The European Parliament voted on 28 April to demand a nearly €200 billion increase in the EU’s next long-term budget, covering the 2028–2034 period.
MEPs backed the position by 370 votes to 201, with 84 abstentions. The proposal calls for a 10% rise across the budget’s main spending areas: national plans, competitiveness, research and external affairs.
Crucially, Parliament wants the repayment of Next Generation EU — the €2 trillion joint debt package raised after COVID-19 — kept separate from the main budget figures.
EU governments are expected to resist. But Parliament officials told Euronews the institution plans to hold firm. With a slimmer centrist majority than in previous years, a small number of defections could be enough to block any deal.
A proposed package of new EU-level taxes could help close the gap, potentially raising around €58.2 billion a year without increasing direct payments from member states.
Negotiations between Parliament and the 27 member states are expected to begin after governments agree their own position.
