Draft amending budget No 2/2025: update of revenue (own resources) and adjustments to expenditure
The European Parliament adopted by 479 votes to 82, with 77 abstentions, a resolution on the Council position on Draft amending budget No 2/2025 of the European Union for the financial year 2025 - Update of revenue (own resources) and adjustments to expenditure.
Parliament took note of Draft Amending Budget (DAB) No 2/2025 presented by the European Commission, which aims to adjust the Union's budgetary needs. In its resolution, it made the following observations:
Increase in GNI contributions
The decrease in the amount of own resources other than GNI and the additional payment needs on the expenditure side result in an overall increased need in GNI contributions of EUR 4.3 billion. This implies a modification of the uniform GNI call rate from 0.527 % (in DAB 1/2025) to 0.547 % (in DAB 2/2025).
Flat-rate reductions by Member States
GNI lump-sum reductions for the five beneficiary Member States amount to around EUR 9.2 billion (gross). These rebates are inflation-linked and have therefore increased at a higher rate than the multiannual financial framework (MFF) ceilings. This anomaly regarding rebates increases the burden on the other Member States.
New own resources
Parliament supported the Commission's efforts to present more options for new sources of revenue for the Union budget and considered it necessary to quickly adopt new and fair own resources not only to enable repayment of NextGenerationEU borrowing, but also to ensure that the Union is able to cover its higher spending needs.
Windfall gains stemming from fines and penalties should be used as supplementary revenue for the Union budget for purposes of crisis response or unexpected needs and not lead to a corresponding decrease in GNI-based contributions.
Budgetary flexibility of the future multiannual financial framework (MFF)
In light of recent crises (COVID-19, energy, Ukraine), Parliament called for a reflection on flexibility in the next MFF and reaffirmed its position that the future flexibility instrument should be funded by various additional sources of financing, including the annual surplus of the previous year, fines and reflows, without compromising transparency.
Agriculture and rural development
Parliament welcomed the increase in payment appropriations for the Rural Development Fund, a sign of an acceleration in the implementation of the CAP.
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and customs system
Parliament questions why a simplification of the CBAM regulation should lead to an increase in needs of around EUR 8 million, rather than a reduction due to efficiency gains.
It also questions the fact that the additional needs for the centralised customs system in heading 1 and the CBAM in heading 3 are offset by a proportional reduction in allocations under the customs control equipment instrument in heading 4. It criticised the budgetary redeployments between headings and reiterated its position that new political priorities, new tasks or new needs should be accompanied by new funds.
Anti-Money Laundering Authority and Bulgaria
Parliament welcomed the strengthening of the European Anti-Money Laundering Authority and supported the resources allocated to Bulgaria for its transition to the euro. Due to the lack of unallocated margin in heading 2b, the flexibility instrument must be mobilised to support this currency change with appropriate and targeted communication activities.
In conclusion, Parliament approves the Council's position on Draft Amending Budget No 2/2025.