headings 1 and 6 was part of the MFF revision package; stresses its firm position to not see such reductions repeated or made worse in the annual procedure;

Added: The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO, budget article 07 10 08), for which the level of commitment and payment appropriations is increased by EUR 2,0 million including to finance additional 14 SNEs to support the work of the permanent chambers.

Removed:7. Recalls its long-standing position that new policy priorities or tasks should be accompanied by fresh money and that Union institutions, bodies, decentralised agencies and the EPPO, must be properly staffed and adequately resourced to fulfil their mandate; points out that it is the responsibility of the Union to make sure that all institutions, bodies and agencies have sufficient level of cybersecurity in place; emphasises that all spending through the Union budget must be subject to parliamentary scrutiny;

Added: Under heading 5:

Removed:8. Regrets, that, despite the MFF revision, overall ceilings and margins are still very low in the Financial Programming and the DB and stand at zero in several headings (Heading 2b, Heading 5, Heading 7); takes note with concern that the NGEU overrun costs, i.e. the needs for the EURI refinancing costs which have not yet been programmed, amount to approximately EUR 2,6 billion, twice the Commission’s forecast; is aware that the Amending Letter 1/2025 will update the needs estimation for 2025; is keenly aware that identifying the sources of financing this amount, without causing undue collateral damage to essential programmes and maintaining some flexibility for unforeseen future events, constitutes the biggest challenge in the 2025 procedure;

Added: The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol, budget article 12 10 01), for which 15 posts are added to the establishment plan and the level of commitment and payment appropriations is increased by EUR 5,0 million.

Removed:9. Recalls that the Commission in the DB proposed a total level of appropriations, including special instruments (which are counted outside the MFF ceilings), amounting to EUR 199 716.8 million in commitment appropriations corresponding to 1.08% of GNI, and EUR 152 684.1 million in payment appropriations, corresponding to 0.83% of GNI;

Added:Executive agencies

Removed:10. Deplores that the Council, in its position which it calls “prudent”, proposes to cut commitment appropriations by EUR 1.52 billion across the MFF headings, leaving a total of EUR 191.527 billion, and reduces payment appropriations by EUR 876 million across the MFF headings; stresses that, by applying such largely unjustified cuts across headings on programme lines to generate additional unallocated margins, the Council’s reading sticks to an approach that is not fit for purpose in times of crisis; underlines that this approach is not based in the reality of current budgetary needs, as these margins are not intended for use in the annual budget 2025 at all; considers that many of the budgetary cuts from important programmes such as Erasmus are made with the sole intention of repaying the NGEU interest costs cutting precisely from funding for the next generation that is supposed to benefit the most from such programmes;

Added:The EU contribution (in commitment and payment appropriations) and the number of establishment plan posts for executive agencies are set at the level proposed by the Commission in the Draft Budget for 2025 as amended in Amending Letter No. 1/2025.

Removed:11. Emphasises its strong preference for covering a larger share of EURI borrowing costs by availabilities in the de-commitment compartment of the EURI Special Instrument over and above the MFF ceilings which would have the effect of restoring some margin within Heading 2b and creating budgetary space in the Flexibility Instrument; proposes, therefore, to cover 65% of the overrun costs in 2025 by the de-commitment compartment of the EURI special instrument;

Added:Pilot Projects/Preparatory Actions

Removed:12. Reiterates its calls on Council and Commission to apply Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union budget in full; stresses in particular that compliance with the rule of law is a fundamental pre-requisite to access EU funds; stresses that systemic issues with the rule of law, such as the violation of the principle of separation of powers or recent attempts in some Member States to attack the independence of the judiciary or to dismantle the institutions to fight against corruption constitute clear risks to the financial interests of the EU and the protection of the EU Budget and calls on the Commission to allow no backsliding on achievements in the area of rule of law and safeguarding institutions;

Added:A comprehensive package of 33 pilot projects/preparatory actions (PP/PA), of which 22 new, for a total amount of EUR 104,5 million in commitment appropriations is agreed as proposed by the Parliament.

Removed:13. Recalls that, in accordance with the Financial Regulation, when implementing the budget, Member States and the Commission must ensure compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and respect the Union’s values enshrined in Article 2 TEU; underlines, in particular Articles 137, 138 and 158 of the Financial Regulation and recalls the Commission’s and Member States’ obligation to exclude from Union funds any persons or entities found guilty by a final judgment of terrorist offences as well as final judgements on terrorist activities, inciting, aiding, abetting or attempting to commit such offences , corruption or other serious offences;

Added:This package respects the ceilings for pilot projects and preparatory actions set out in the Financial Regulation.

Removed:14. Reaffirms the significance of the horizontal principles concerning climate, biodiversity and gender equality that underpin the MFF and all related EU policies, also in the context of annual budgetary procedures; calls on the Commission to fulfil its obligation under the Interinstitutional Agreement of 16 December 2020 to ensure that the agreed targets related to climate and biodiversity, as well as the obligation to respect the ‘do no significant harm’ principle and to promote gender equality are fully met;

Added:1.3. Expenditure headings of the financial framework - commitment appropriations

Removed:15. Deplores the absence of progress in the Council and Member States on the reform of the own resources system; recalls its position on the amended Commission proposal, which endorses the introduction of new own resources; considers that the introduction of fresh genuine revenue sources, in line with the roadmap in the Interinstitutional Agreement, would serve to cover the additional budgetary burden arising from NextGenerationEU borrowing and would thereby shield the margins and flexibility mechanisms, which in turn would facilitate budgetary decision-making on unforeseen needs as well as new strategic foresight initiatives; reiterates the need to fully respect the timeline of the legally-binding roadmap for the introduction of new own resources annexed to the IIA and underlines that swift progress on new own resources is essential both for the repayment of EURI borrowing costs and for the financial robustness and implementation of the current and future MFFs; urges, furthermore, the Commission to continue the efforts to identify fresh, new and preferably genuine own resources and other revenue sources for the EU budget beyond the IIA;

Added:After taking into account the above conclusions on agencies and pilot projects and preparatory actions, the Conciliation Committee has agreed on the following:

Removed:16. Takes note that the climate mainstreaming target of 30% is projected to be met with 33.5% while the expenditure related to biodiversity is projected to be at 8.5% following the CAP revision so that the 10% target will not be met in 2026; welcomes the efforts for a more transparent and comprehensive reporting on the horizontal targets, and emphasises the need to carry out sufficient ex-post evaluations with a particular focus on impact;

Added:Heading 1 – Single Market, Innovation and Digital

Removed:17. Reiterates that all Union programmes, policies and activities should be implemented in a way that promotes gender equality in the delivery of their objectives; welcomes that the Commission has further developed a methodology to track gender equality-related spending in the 2021-2027 MFF, which looks at policy design and resource allocation and in particular the presentation of an ex-post gender impact assessment on a more granular level and reporting on volumes; calls for an extension of the methodology to all MFF programmes in order to demonstrate results for the 2025 budget; stresses, in this regard, the need for systematic collection and analysis of gender-disaggregated data; at the same time notes that only EUR 17.9 million have been spent in the first three years of this MFF which resulted in a direct positive impact for women;

Added:Commitment appropriations are set at the level proposed by the Commission in the Draft Budget, as amended by Amending Letter 1/2025 but with the following adjustments, agreed by the Conciliation Committee, set out in the table below:

