16 June 2026 15:30 UTC · European Commission · EU Commission Press Release · Source · Email X Link

European Commission says Presidency brings MFF closer

Key points

Defends Commission proposal; welcomes Presidency nego-box progress
Rejects 4% cuts to defence and competitiveness; urges new own resources and end‑2026 agreement

TL;DR

European Commission (Commissioner Serafin) thanks the Presidency for bringing Member States closer to a timely agreement on the next MFF.
The Commission defends its July proposal and objects to a 4% cut in spending on defence and competitiveness, saying this reduces joint projects and shifts costs to national budgets.
The Commission welcomes elements of the Presidency's nego-box, calls for new own resources, urges the European Council to push work during the Irish Presidency, and stresses agreement by end of 2026 is crucial.

Original text

European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Remarks by Commissioner Serafin at the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg Brussels, 16 June 2026 Dear Marilena, dear Presidency, dear Ministers, Let me start by thanking the Presidency for having brought us a step closer to reaching a timely agreement on the next MFF. It is clear that no nego-box proposal will fully satisfy everyone. I expect that nobody around this table will be happy. In fact, also the Commission is not happy, because we remain convinced that our proposal was a good one. But you know as well as I do that there are no grounds for criticising the Presidency. The Presidency has done an excellent job, and it should be praised for it. It has listened to a range of conflicting expectations. It has identified the main trends and set out ways to bring the Member States' positions closer together. As I said, the Commission will continue to defend its proposal. As the Commission, we cannot remain indifferent to a cut of 4% in spending on defence and competitiveness. At a time when we know that it is precisely in these areas that we must work together and carry out joint projects. This 4% cut will not result in savings in public spendings. These expenditure items will have to be met at national level anyway. However, we are missing out on opportunity for joint projects that would bring us greater security and more competitiveness for the same money. We also need to preserve enough flexibility to react to evolving priorities and unforeseen events. It may be tempting to produce cuts by reducing the flexibility amounts. But this would not produce long-term relief as we have seen time and time again that we need buffers in the budget to react swiftly to crises. The Presidency's proposal also includes many good elements. I am glad to see that the nego-box preserves key features of our July proposal for a modernised structure and a simpler budget. As regards the financing side, I welcome the clear signal that new own resources are part and parcel of the equation. Making progress on new own resources is a necessary precondition for reaching a balanced deal. I hope that the European Council, this week, now that it has also the assessment of the European Parliament's new proposals, will give a strong political push to further work during the Irish Presidency on new own resources. One final remark on timing. Let me repeat that it remains absolutely crucial that we reach an agreement by the end of 2026. With the war on the European continent, protracted instability close by and our economy tanking, we cannot afford any delayed entry into force of the next MFF. SPEECH/26/1371 Press contacts: Isabel OTERO BARDERAS (+32 2 29 66925) Balazs UJVARI (+32 2 29 54578) General public inquiries: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 67 89 10 11 or by email

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