The European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have reached a provisional agreement on the 2025 EU budget, setting financial commitments of approximately €200 billion.

Negotiations were led on behalf of the European Parliament by Romanian Social Democrat MEP Victor Negrescu, Vice-President of the European Parliament. The new budget is expected to have a positive impact on Romania’s priorities, particularly supporting the Schengen expansion and infrastructure development.

The inter-institutional agreement secured by the EP chief negotiator has been welcomed by the European Commission, which emphasized that the budget would enable the EU to meet its political commitments and provide the financial means to address urgent crises while supporting key EU policies.

Significant budget growth for 2025

The 2025 budget represents an increase of €10.5 billion compared to 2024, with approximately 6% additional funding allocated to essential EU programs. Notably, €3 billion is earmarked for regions in Central and Eastern Europe, including Romania, affected by floods.

“The Parliament has reached a strong agreement on the €200 billion EU budget for 2025, which marks a 6% increase from the previous year. After several days of negotiations, I am pleased to announce increases in funding for education, health, civil protection, research, border protection, agriculture, anti-corruption initiatives, Schengen expansion, social policies, and humanitarian aid. We also secured €6 billion from cohesion funds for flood-affected countries in Central and Eastern Europe. These achievements demonstrate that at the European level, we can find clear and shared solutions to the EU’s challenges and citizens’ expectations“, said Victor Negrescu, commenting on the outcome of the negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.

Budget priorities for 2025

The agreement negotiated by Negrescu includes additional allocations for key sectors: 

Competitiveness, Social Policies, and Environment

– Horizon Europe: +€25 million for research and innovation. 

– LIFE Program: +€5 million for climate action, biodiversity, and nature. 

– Civil Protection Mechanism: +€8 million for climate crisis management. 

Migration and Border Management

– Border Management: +€10 million, including Schengen expansion support. 

– Humanitarian Aid: +€50 million for global crises and climate emergencies. 

Additional funds were also allocated to programs like Erasmus+ (+€82 million) and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (+€2.5 million). 

Secured funding for EU Programs 

In February, during the EU’s long-term budget review, the European Parliament obtained substantial increases for flagship programs. Building on this, MEPs led by Victor Negrescu defended these additions and secured further funding for essential policies in the 2025 budget. 

The Parliament successfully negotiated an additional €230.7 million beyond the Commission’s initial proposal, focusing on improving citizens’ lives, boosting competitiveness, and addressing current challenges. Significant increases from previous savings include €82 million for Erasmus+ and €20 million for Horizon Europe. 

Support for regions affected by natural disasters 

A key element of the budget is support for European regions impacted by natural disasters, such as recent floods. Negotiators agreed to allocate up to €3 billion for recovery and prevention measures. 

Context of negotiations 

Negotiations took place in a challenging environment marked by economic difficulties and initial proposals from member states to cut funding for certain programs. The European Parliament, represented by Victor Negrescu, protected essential funds and introduced new financial mechanisms, such as the “EURI cascade mechanism,” to cover European Recovery Instrument repayment costs without affecting priority programs. 

Overview of 2025 EU Budget

What’s next for the 2025 EU Budget 

The European Parliament and the Council now have 14 days to officially approve the agreed budget. It is expected to be adopted during the European Parliament’s plenary session from November 25-28, with the Council’s approval anticipated on November 25. 

This is the fifth annual budget within the EU’s long-term financial framework (2021-2027). The 2025 budget is complemented by COVID-19 recovery efforts under NextGenerationEU, the EU’s post-pandemic recovery plan.