Removed:Special Instruments and Cascade mechanism

Added:In accordance with Article 15.3 of the Financial Regulation, the Conciliation Committee agrees to make commitment appropriations available again on the research budget lines for a total of EUR 115,9 million in commitment appropriations, i.e. an increase of EUR 20,0 million as compared to the level proposed by the Commission in the Draft Budget, as amended by Amending Letter 1/2025. The following budget line is reinforced, and its budget remarks revised accordingly:

Removed:18. Highlights that the 2025 annual budgetary procedure will be the first exercise based entirely on the MFF Revision; recalls that, according to the MFF Revision, the Flexibility Instrument has been reinforced and that a maximum allocation of EUR 1 546.1 billion to be mobilised in 2025 has been topped up by 495 million and amounts carried over from 2024; notes that the Commission proposes to use an amount of EUR 1 192.8 million under the Flexibility Instrument for the EURI cascade Step 2 but that the Council deviates from the Commission approach in several significant aspects;

Added:These appropriations are part of the additional top-up to EUR 100 million (in 2018 prices) agreed in the context of the MFF revision. Including the original MFF agreement, this leaves up to EUR 152,6 million in 2018 prices available for the 2026-2027 period, of which EUR 62,6 million from the 2019 and 2020 de-commitments.

Removed:19. Reiterates its position that before having recourse to the EURI special instrument, the budgetary authority is expected to examine the possibility for covering part of any shortfall within the headings and through the Flexibility and Single Margin Instruments; emphasises that this process must be objective and based on real needs and cannot be driven by any arbitrary benchmarks; intends, therefore, to ensure that all programmes are properly resourced and that the budget’s flexibility and response capacity is maintained throughout the annual budgetary procedure;

Added:As a consequence, the agreed level of commitment appropriations is set at EUR 21 480,1 million, leaving a margin of EUR 115,9 million under the expenditure ceiling of heading 1.

Removed:20. Notes, further, that the initial 2025 availabilities for the Single Margin Instrument for Commitments (Article 11(1)(a) of the MFF regulation) stand at EUR 1 124 million and that the Commission proposes to use EUR 490.4 million for heading 7 European Public Administration; resumes that as a result, a total amount of EUR 1 468.9 million remains available for unforeseen expenditure in 2025, of which an amount of EUR 835.1 million under the Flexibility Instrument and an amount of EUR 633.8 million under the Single Margin Instrument (assuming that the neither the Flexibility Instrument, nor the SMI are still mobilised in the course of 2024);

Added:Sub-heading 2a – Economic, social and territorial Cohesion

Removed:21. Highlights that the Commission’s DB estimates the EURI ‘overrun’ costs to amount to EUR 2,5 billion and applies a 50:50 approach to the cascade mechanism; notes that the Commission proposes, therefore, to cover an amount of EUR 1.24 billion from the budget - i.e. 50% of the cost overruns - stemming from the unallocated margin under sub-heading 2b for an amount of EUR 46.2 million and by the Flexibility Instrument for an amount of EUR 1 192.8 million, with the remaining half to be mobilised through the new EURI instrument over and above the ceiling, covered by de-commitments made since 2021; acknowledges that, therefore, under this scenario no recourse to the ‘back-stop’ is required;

Added:Commitment appropriations are set at the level proposed by the Commission in the Draft Budget but with the following adjustments, agreed by the Conciliation Committee, set out in the table below:

Removed:22. Disagrees with the Council’s approach to opt for what it calls “prudent” budgeting, creating artificial margins under the MFF ceilings; notes that the Council, in its position on the 2025 budget, and similar to 2024, reduces appropriations dedicated for EURI borrowing costs; points out that the Council’s position to cover only around 35% of the overrun costs by the EURI Special Instrument runs counter to the 50:50 benchmark that the Council itself insisted on during the MFF negotiations; alerts that in order to finance the difference and create additional unallocated margins (mostly in H2b but also in other headings, presumably in view of using it in future years through the SMI), sizeable reductions to a number of flagship programme envelopes have been proposed that have repercussions in 2025 as well as in 2026 and 2027; stresses that the cuts in heading 2b are particularly disconcerting as the only motivation is to use the money for financing EURI to the detriment of the people-centred nature of the programmes anchored in the same heading as EURI; recalls that the most affected programmes, Horizon Europe, CEF digital and Erasmus, are well-established priorities for the European Parliament and flagship programmes of the Union; deplores that the Council targets for reductions are across several headings and even touch some programmes that were already subject to the MFF revision redeployments, such as Horizon, reduced by 400 million, or lines that were topped up in previous years, such as Erasmus+, reduced by 295 million, EU4Health or LIFE;

Added:As a consequence, the agreed level of commitment appropriations is set at EUR 66 365,7 million, with no margin left under the expenditure ceiling of sub-heading 2a and the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument for an amount of EUR 4,7 million in accordance with Article 12 of the MFF Regulation.

Removed:23. Recalls the Interinstitutional Agreement adopted as part of the 2020 MFF agreement, whereby expenditure to cover NGEU financing costs “shall aim at not reducing programmes and funds”; questions whether the Council’s approach is in line with the MFF agreement on the cascade; recalls that the EURI special instrument is to be mobilised in accordance with the MFF regulation, the applicable sectoral rules and other legal obligations and taking into account priorities, prudent budgeting and sound financial management, which require in particular appropriate margins for unforeseen expenditure;

Added:Sub-heading 2b – Resilience and Values

Removed:24. Restores, therefore, all the cuts proposed by Council to ensure that programmes are properly resourced and that the budget’s flexibility and response capacity are maintained throughout the annual budgetary procedure; insists on the need for the Commission to provide reliable, timely and accurate information on NGEU borrowing costs and on expected Recovery and Resilience Facility disbursements throughout the budgetary procedure; recalls that Parliament is deeply concerned about the impact of the inherent uncertainty for the EURI interest line and questions the forecast from the Commission on NGEU borrowing costs; welcomes the cut-off date of the end of September for the budgeting of the EURI costs which brings more predictability to the procedure; is aware that the Amending Letter 1/2025 will update the needs estimation for 2025; is adamant to cater fully and timely for the NGEU repayment costs that will fall due in 2025;

Added:Commitment appropriations are set at the level proposed by the Commission in the Draft Budget, as amended by Amending Letter 1/2025 but with the following adjustments, agreed by the Conciliation Committee, set out in the table below:

Removed:25. Underlines, once again, that repayment of the EURI borrowing costs is a legal obligation for the Union and a non-discretionary expenditure item in the EU budget; insists on transparency in the implementation of the cascade in the annual budgetary procedure and adds a remark in the budget, showing the share of de-commitment of appropriations, other than external assigned revenue, made since the beginning of the current MFF on the budget line; proposes to finance 65% of the overrun costs by the de-commitment compartment of the EURI Special Instrument; deems the margin of EUR 46.2 million, which was programmed before the DB was submitted, to be available for reinforcing programmes under the ceiling of Heading 2b; intends to revisit the amendments linked to the cascade mechanism once the Amending Letter provides updated estimations of the actual needs for the EURI line in 2025;

Added:For Erasmus+, Article 07 03 03 Promoting learning mobility of sport coaches and staff, as well as cooperation, inclusion, creativity and innovation at the level of sport organisations and sport policies would allow a contribution to the financing of actions related to the next special Olympics. The Commission will monitor the needs of the line throughout the year.

