On November 11th, the Council and the European parliament reached an agreement on the EU’s annual budget for 2024, just 2 days before the deadline of the conciliation period, which ended at midnight on Monday the 13th. Subsequently, on November 20th, the budget was formally approved by the European Council. It underwent a vote in the plenary session of the European Parliament during the November session in Strasbourg on the 22nd and signed into law by the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.
The figures amount to €189.39 billion in commitment appropriations (legally binding promises to spend money on activities that are implemented over several years) and €142.63 billion in payment appropriations (expenditure arising from commitments entered into during the current year or in previous years). Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) increased the funding for programmes that are crucial for addressing the consequences of the war in Ukraine and global challenges, supporting young people, including young farmers, contributing to the post-pandemic recovery, combating antisemitism and strengthening efforts towards the green transition.
Parliament’s negotiations acquired additional funding on top of the Commission’s draft budget for programmes including:
- Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme, +€85 million, including €25 million for health research
- Erasmus+, the EU’s programme for education, training, youth and sport, +€60 million to support students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds
- Humanitarian aid, +€250 million
- The Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI-Global Europe) for the EU’s southern and eastern neighbourhood, +€150 million
- The Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme (CERV), +€4,5 million
- LIFE, EU’s environment and climate action programme, +€20 million
- The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), +€7,5 million top up
- The financing of social prerogatives, dialogue and training for workers, with a +€2 million top up
MFF Revision
MEPs anticipate an agreement on the mid-term revision of the EU’s long term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, will be attained by the end of the year. This will lay the groundwork for significant supplementary allocations in early 2024 through an amending budget proposed by the Commission. The proposed MFF top-up is designed to offer medium-term assistance to Ukraine, increase flexibility and crisis response capabilities, reinforce the EU’s strategic autonomy in 2024, and fortify its initiatives in domains like migration and external policy.
Further information can be found on the European Parliament’s website.
To learn more about current calls for proposals or Eurodiaconia’s funding events, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Projects and EU Funding Officer Giorgia Signoretto at giorgia.signoretto@eurodiaconia.org and our Research and Projects Assistant Alice Widerberg at alice.widerberg@eurodiaconia.org.