We take note of the European Commission’s proposals on the post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which officially kick off the process of negotiations on the long-term EU budget. We welcome that the Commission has listened to the Parliament and decided to partly move away from several of its previous plans.

In a world grappling with uncertainty and instability, with war raging in our continent, the European Union must face multiple challenges; from bridging the competitiveness gap to tackling climate and biodiversity crises, from facing global security, migration management, humanitarian risks, to strengthening our European defence, food security and strategic autonomy, from facing economic and social insecurity coupled with an eroding industrial base to protecting our European democracies and rule of law. These challenges are too big to be addressed by any country alone. We can only succeed if we pool resources and act together.

Our citizens expect from the European…