Removed:Heading 1 - Single market, Innovation and Digital

Added:The overall needs of the EURI interest line of EUR 2 283,2 million above the financial programming for 2025 are financed in part by the remaining margin under sub-Heading 2b of EUR 4,7 million and the mobilisation of EUR 1 136,8 million under the Flexibility Instrument, an overall amount of EUR 1 141,6 million corresponding to the benchmark of 50 % of the 2025 cost overrun. The remaining 50 %, i.e. EUR 1 141,6 million will be covered by the de-commitments made since 2021 in line with Article 10a para 3(a) of the MFF Regulation. The 50% benchmark will be targeted annually.

Removed:26. Recalls that programmes under Heading 1 play a key role in increasing the Union’s competitiveness, driving growth, economic development and job creation as well as in ensuring that the green and digital transitions leave no-one behind; recalls, in this respect, that these programmes provide the necessary support for research and innovation in key sectors such as health, food, climate, natural resources, and agriculture, boost funding for cross-border infrastructure, in particular in the transport and energy sectors, bolster the Union’s investment in cutting-edge technology, thereby stimulating job creation and improve the competitiveness of the Union economy, with an emphasis on SMEs and youth entrepreneurship; underlines the importance of the EU research programmes for meeting the EU’s climate objectives and calls for special support to research projects on de-carbonisation;

Added:As a consequence, the agreed level of commitment appropriations is set at EUR 11 614,4 million, with no margin left under the expenditure ceiling of sub-heading 2b and the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument for an amount of EUR 1 136,8 million in accordance with Article 12 of the MFF Regulation and the mobilisation of the EURI instrument for an amount of EUR 1 141,6 million in accordance with Article 10a para 3(a) of the MFF Regulation.

Removed:27. Highlights the vital role that Horizon Europe plays in this context; recalls that the programme remains heavily over-subscribed and is therefore unable to support a large number of research projects evaluated as ‘excellent’; proposes, therefore, to increase allocations for the programme by a total of EUR 242 million compared to the DB, with reinforcements for the European Research Council, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and Clusters ‘Health’, with the particular aim to reinforce the mental health research, ‘Culture’ ‘Climate, Energy and Mobility’, ‘Food’, EIC and ‘Widening participation’;

Added:Heading 3 – Natural Resources and Environment

Removed:28. Proposes, moreover, to make available again EUR 180 million in research de-commitments under Article 15(3) of the Financial Regulation under Horizon Europe, EUR 60 million each in assigned revenue for the European Research Council, for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and for European Innovation Council;

Added:Commitment appropriations are set at the level proposed by the Commission in the Draft Budget, as amended by Amending Letter 1/2025 but with the following adjustments, agreed by the Conciliation Committee, set out in the table below:

Removed:29. Recalls that the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is key for the Union’s overall security and for boosting investment in high-performance sustainable trans-European networks, and thereby promoting interconnectivity as well as for supporting the completion of TEN-T and the extension of corridors towards the partner countries in the Eastern Neighbourhood; in this sense, calls for more CEF Transport investments into the climate and environmentally friendly cross-border transport infrastructure, in particular with regard to rail projects and investment in clean mobility; calls, at the same time, on increasing the CEF Energy investments for deploying renewable energy, energy efficiency and other sustainable energy projects; highlights its vital importance to energy projects in Ukraine in light of the Russian war of aggression; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for CEF Transport by EUR 40 million above the DB in 2025 and CEF Energy by EUR 30 million above the DB in 2025;

Added:As a consequence, the agreed level of commitment appropriations is set at EUR 56 731,3 million, leaving a margin of EUR 604,7 million under the expenditure ceiling of heading 3.

Removed:30. Highlights the added value of the Digital Europe Programme in view the Union’s digital transition, technological progress and competitiveness and proposes an increase of EUR 10 million for the budget line Artificial Intelligence and EUR 5 million above the DB for the skills strand of the programme; points out that enhancing digital skills and literacy are imperative for empowering citizens to fully participate in the knowledge economy;

Added:Heading 4 – Migration and Border Management

Removed:31. Stresses that a well-functioning Single Market is critical for the Union’s competitiveness and for enhancing access to markets for EU businesses, especially SMEs and young entrepreneurs; notes that SMEs in particular are the backbone of the European economy and that they have been hit hard by high inflation and energy prices; proposes, as a result, an increase of EUR 5 million above the DB for the SME strand of the Single Market programme, notably to support the European net-zero industry academies;

Added:Commitment appropriations are set at the level proposed by the Commission in the Draft Budget, as amended by Amending Letter 1/2025 but with the following adjustments, agreed by the Conciliation Committee, set out in the table below:

Removed:32. Further proposes a number of additional reinforcements for selected budget lines in Heading 1, among which InvestEU, the Anti-Fraud Programme, Space and Customs cooperation; commends the impact of Space Programme on the security of the Union by providing early warnings to the relevant authorities in times of crises, such as floods, through Copernicus and providing crucial navigation services to rescue and transport services through Galileo; underlines the increasing needs in investing in both Space programme strands in the future;

Added:As a consequence, the agreed level of commitment appropriations is set at EUR 4 791,1 million, leaving a margin of EUR 79,9 million under the expenditure ceiling of heading 4.

Removed:33. Reiterates the important role played by the decentralised agencies active under this heading; proposes to increase appropriations for the European Union Agency for Railways and for the BEREC Office in line with their identified needs and expanding mandates;

Added:Heading 5 – Security and Defence

Removed:34. Reinforces Heading 1 by EUR 341 566 628 in commitment appropriations above the DB (excluding pilot projects and preparatory actions) and by EUR 984 803 912 compared to the Council reading;

Added:Commitment appropriations are set at the level proposed by the Commission in the Draft Budget, as amended by Amending Letter 1/2025 but with the following adjustments, agreed by the Conciliation Committee, set out in the table below:

Removed:Heading 2a - Economic, social and territorial cohesion

Added:As a consequence, the agreed level of commitment appropriations is set at EUR 2 632,6 million, with no margin left under the expenditure ceiling of heading 5 and the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument for an amount of EUR 15,6 million in accordance with Article 12 of the MFF Regulation.

Removed:35. Underlines the key role cohesion policy plays in delivering on Union policy priorities, improving peoples’ quality of life and boosting the Union economy by contributing to fair, inclusive and sustainable growth and development, promoting economic and social convergence between countries and regions, notably outermost regions, addressing regional and social inequalities, supporting the green and digital transitions, and fostering innovation and employment; reiterates that cohesion policy is not a crisis response tool and, therefore, should not be called on to make up for shortcomings in budgetary flexibility or crisis response mechanisms to the detriment of its long-term policy objectives; calls on the Commission and all Member States to accelerate implementation of cohesion policy, in parallel to the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility;

Added:Heading 6 – Neighbourhood and the World

Removed:36. Recalls that the execution of operational programmes in the Member States and regions should be accelerated and calls on Member States to prevent delays caused by a lack of administrative capacity at all levels of governance; wishes to allocate the remaining margin of EUR 755 965 to the budget line for Operational technical assistance, to contribute towards accelerating implementation ;

Added:Commitment appropriations are set at the level proposed by the Commission in the Draft Budget but with the following adjustments, agreed by the Conciliation Committee, set out in the table below:

Removed:37. Reinforces Heading 2a by EUR 755 965 in commitment appropriations, i.e. by the remaining margin under the sub-ceiling, above the DB (excluding pilot projects and preparatory actions) and by EUR 889 718 compared to the Council reading;

Added:As a consequence, the agreed level of commitment appropriations is set at EUR 16 308,2 million, with no margin left under the expenditure ceiling of heading 6 and the mobilisation of the Flexibility Instrument for an amount of EUR 5,2 million in accordance with Article 12 of the MFF Regulation.

