Where the law stands, Dossier 2024/2110(BUI)
Guidelines for the 2026 Budget - Section III
Procedure type BUI · First reading
Where it stands
Parliament’s position
Parliament adopted the text on 2 April 2025. This is its final position on the matter.
- Referred to committee(done)
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 20 March 2025
- Tabled for plenary(done) 25 March 2025
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 2 April 2025
- Parliament’s position(done) Final
Decided in plenary
2 April 2025 · decision 5
EU budget & funds, Resolution
Guidelines for the 2026 budget – Section III
Adopted 441 for · 173 against · 70 abstained by a large majority
AI summary:The adopted text calls for additional investment in defence, research, innovation, SMEs, health, energy, migration and border protection, alongside administrative simplification.
What changed
Latest Tabled for plenary → Adopted by Parliament
AI summary:Adds new paragraphs on child poverty, families, religious persecution, and the ethics body, and expands border security and disinformation provisions. Adds a ban on funding campaigns promoting the veil and calls for funding Radio Free Europe after US cuts. Broadens protection to all religions and adds anti-Christian hatred to the list of hate crimes. The other changes are formal: decimal separators updated and paragraph renumbered.
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary
AI summary:The report expands priorities to include security, defence, climate, and competitiveness, with more detailed calls for funding in these areas. It adds new sections on housing, mental health, digital regulation, and rule of law conditionality, and strengthens support for Ukraine and enlargement. It emphasizes the need for new own resources and clarifies the legal obligation to cover NGEU borrowing costs without cutting programmes. The other changes are formal or wording: title adjustments and renumbering of paragraphs.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- Budgets
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- Andrzej Halicki (EPP)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Nils Ušakovs (S&D), Tamás Deutsch (Patriots), Ruggero Razza (ECR), Stine Bosse (Renew), João Oliveira (The Left), Alexander Jungbluth (ESN)
- Committees giving an opinion
- Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
- Constitutional Affairs· rapporteurSven Simon (EPP)
- Internal Market and Consumer Protection
- Environment, Climate and Food Safety· rapporteurMep #257122 (S&D)
- Culture and Education· rapporteurHélder Sousa Silva (EPP)
- Fisheries
- Regional Development· rapporteurGabriella Gerzsenyi (EPP)
- Transport and Tourism· rapporteurGheorghe Falcă (EPP)
- Economic and Monetary Affairs
- Petitions
- Employment and Social Affairs
- Women’s Rights and Gender Equality
- Development
- Legal Affairs
- Industry, Research and Energy· rapporteurEero Heinäluoma (S&D)
- Agriculture and Rural Development· rapporteurDario Nardella (S&D)
- Budgetary Control· rapporteurNiclas Herbst (EPP)
- International Trade
- Foreign Affairs· rapporteurMichael Gahler (EPP)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 2 Apr 2025
AI summary:Parliament's resolution sets guidelines for the 2026 EU budget, focusing on security, competitiveness, sustainability, and social priorities.
Tabled for plenary· 25 Mar 2025
AI summary:Parliament's resolution sets out its guidelines for the 2026 EU budget, focusing on security, competitiveness, sustainability, and citizens' well-being.
Committee draft· 20 Dec 2024
AI summary:This draft report sets Parliament's guidelines for the 2026 EU budget, focusing on economic resilience, security, and citizens' opportunities, and calls for adequate funding across key policy areas.
Committee opinions: Draft opinion (AGRI), Opinion (AGRI), Opinion (TRAN), Draft opinion (TRAN), Draft opinion (AFET), Opinion (AFET), Opinion (REGI)
Timeline
Newest first.
Plenary stage 4 steps
2 April 2025
Plenary vote
Sitting of 2 Apr 2025 Report A10-0042/2025Adopted text TA10-0051/2025
31 March 2025
Debated in plenary
MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.
26 March – 27 March 2025
92 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
Amendments 1–4Amendments 6–10Amendments 11–20Amendment 21Amendment 22Amendment 23Amendments 24–28Amendments 29–33Amendments 34–40Amendments 41–47Amendments 48–57Amendments 58–67Amendments 68–76Amendment 77Amendment 78Amendments 79–85Amendments 86–92Amendment 93
25 March 2025
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 15 steps
20 March 2025
Committee vote: report adopted
BUDG (Budgets) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
24 February 2025
Amendments tabled in committee
Members of BUDG (Budgets) proposed changes to the draft.
19 February 2025
AFET (Foreign Affairs) adopted its opinion
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
19 February 2025
TRAN (Transport and Tourism) adopted its opinion
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
19 February 2025
Committee opinion adopted
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
19 February 2025
Committee opinion adopted
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
19 February 2025
REGI (Regional Development) adopted its opinion
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
18 February 2025
Committee opinion adopted
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
18 February 2025
Committee opinion adopted
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
18 February 2025
AGRI (Agriculture and Rural Development) adopted its opinion
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
18 February 2025
Committee opinion adopted
The opinion is attached to the report for the lead committee to consider.
22 January 2025
Draft opinion from TRAN (Transport and Tourism)
An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.
20 December 2024
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in BUDG (Budgets). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
17 December 2024
Draft opinion from AFET (Foreign Affairs)
An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.
11 December 2024
Draft opinion from AGRI (Agriculture and Rural Development)
An associated committee gives its view to the lead committee.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2024/2110(BUI)