2024 general budget: all sections
The European Parliament adopted by 424 votes to 101, with 102 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the Council position on the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2024.
Parliament was successful in increasing funding for programmes and policies which they see as vital for addressing the consequences of the war in Ukraine and high energy prices. It seeks to prioritise boosting research, innovation, and Erasmus+ scholarships, increase funds for the Eastern Neighbourhood and responses to Russian aggression in Ukraine, and bolster traditional areas like agriculture, especially for young farmers.
Parliament notes that, despite the Commission’s proposal to revise the MFF, the Council chose to formulate its position on the 2024 budget assuming no change to the framework. Parliament deeply regrets that, despite the drastic constraints, the Council elected to apply a ‘business as usual’ approach to its budget reading, cutting commitment appropriations in the DB by EUR 772 million and payment appropriations by EUR 515 million across the MFF headings in a way that would diminish the Union’s impact, ability to act and relevance globally and that pays no heed to the challenging economic and social context. It considers that the cuts proposed by the Council are unjustified, are not driven by an objective assessment of needs or absorption capacity and run counter, in many instances, to shared policy ambitions and political agreements. It decides, therefore, to restore appropriations on all lines cut by the Council to the level of the DB.
MFF Headings
Heading 1 - Single market, Innovation and Digital
Parliament reinforces Heading 1 by EUR 1 454 239 500 in commitment appropriations and by EUR 1 684 239 500 compared to the Council reading. It points out that EUR 1 175 000 000 of its reinforcements are specific to STEP. It underscores that the ceiling for Heading 1 would increase by EUR 1.375 billion in 2024.
The resolutioon proposes to increase appropriations for the InvestEU guarantee by EUR 1.05 billion and for the EIC by EUR 125 million in 2024. Agreeing that the recently agreed Chips Act has a significant impact on the budget under Heading 1, Parliament suggested that an additional EUR 50 million is required to meet funding needs over the period 2024 to 2027. It also proposes, therefore, to cover 25 % of that shortfall by allocating EUR 12.5 million to the Chips Joint Undertaking in 2024.
Parliament also called for an increase of EUR 100 million for the Connecting Europe Facility Transport and EUR 10 million for the SME strand of the Single Market programme.
Heading 2a - Economic, social and territorial cohesion
Parliament accepts the Council position with respect to Heading 2a. It is deeply concerned however by the high energy and food prices and long-term high inflation, resulting, in particular, in a cost of living crisis across the Union. It highlights, in that regard, that, in 2024, EUR 4.8 billion of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) budget under shared management is to be allocated to food aid and basic material assistance for the most deprived persons, beyond the 4 % target.
Heading 2b - Resilience and values
Parliament reinforces Heading 2b overall by EUR 199 485 306 in commitment appropriations and by EUR 812 302 190 compared to the Council reading.
The resolution underlined that ensuring all EURI borrowing costs are covered by the EURI special instrument over and above the MFF ceilings would have the effect of restoring some margin within Heading 2b and creating budgetary space in the Flexibility and Single Margin Instruments.
An increase of EUR 100 million for Erasmus+ is proposed and EUR 2 million for the European Solidarity Corps to ensure the programmes are accessible for all.
Parliament also proposes and increase of:
- EUR 20 million for the EU4Health programme;
- EUR 20 million for the Union Civil Protection Mechanism;
- EUR 6 million for the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme.
Heading 3 - Natural Resources and Environment
Heading 3 is strengthened by EUR 1.325 billion in commitment appropriations and by EUR 1.335 billion compared to the Council reading. Parliament proposes to create a new budget line for the Innovation Fund, with appropriations of EUR 1.25 billion.
An addition EUR 40 million is requested to support young farmers and EUR 5 million for school schemes to ensure broader access to healthy and nutritious food for children.
The LIFE programme is increased by EUR 30 million.
Heading 4 - Migration and Border Management
Parliament reinforces Heading 4 overall by EUR 173 941 500 in commitment appropriations above the DB and by EUR 193 941 500 compared to the Council reading. The ceiling for Heading 4 would also increase by EUR 250 million in 2024.
The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) should be strengthened financially by EUR 110 million above DB given its positive contribution in providing immediate support to refugees.
Members proposed to increase by EUR 60 million the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI).
Heading 5 - Security and Defence
Parliament reinforces Heading 5 overall by EUR 670 million in commitment appropriations above the DB and by EUR 687 000 000 compared to the Council. It points out that EUR 625 million of its reinforcements are specific to Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). Parliament also decides to increase appropriations for ‘military mobility’ by EUR 45 million.
Heading 6 - Neighbourhood and the World
Parliament reinforces Heading 6 overall by EUR 2.525 billion in commitment appropriations above the DB and by EUR 2.407 billion compared to the Council reading. The ceiling for Heading 6 would increase by EUR 2.875 billion in 2024.
Parliament noted that the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI)-Global Europe cushion has been depleted very quickly and used beyond its core purpose of responding to emerging challenges and priorities, while the humanitarian aid budget has relied heavily on mobilisation of the severely stretched SEAR.
The resolution called for the reinforcement of EUR 650 million for the Southern Neighbourhood line in supporting political, economic and social reforms in the region, in providing assistance to refugees, in particular Syrian and Palestinian refugees.
Parliament condemned unequivocally the brutal terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas against Israel and its people. The Commission should reassess humanitarian aid needs for the region to ensure that Union funding continues to reach those in need of assistance.
Regarding the Eastern Neighbourhood, Parliament decided to: (i) increase appropriations by EUR 450 million above DB for the Eastern Neighbourhood and (ii) increase accession-related support under the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA III) by EUR 50 million in 2024 for the Western Balkans.
Moreover, Parliament proposes to:
- increase appropriations for humanitarian aid by EUR 550 million compared to the DB;
- increase appropriations in the NDICI cushion by EUR 800 million above DB in 2024;
- increase by EUR 10 million above DB the allocation for the 'fundamental rights and freedoms' thematic programme;
- increase appropriations for the international dimension of Erasmus+ by EUR 10 million above DB, split evenly between the NDICI and IPA III.
Heading 7 - European Public Administration
Parliament accepts the Council position for Heading 7. It recalled that spending under Heading 7 should be set at a level that guarantees that the Union has an effective and efficient administration.
European Parliament
Parliament expresses its astonishment and deep concern at the Commission’s unilateral decision to reduce Parliament’s estimates for 2024, which breaks once more the tradition of good cooperation between the two institutions.
Parliament restores the appropriations of its budget for 2024 set at EUR 2 383 401 312, in line with its estimates of revenue and expenditure adopted by the Plenary on 20 April 2023.