Removed:Heading 2b - Resilience and values

Added:Heading 7 – European Public Administration

Removed:38. Underlines that the expenditure programmes under Heading 2b have to share the already tight resources and margins under Heading 2b with the EURI budget line which covers the NGEU debt management and interest costs and, eventually, debt repayments, and that this has de facto prevented the Commission from proposing reinforcements where they are needed; is intent on covering these borrowing costs in a reliable and transparent manner without having to reduce programme allocations for this purpose; is convinced that, for 2025, the cascade mechanism and the newly created EURI Special Instrument make it possible that this objective can be achieved; emphasises that this is a crucial message to the beneficiaries of EU funding and the public at large;

Added:The number of posts in the establishment plans of the institutions and the appropriations proposed by the Commission in the Draft Budget, as amended by Amending Letter 1/2025 are agreed by the Conciliation Committee with the following exceptions:

Removed:39. Stresses, in an effort to spare the programmes under this heading from undue budgetary rigidity, that it deems the margin of EUR 46.2 million to be available for the programme top-ups in Heading 2b; wishes the equivalent amount for the EURI cascade to be covered by the de-commitment compartment of the EURI special instrument;

Added: The amendments introduced by the European Council to its own section and confirmed by the European Parliament in its reading are reinstated also making due consideration of the adjustments proposed in Amending Letter 1/2025. Overall, this results in three additional posts and a level of appropriations of EUR 715,9 million, which represents an increase of EUR 195 000 in comparison with the Draft Budget as amended by Amending Letter 1/2025;

Removed:40. Recalls that programmes under Heading 2b play a key role in ensuring resilience and values by providing support and opportunities for young people through Erasmus+, including support to the Special Olympics World Games (SOWG) 2025, and through the European Solidarity Corps; emphasises that both programmes are required by law to put in place measures to boost participation rates among people with fewer opportunities and from disadvantaged backgrounds; calls for a readjustment of Erasmus+ grants to account for higher inflation and higher living costs; proposes to reinforce support for the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme, to invest in preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer diseases, rare diseases and diseases affecting mental health, by increasing EU4Health, to invest in skills development, including through reskilling and upskilling, to ensure social security coordination in order to facilitate labour mobility and easier transfer of social security benefits and to support vulnerable communities, as well as rural, isolated, insular and mountainous areas, social dialogue, labour mobility, trade unions, and the cultural and creative sectors;

Added: The section of the Court of Justice of the European Union for which two posts are added to the establishment plan and the level of commitment and payment appropriations increased by EUR 140 000;

Removed:41. Is alarmed by the ever-growing impact of natural disasters; underlines that these disasters are often linked to the worsening climate change and are therefore likely to occur with greater frequency and intensity in the future; is, therefore, highly concerned about the Union’s ability to respond effectively and in a timely and effective manner; wishes to protect human lives and secure livelihoods; stresses the need to invest in climate mitigation and adaptation measures, in particular in vulnerable regions; stresses, in this context, the urgent need to boost the Union’s response capacity; increases, therefore, appropriations for the Union Civil Protection Mechanism by EUR 42 million above DB; calls for a prioritisation of investments that help reduce the impact of natural disasters as well as in the investments in the preventive measures, preparedness and resilience; stresses that the Union should find the resources to express solidarity by supporting the areas, citizens and companies affected by the recent devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe in September 2024;

Added: The section of the European Economic and Social Committee for which one post is added to the establishment plan and the level of commitment and payment appropriations increased by EUR 70 000;

Removed:42. Underlines the importance of a stronger Health Union and enhanced protection, prevention, preparedness and response against human health hazards; highlights the vital role that the EU4Health programme plays in this respect, as well as in supporting actions to achieve universal health coverage across the Union, including access to quality sexual and reproductive health services especially considering the backlash against women’s rights in several Member States ; proposes to increase the programme’s appropriations by EUR 50 million above DB to strengthen health resilience and preparedness for future health crises and in support of investments in preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer, rare diseases, diseases affecting children and supporting the actions for improving the mental health of European citizens, particularly teenagers;

Added: The section of the European Committee of the Regions for which one post is added to the establishment plan and the level of commitment and payment appropriations increased by EUR 70 000;

Removed:43. Reiterates its unwavering support for promoting the learning mobility of young people and researchers contributing to building of a European Education Area; proposes to reinforce, against this background, the EU flagship programme Erasmus+, and the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programme, which play a vital role in supporting learning mobility opportunities, improving people’s skills and employability as well as engaging them in Europe's democratic life; emphasises that both programmes are required by law to put in place measures to boost participation rates among people with fewer opportunities and from disadvantaged backgrounds and calls for a readjustment of Erasmus+ grants to account for higher inflation and higher living costs; is committed to ensuring that Erasmus+ does not become a de facto selective programme open only to those who can afford to participate and recalls that the Commission is required to put in place financial support measures for people with fewer opportunities; proposes, therefore, an increase of EUR 70 million for Erasmus+; insists that the top-up be used to contribute in particular to the programme’s over-arching aim of becoming more accessible, including by providing the necessary increased financial support per participant with fewer opportunities; proposes, moreover, a reinforcement of EUR 1 million for the ESC above DB, specifically to ensure the programme is accessible for all;

Added: The section of the European Data Protection Supervisor for which four posts are added to the establishment plan and the level of commitment and payment appropriations increased by EUR 280 000;

Removed:44. Underscores the continued socio-economic challenges in the cultural and creative sectors, which are often made up of small organisations and individual artists, and the key role of these sectors in fostering media literacy, combatting disinformation, and promoting and protecting media freedom and pluralism as the basis for a functioning democracy; proposes to increase financing for programmes dedicated to the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of cultural and historical sites, as well as for the promotion of regional traditions and languages and to make use of the funding available under Creative Europe to protect the Jewish heritage in Europe; increases, therefore, the financing for the various strands of the Creative Europe programme by a total of EUR 8 million above the DB;

Added: The section of the European External Action Service (EEAS) for which the level of commitment and payment appropriations increased by EUR 10 000 000.

Removed:45. Reiterates the indispensable role of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme in promoting European values and citizens’ rights, in fostering active civic engagement, in building resilient societies and raising awareness on disinformation, in combatting gender-based violence, notably violence against women, girls and the LGBTQI+ community, and in supporting the key principles of democracy, the rule of law, solidarity, inclusiveness, justice, non-discrimination and equality; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for the programme by EUR 9 million above the DB, with reinforcements for the equality and rights, ‘citizens’ engagement and participation’, Daphne and ‘Union values’ strands, the latter providing direct funding to civil society organisations working closest to the citizens at local, national and Union Level to protect and promote EU values and to counter democratic backsliding;

Added:The overall adjustment results in an increase of EUR 10,8 million of heading 7.

