In his opening statement, Piotr Serafin promoted a post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) that balances newer priorities like defence or digitalisation with existing policies on climate, cohesion and agriculture. He emphasised the need for flexibility, simplicity, and getting “the maximum out of every Euro”. Mr Serafin proposed a competitiveness fund to drive innovation and linking member state plans to reforms and pledged to work on stronger anti-fraud protection and rule of law safeguards for EU funds.

Future investments: EU’s long-term budget and revenue

In their questions, many MEPs focussed on the architecture of the upcoming MFF, emphasising its importance for addressing the EU’s evolving challenges. They sought clarity on strategies to balance “NextGenerationEU” (NGEU) debt repayments while safeguarding essential programmes like cohesion, agriculture, and infrastructure investment. MEPs also asked how the proposed European Competitiveness Fund would be…