Funding Network Meeting for Members: Brussels, Belgium

Eurodiaconia is pleased to invite you to the Funding Network Meeting on 14 November 2024 in Brussels, Belgium.

  • Learn more about EU Funding from our European Commission speakers.
  • Share your good practices in fundraising for social services and social innovation.
  • Network with peers and explore future collaboration.

Register here before 11 October 2024. Explore the concept note and agenda here.

 

Financial Regulation: Council greenlights simpler rules for executing EU budget

On 19 September, the European Council adopted a revision of the EU’s financial regulation, which lays down the financial rules applicable to the EU budget. The financial regulation was revised to align it with the current multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2021-2027 and to introduce additional targeted improvements such as better protection of the Union’s financial interest, provisions for procurement in times of crisis and simplified rules and procedures for beneficiaries.

The exemptions in the budgetary principles will be reflected in the financial regulation according to the ‘single rulebook approach’. The new regulation ensures that any additional administrative burden remains limited for national administration and safeguards data protection in the process of digitalisation. Moreover, it implements some changes to make crisis management more efficient to publicly procure goods and services on behalf of member states or to act as a central purchasing body to donate or resell supplies and services.

The regulation has now been formally adopted by the European Parliament on 17 September and by the Council today. The regulation is expected to enter into force and apply on the third day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

 

MEPs criticized the position of the European Council during the first plenary of the new European Parliament

Strasbourg, France. On 18 September, some MEPs especially from the S&D group criticized the European Council led by the Hungarian Presidency for its conservative approach to the EU budget. It is the first budget after the midterm revision of the MFF 2021-2027 and also the first time that the EU will have to pay the interest costs on funds borrowed under the European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI).

The proposals from the MEPs include: 1) leaving no one behind with the green and digital transitions and 2) ensuring that the EU budget works for all generations, with a focus on the youngest and oldest generations and vulnerable citizens such as through securing funding for Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps, the Union Civil Protection Mechanisms and the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme.

The EP’s Committee on Budgets will vote on the budgetary amendments on 7 October 2024 and the final position of the EP on the 2025 budget is expected to be voted on by the plenary on 21-24 October in Strasbourg.