Removed:46. Demands an increase of the support to the Turkish-Cypriot line by EUR 1 million above DB in order to finance the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus and support the bi-communal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage;

Added:Section 2 – European Council and Council

Removed:47. Deems it necessary to allocate adequate resources for the effective implementation of EU rules on social security coordination in order to facilitate labour mobility and easier transfer of social security benefits and free movement of workers in order to establish a real labour market at European level contributing to the completion of the single market by topping up the financing of the relevant line by EUR 2 million;

Added:Section 4 – Court of Justice

Removed:48. Underlines the significance of the social dimension in the Union budget and the need for effective social dialogue, proper information and training for workers’ organisations, with a view to further developing and increasing the capacity and involvement of social partners; highlights the importance of the free movement of workers, coordination of social security schemes and the EaSI strand of ESF+ for labour mobility and social protection; reinforces, therefore, the financing for the relevant lines;

Added:Section 6 – European Economic and Social Committee

Removed:49. Recalls the important role played by the decentralised agencies and the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) under Heading 2b, reinforces funding and staffing levels for the Fundamental Rights Agency, for the European Institute for Gender Equality, the European Labour Authority and the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation in line with the agencies’ identified needs; underlines the importance of protecting the Union budget against fraud, corruption and other misconduct, thus reinforcing public perception on EU’s capacity to protect taxpayers’ money; stresses, in this regard, the central role that the EPPO plays in protecting the Union’s financial interests, including with respect to the use of NextGenerationEU funds, and ensuring compliance with the rule of law; proposes, in this regard, to reinforce the EPPO in terms of financing and staff to allow the body to fulfil its duties and protect the Union’s financial interests;

Added:Section 7 – European Committee of the Regions

Removed:50. Reinforces Heading 2b overall by EUR 241 750 000 in commitment appropriations above the DB levels (excluding pilot projects and preparatory actions) and by EUR 1 050 328 669 compared to the Council reading;

Added:Section 9 – European Data Protection Supervisor

Removed:Heading 3 - Natural Resources and Environment

Added:Section 10 - European External Action Service

Removed:51. Recalls that programmes under Heading 3 play a key role in bolstering support for farmers, notably the younger generation, across the Union, in particular given the farmers' discontent, the extreme weather conditions, ongoing challenges of the Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the critical role that agriculture plays in food security; stresses the crucial role of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in this regard and recalls the objectives under Article 39 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which include increasing agricultural productivity by promoting technical progress, optimum utilisation of the factors of productions, ensuring a reasonable standard of living for farmers, and guaranteeing food security; highlights the critical importance of LIFE, given its role in protecting biodiversity and fostering climate action and the clean energy transition;

Added:Also, the proposed - budgetary neutral – changes to the level of appropriations by budget lines for which amendments have been introduced by the European Parliament to its own section are approved, as follows:

Removed:52. Reiterates its concern about the negative impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on global food security and affordability and about farmers’ ability to withstand inflationary pressure and increased input prices; emphasises the need to help new and young farmers and asks for investments on generational renewal through targeted funding programmes as well as small and medium-sized farmers with additional means and thereby ensure the sustainability of the sector and generational renewal; notes that CAP direct payments have significantly decreased in real terms due to inflation, while the administrative burden on farmers has increased; reminds that the common agricultural policy represents about 30% of the EU budget and created a legal framework with financial benefits for healthy food and more sustainable practices, by supporting all the farmers, who make efforts in this green transition beneficial for the health of citizens and for local producers; stresses the vital importance of sufficient funding for agriculture, including for the Programme of options specifically relating to remoteness and insularity (POSEI) in order to uphold the viability of agriculture in outermost regions; proposes, therefore, to increase income support to young farmers by EUR 40 million above the DB;

Added:Section 1 – European Parliament

Removed:53. Emphasizes that farmers and rural communities are vital contributors to quality, food security, and the safeguarding of European food security, and they play a key role in the preservation of rural areas and in countering the depopulation of the most remote areas; it further underscores that they also have a strategic role in zones characterized by high seismic, hydrogeological, and drought risk, and therefore require adequate support from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP);

Added:As a consequence, the agreed level of commitment appropriations is set at EUR 12 845,0 million, with no margin left under the expenditure the ceiling of heading 7 and the mobilisation of the Single Margin Instrument for an amount of EUR 721,0 million in accordance with Article 11(1)(a) of the MFF Regulation.

Removed:54. Underscores the negative impact of droughts and other extreme, climate change induced, weather patterns on the agricultural sector; stresses the need to better address the impacts of floods, droughts and wildfires on agricultural primary production, food security and farmers' income; calls for an agricultural reserve that reflects the needs of the farmers to better cope with the climatic events; underlines the importance of the fruit and vegetables sector, of school schemes as well as promotional measures of agricultural products under the Common Agricultural Policy; calls for maintaining an inclusive and strong budget for the promotion of agricultural products as this programme is essential to increase awareness and recognition of Union quality schemes as well as the competitiveness of Union agricultural products; decides, therefore, to increase the allocation of these budget lines under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund by a total of EUR 56 million above the DB; emphasises equally the importance of investing in the digitalisation of small and medium-sized farms and the acquisition of equipment to implement good environmental practices in farming and to contribute to environmental sustainability in Union agriculture;

Added:Thematic special instruments: EGF, ESR, EAR and BAR

Removed:55. Recalls the economic, social and environmental relevance of fisheries, aquaculture and maritime affairs and the specific economic challenges faced by the small-scale, artisanal and coastal fishing sector; stresses the strategic role of fisheries and the related sectors in this regard and expresses concern over the lack of clarity over the consequences of the Commission proposal to cut the budget of the EMFAF; insists that special attention must be devoted to the fishing fleets in order to improve safety, working conditions, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, including renewal of the fleet;

Added:Commitment appropriations for the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF), the European Solidarity Reserve (ESR), the Emergency Aid Reserve (EAR) and the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) are set at the level proposed by the Commission in the Draft Budget.

Removed:56. Underlines the indispensable and complementary role that the LIFE programme, as EU flagship programme, plays in catalysing measures towards climate adaptation and mitigation, in delivering on the European Green Deal and achieving the Union’s climate neutrality goal, in line with the Paris Agreement, by investing in nature and biodiversity, reducing emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy and creating a circular economy, protecting ecosystems and reversing the alarming trend of biodiversity loss; emphasises the role of the LIFE programme in accelerating the just transition; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for the programme by EUR 49 million above the DB; supports the EEA with a modest increase in funding and staff;

Added:1.4. Payment appropriations

Removed:57. Recalls that, traditionally, an Amending Letter will complete the picture regarding available resources under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund and that the approach to amendments can be adjusted accordingly in the course of the conciliation;

Added:The overall level of payment appropriations in the 2025 budget is set at the level of the Draft Budget, as amended by Amending Letter 1/2025 with the following adjustments agreed by the Conciliation Committee:

Removed:58. Reinforces Heading 3 by EUR 145 250 000 in commitment appropriations above the DB (excluding pilot projects and preparatory actions) and by EUR 149 134 000 compared to the Council reading;

Added:1. The agreed level of commitment appropriations for non-differentiated expenditure (headings 1 to 6), for which the level of payment appropriations is equal to the level of commitment appropriations, is taken into account. This applies to the overall reduction for the EAGF by EUR 201,1 million. Taking into account also the adjustment to the Union contribution to decentralised agencies, the combined effect is a decrease of EUR 194,1 million;

Removed:Heading 4 - Migration and Border Management

Added:2. The adjustment under heading 7 resulting in an increase of EUR 10,8 million;

Removed:59. Recalls that programmes under Heading 4 play a key role to reinforce funding for migration and effective border management in light of the migratory challenges resulting from the current geopolitical context, and to ensure necessary funding for the full accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Area;

Added:3. The payment appropriations for all new pilot projects and preparatory actions proposed by the Parliament are set at 25% of the corresponding commitment appropriations, or at the level proposed by Parliament, if lower. In the case of extension of existing pilot projects and preparatory actions, the level of payment appropriations is the level defined in the Draft Budget as amended by the Amending letter 1/2025 plus 25% of the corresponding new commitment appropriations, or at the level proposed by Parliament, if lower. The combined effect is an increase of EUR 26,1 million;

Removed:60. Underlines that instability in neighbouring regions, as well as poverty and underlying trends in economic development, demographic changes, but also economic reasons, continue to create migration flows towards the Union, placing significant pressure on programmes and agencies under Heading 4;

Added:4. The adjustments to differentiated expenditure budget lines, for which the combined effect is an increase of EUR 25,5 million.

Removed:61. Stresses that the smooth and efficient implementation of the Union’s migration and asylum policy by Member States is key to ensuring the security of the Union and preserving the free movement of people within the Union; insists that the Union’s migration and asylum policy should be governed by the principle of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility, including its financial implications, between the Member States as enshrined in Article 80 of the TEU, and in respect for fundamental rights, in line with Union values and international commitments;

Added:The adjustments, resulting in an overall decrease of EUR 131,7 million, are set out in the following table:

Removed:62. Notes that additional financing is needed under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) in order to ensure appropriate and speedy implementation of the Asylum and Migration Pact; decides, therefore, to reinforce the AMIF by EUR 25 million above DB in 2025 given AMIF’s positive contribution in providing immediate support to refugees;

Added:Overall, this results in a level of payment appropriations of EUR 155 209,3 million, which represents a decrease of EUR 131,7 million in comparison with the Draft Budget, as amended by Amending Letter 1/2025.

Removed:63. Underlines the importance for Member States to comply with their commitments, including upholding the right to asylum, and ensuring effective, humane and fair management and protection of the EU’s external borders, as well as effective, safe and dignified reception, integration and return and readmission procedures; underlines the need to better protect vulnerable people from smuggling and trafficking networks and address the negative effects of the instrumentalisation of migrants as part of hybrid attacks, notably by pro-Russian forces; recalls the crucial role the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI) play in this regard, in particular supporting Member States with reinforced border protection capabilities including physical infrastructure, buildings, equipment, systems and services required at border crossing points, as provided for in annex III of the BMVI regulation as well as meeting the requirements of reception conditions for asylum seekers and migrants; underlines that the BMVI should support the acceleration of Romania’s and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area; proposes therefore to increase appropriations for the BMVI by EUR 35 million above DB;

Added:1.5. Reserves

Removed:64. Highlights the need for the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) to have the requisite resources to carry out its tasks in accordance with its mandate - border control activities at the EU’s external borders, assistance to national authorities on search and rescue, return operations, sharing intelligence and expertise with all EU countries as well as the neighbouring non-EU countries affected by migratory trends and cross-border crime; notes that Frontex is the biggest and fastest growing EU agency, and acknowledges that this creates challenges in terms of absorption capacity and staff recruitment; reiterates that the enhanced competences and resources allocated to the Agency must be accompanied by increased transparency and accountability as well as full respect for and protection of fundamental rights; calls on the Agency to continue to improve its efficiency and effectiveness; decides to restore the DB for the agency;

Added:Compared to the Draft Budget, as amended by Amending Letter 1/2025, the amount of EUR 3 billion in payment appropriations for 2025 in relation to the additional flexibilities and support from cohesion funds to the Member States affected by the natural disasters in Europe (Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction RESTORE proposals) is entered into reserve.

Removed:65. Proposes to reinforce the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) by EUR 2 million and to reinforce staff at the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) considering the Agencies’ increased workload;

Added:1.6. Budget remarks

Removed:66. Reinforces Heading 4 overall by EUR 62 000 000 in commitment appropriations above the DB and by EUR 127 873 362 compared to the Council reading;

Added:The text of budget remarks corresponds to the Draft Budget, as amended by Amending Letter 1/2025 with the following adjustments proposed in the letter of executability and agreed by the Conciliation Committee:

Removed:Heading 5 - Security and Defence

Added: Budget lines for which amendments have been introduced by the European Parliament to its own section are approved without modifications.

Removed:67. Recalls the highly unstable geopolitical situation and international environment around the Union giving rise to greater security and defence challenges since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; considers that the Union's current budget for ensuring the security of Europeans is not equal to the challenges to be met in the short and long term; therefore supports significantly increasing financial and budgetary EU investment for European defence; calls on the European Commission to pay particular attention to the EU’s external borders neighbouring Russia and frontline countries;

Added: PP 08 25 01 — Observatory of Land Grabbing Practices in the EU

Removed:68. Underlines the need to top up the Internal Security Fund to ensure sufficient funding for the fight against serious and organised crime with a cross border dimension, cybercrime as well as funding to tackle terrorism and radicalisation; stresses that financial reinforcements are also crucial for combatting the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe by supporting multinational projects on best practices and enhancing exchange of information; considers a reinforcement of EUR 5 million to be justified for this purpose; restores Secure Connectivity to the level of the DB in order not to delay the advancement of a recently agreed programme;

Added:Amend heading as follows:

Removed:69. Highlights in particular the importance of reinforcing the means for European cooperation in defence matters and the harmonisation of the defence sector to better respond to the unprecedented geopolitical challenges; considers that such cooperation not only makes Europe and its citizens safer but also leads to greater efficiency, potential savings and strategic autonomy; notes the importance of ‘military mobility’ in funding dual-use transport infrastructure, enabling Member States to rapidly concentrate military power in the context of the war and to support missions and operations under the common security and defence policy; underlines that the programme is oversubscribed and has substantial absorption capacity; decides, therefore, to increase appropriations for ‘military mobility’ by EUR 20 million above the DB;

Added:EU observatory for agricultural land, control and access to farmland

Removed:70. Strongly supports EU efforts to tackle rising security threats such as the spread of disinformation, including online disinformation, fake news campaigns against the EU, terrorism, radicalisation and violent extremism within the EU and its neighbouring countries;

Added: In accordance with Article 15.3 of the Financial Regulation, the Conciliation Committee agrees to make commitment appropriations available again on the budget line 01 02 01 01 — European Research Council. Budget remarks will be adjusted accordingly:

Removed:71. Recalls the crucial role played by decentralised agencies operating in the field of security and law enforcement, in particular with regard to the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) which have both seen their mandates expanded; proposes targeted staffing increases and financial reinforcements to allow them to properly perform their new tasks;

Added:This is with the understanding that amendments introduced by the European Parliament or the Council cannot modify or extend the scope of an existing legal base, or impinge on the administrative autonomy of the institutions, and that the action can be covered by available resources.

Removed:72. Reinforces Heading 5 overall by EUR 41 000 000 in commitment appropriations above the DB and by EUR 46 000 000 compared to the Council;

Added:1.7. Budget nomenclature

Removed:Heading 6 - Neighbourhood and the World

Added:The budget nomenclature proposed by the Commission in the Draft Budget, as amended by Amending Letter 1/2025, is agreed, with the inclusion of the new pilot projects and preparatory actions. The Conciliation Committee also agrees to split the budget line 15 03 01 Reform and Growth Facility for Western Balkans – Operational expenditure in 6 distinct budget lines, per country, as follows:

Removed:73. Emphasises that, and once more as a consequence of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the international context has deteriorated rapidly as a result of the food, energy, humanitarian and economic crises , which have dramatically increased pressure on Heading 6; welcomes the fact that the introduction of the Ukraine Facility over the MFF ceilings and the Western Balkan Facility provides a stable basis for support for Ukraine and the Western Balkan countries and releases some pressure on the availabilities within Heading 6 and more particularly on the cushion and buffers in the NDICI envelope; reminds that the commensurate redeployments generate gaps on some other budget lines which are difficult to manage;

Added: 15 03 01 01 Albania

Removed:74. Reiterates its full support to Ukraine in the fight for its freedom and democracy; deplores the terrible impact of lives and the suffering of Ukraine People caused by unprovoked and unjustifiable Russia's war of aggression; welcomes the decision to grant the Ukraine candidate country status and insists on the need to deploy the necessary funds to support its accession process;

Added: 15 03 01 02 Bosnia and Herzegovina

Removed:75. Stresses the importance of the Southern Neighbourhood line in supporting political, economic and social reforms in the region taking into consideration the increasing humanitarian needs in the region as well as other purposes of regional cooperation in providing assistance to refugees, in particular Syrian and Palestinian refugees, and in enabling support along the southern migration routes; proposes to increase appropriations for the line by EUR 60 million above the DB, including to reinforce funding for UNRWA based on EU regulations and values;

Added: 15 03 01 03 Kosovo

Removed:76. Underlines that the war continues to have significant effects on countries in the Eastern Neighbourhood, such as the Republic of Moldova, that have provided shelter and assistance to refugees fleeing the war and faced the knock-on effects of sky-high inflation and energy prices; stresses the need for targeted financial and technical assistance to help these countries stabilise their economies and strengthen public infrastructure amidst these pressures; underlines the importance of sustained support for candidate countries in implementing the necessary accession-related reforms and in enhancing their resilience and preventing and countering hybrid threats; decides, therefore, to increase appropriations by EUR 50 million above the DB for the Eastern Neighbourhood to address these complex challenges; proposes, furthermore, to increase accession-related support under the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA III) by EUR 3 million in 2025 to accelerate the reform process, enhance resilience, and ensure a smooth transition towards EU standards;

Added: 15 03 01 04 Montenegro

Removed:77. Proposes to place an amount of EUR 30 million in reserve that can be lifted upon an unconditional withdrawal by the Georgian Government of the controversial law on 'transparency of foreign influence' and a clear commitment that it would not propose such a law again; further emphasises the importance of ensuring that any legislative action aligns with democratic principles, transparency, and human rights, reinforcing Georgia’s pathway towards European integration; underlines that the remaining funding for Georgia should be redirected as much as possible to support civil society.

Added: 15 03 01 05 North Macedonia

Removed:78. Proposes to reinforce funding for several budget lines under the NDICI chapter, in particular the Global Challenges thematic strand; emphasises the importance of strengthening cooperation with African countries, particularly in the areas of sustainable development and economic partnership and in line with the existing instruments of enhanced cooperation between EU Member States and African countries; stresses the importance of the People strand in reducing catastrophic food insecurity in many countries in the World and in supporting health, education, gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment; highlights that support to women and girls to access quality education significantly improves their chances to acquire the knowledge and skills to compete in the labour market, gain life skills necessary to navigate and make decisions about their own lives; highlights the need to ensure sufficient EU support to promote the protection of women’s rights, sexual and reproductive health and LGBTIQ+ rights and to further reinforce the work on these aspects by civil society organisations, human rights defenders and journalists, especially in countries where these rights are under threat;

Added: 15 03 01 06 Serbia

Removed:79. Shares the Council’s assessment that the needs for humanitarian aid have reached new heights; considers that, given the highly challenging international context, increasing geopolitical instability, accelerating humanitarian disasters around the globe, rising extreme poverty and hunger, and the ongoing climate change-induced emergencies, humanitarian aid needs in 2025 are expected to be much higher than estimated by the Council and the Commission, not least since humanitarian aid to Ukraine will continue to be covered under Heading 6 rather than the Ukraine Facility; points out that the Union’s humanitarian aid budget has relied heavily on the Emergency Aid Reserve (EAR), driving resources away from the EAR’s other objectives and reducing the Union’s ability to respond to emergencies; insists that the proposal with the possible mobilisations of EAR will still fall short of needs and regrets that the lack of available margin under Heading 6 does not allow for further reinforcement; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for humanitarian aid by EUR 120 million compared to the DB;

Added:The corresponding budget remark will be introduced accordingly, as follows: “This appropriation is intended to cover the operational expenditure and financial support related to actions carried out under the framework of the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans for Albania / Bosnia and Herzegovina / Kosovo / Montenegro / North Macedonia / Serbia in line with Article 6 of REGULATION (EU) 2024/1449.”

Removed:80. Wishes to add item lines in the new budget article for the Western Balkan Facility, following up on a previous declaration and the intention of the Council regarding a new nomenclature; proposes to create one line per beneficiary country in the region without putting into question the facility’s reform incentives and intervention logic; ensures, thus, better transparency and accountability to the budget authority;

Added:3. Statements

Removed:81. Calls for consistent and sustainable budgeting for all gender-related activities in the EU Defence and Security sector, in line with the EU Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security;

Added:3.1. Joint statement by the European Parliament and the Council on payment appropriations

Removed:82. Further to strengthening the availabilities in the external policies heading, proposes to add EUR 4 million to the budget line for civilian CSDP missions and EUR 1 million to Nuclear Safety;

Added:The European Parliament and the Council call on the Commission to continue closely and actively monitoring during the year 2025 the implementation of the programmes of the current and previous MFFs (particularly in sub-heading 2a and Rural Development), also linked to the implementation of Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction (RESTORE) in line with the final legal set up and the uptake by Member States. To that end, the European Parliament and the Council invite the Commission to present, in a timely manner, updated figures concerning the state of affairs and estimates regarding 2025 payment appropriations. If the figures show that the appropriations entered in the 2025 budget are insufficient to cover the needs, the European Parliament and the Council invite the Commission to present as soon as possible an appropriate solution, inter alia a draft amending budget, with a view to allowing the European Parliament and the Council to take any necessary decisions as soon as possible without undue delay for justified needs. Where applicable, the European Parliament and the Council will take into account the urgency of the matter, shortening the eight-week period for a decision if deemed necessary. The same applies mutatis mutandis if the figures show that the appropriations entered in the 2025 budget are higher than needed.

Removed:83. Overall, reinforces Heading 6 by EUR 256 200 000 in commitment appropriations above the DB and by EUR 234 461 645 compared to the Council reading;

Added:3.2. Joint statement by the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission on releasing the payments linked to the RESTORE proposals in the 2025 budget

Removed:Heading 7 - European Public Administration

Added:The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission take note of the ongoing discussions on the Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction (RESTORE) proposals to provide additional assistance to Member States affected by recent natural disasters. Pending the adoption of the legal base the payments linked to these proposals included in the amending letter (EUR 3 billion) are included in the adopted budget as a provision and will be released when the RESTORE proposals are adopted in line with Article 49(1) of the Financial Regulation.

Removed:84. Recalls that spending under Heading 7 should be set at a level that guarantees that the Union has an effective and efficient administration; considers that the Council’s cuts in this heading are unjustified and would not allow the Commission to recruit suitable staff in Luxembourg and to fulfil its tasks; restores therefore the DB for the Commission administrative expenditure, including with respect to its Offices;

Removed:Pilot projects and preparatory actions (PP-PAs)

Removed:85. Recalls the importance of pilot projects and preparatory actions (PP-PAs) as tools for the formulation of political priorities and the introduction of new initiatives that have the potential to turn into standing Union activities and programmes; adopts, following a careful analysis of all the proposals submitted and taking fully into account the Commission's assessment of their compliance with legal requirements and implementability, a balanced package of PP-PAs that reflects Parliament’s political priorities; calls on the Commission to swiftly implement PP-PAs and provide feedback on their performance and results delivered on the ground;

Removed:Payments

Removed:86. Underlines the need to provide a sufficient level of payment appropriations in the 2025 budget and decides, as a general rule, to reinforce payment appropriations on those lines which are amended in commitment appropriations;

Removed:Other Sections

Removed:Section I – European Parliament

Removed:87. Maintains unchanged the overall level of its budget for 2025 set at EUR 2 499 233 329, in line with its estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 2025; incorporates budgetary-neutral adjustments to reflect updated information which was not available earlier this year;

Removed:88. Calls for an establishment of the Single Seat of the European Parliament;

Removed:89. Reiterates the Parliament’s priorities for the forthcoming financial year, namely, focusing Parliament’s budget on its core functions of co-legislator, acting as one arm of the budgetary authority, representing citizens and scrutinizing the work of other institutions and the implementation of EU legislation, as well as providing the resources for cyber-security and IT development and priority projects on engaging with citizens as well as green and accessible Parliament;

Removed:90. In line with its resolution of 25 April 2024 on its estimates of revenue and expenditure for the financial year 2025 and taking into account the answers provided by the Secretary-General of the Parliament on 2 September 2024:

Removed:(a) recalls that visitors groups in all the places of work of the Parliament represent an important tool for Members to connect with constituents and to demonstrate their parliamentary work to constituents; welcomes the fact that the Secretary-General will propose to the Quaestors to adjust the ceilings to reflect the increased costs faced by visitors groups; expects the decision on the adjustment of the ceilings to be taken as soon as possible;

Removed:(b) notes that it is planned to have 19 European Experiences opened outside Brussels by end of 2025; reiterates its calls for the establishment of Europa Experiences in all Member States as soon as possible; recalls that Europa Experiences should allow all citizens to have a better understanding of the functioning of the Union institutions;

Removed:(c) notes that Parliament is working on a building renovation plan and a comprehensive long-term building strategy to take into account new ways of working, costs, budgetary constraints and the targets and objectives of the Green Deal and ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package; expects the Committee on Budgets to be informed in a timely manner;

Removed:(d) looks forward to the installation of photovoltaic panels to full capacity in the PFLIMLIN and DE MADARIAGA and CHURCHILL buildings;

Removed:(e) insists on the need to increase chartered train capacity between Brussels and Strasbourg in 2025;

Removed:(f) highlights that one of the most powerful weapons against disinformation is fact-based communication regarding the Parliament’s activities including outreach in the languages of linguistic minorities and communities, where appropriate; welcomes the comprehensive actions taken by the services, including the EPLOs, in that regard; expects that such activities are further strengthened, including the close cooperation with other EU institutions and security services in Member States;

Removed:(g) recalls that the Secretary-General committed to initiate discussions with the responsible governing bodies before the end of 2024 on the possibility for APAs, subject to certain conditions, to accompany Members of the European Parliament on official Parliament delegations and missions during the conciliation between the Bureau and the Committee on Budgets on Preliminary Draft Estimates of the European Parliament for 2025 last April.

Removed:91. Takes note that Article 44(2) of the Implementing Measures of the Members of the European Parliament Statute provides for the possibility to finance extra costs linked to the parliamentary assistance budgets transferring appropriations from their General Expenditure Allowance (GEA); calls on Parliament's administration to take the necessary measures to enable Members who wish to do so to use their GEA to cover the cost of APA missions; highlights that such a measure would help Members to address their increasing staffing needs while being budgetary neutral;

Removed:92. Points out that multilingualism is a fundamental principle that makes the content of deliberations in the EU institutions more accessible and transparent, and ensures that proceedings are democratic;

Removed:Other Sections (Sections IV-X)

Removed:93. Is deeply concerned with the situation of Heading 7 of the current MFF; recalls that the constraints are the results of the cuts applied by the Council to the Commission’s already very low initial proposal when agreeing on the current MFF 2021-2027; regrets the Council’s opposition to the Commission’s proposal to increase the ceiling of Heading 7 in the MFF revision as from 2024; points to the failure to address the issue of the ceiling of Heading 7 in the MFF revision; highlights that the forecasted negative margin for 2025 presupposes the use of special instruments in Heading 7 for that purpose;

Removed:94. Condemns the Commission’s horizontal approach to reduce the estimates of the institutions in order to adhere to the principle of stable staffing, and to a maximum increase of 2 % for non-salary related expenditure, despite the inflationary context and irrespective of new tasks given to the institutions by the Commission and the co-legislators; underlines the negative consequences of this approach on the work of the institutions and working conditions of their staff;

Removed:95. Highlights that the largest parts of the institutions’ budgets are fixed by statutory or contractual obligations impacted by inflation; is concerned about the high cost of living and the increasing prices in Luxembourg, in particular the rising housing costs entailing difficulties for all institutions based in Luxembourg in recruiting staff; highlights the importance of the housing allowance as a temporary solution to this challenge; rejects the Council’s horizontal approach to cut the appropriations for the housing allowances in these institutions;

Removed:96. Rejects the Council decision to reduce the estimates of the Commission, of the Court of Justice and of the European Court of Auditors by an additional amount in order to compensate for the housing allowance in the Parliament budget; is of the opinion that inviting the Parliament to reconsider its position on the allowance in its own budget by reducing the estimates of the other institutions by the corresponding amount is against the gentlemen’s agreement;

Removed:97. Highlights the need for the institutions to have sufficient staff in order to fulfil their mandate; welcomes the continuous efforts made by the institutions to redeploy staff and find additional efficiency gains but recognises the limits of this approach over the years; stresses the inevitability of reinforcing the amount of staff when necessary in order for the institutions to fulfil their mandates;

Removed:98. In line with the gentlemen’s agreement, does not modify the Council’s reading concerning the Council and the European Council;

Removed:99. Increases, for the following duly justified cases, the level of appropriations or staff above the DB in order to give the institutions enough resources to perform adequately, efficiently and effectively the growing number of tasks from their mandate and to be equipped for the upcoming challenges, in particular as regards cyber-security; proposes therefore to:

Removed:(a) restore the level of appropriations in line with the estimates of the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Ombudsman, by increasing the level of appropriations above the DB for budgetary lines that cover cyber-security and operational needs;

Removed:(b) restore the level of appropriations partially in line with the estimates of the European Court of Auditors, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Regions, the European Data Protection Supervisor and the European External Action Service by increasing the appropriations above the DB for budgetary lines covering building security, particularly in delegations, cyber-security and operational needs;

Removed:(c) increase the establishment plans above the DB with the corresponding appropriations in line with the institutions’ requests for the Court of Justice of the European Union and the European Data Protection Supervisor and European Data Protection Board and partially in line with the institutions’ requests for the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions, to enable them to face increasing workload and cyber-security challenges.

Removed:o

Removed:o o

Removed:100. Instructs its President to forward this resolution, together with the amendments to the draft general budget, to the Council, the Commission, the other institutions and bodies concerned and the national parliaments.