Its Plenary approved its budget for 2025, with 418 votes in favor, 185 against and 67 abstentions, after negotiations, throughout the previous period, between the institutions. Immediately after, the president of the European Parliament, , signed it in a special ceremony, as planned, and it is now binding.
Today’s necessary approval by the EP was preceded by the temporary agreement between the member states, in the Council of .
The total budget for 2025 is increased compared to this year, by 6% (greater by 10 billion euros) and amounts to 199.4 billion. euros in commitments, with payments of 155.21 billion euro. As stated in a related announcement, more than 230 million were added. euros “for key programs aimed at improving everyday life, strengthening competitiveness and addressing modern challenges […] The European Parliament secured more effective support for tackling health, humanitarian aid, border management and climate action challenges’ and ‘ensured that next year’s EU budget will be ambitious, defending its ability to address current challenges and improve citizens’ lives.”
Additional funding for EU programmes
It is the first annual budget since the revision of the EU’s long-term financial framework. In February 2024, during its long-term budget review, the European Parliament “managed to secure significant increases for fundamental issues and priorities, such as support for Ukraine, which MEPs were able to maintain for the 2025 budget as well”.
Also, in the same announcement, MEPs “secured funding for repayment costs for the European Recovery Instrument (EURI), which is almost double the amount originally foreseen for 2025, while at the same time protecting funding for flagship programmes, such as Erasmus+ and research funds’.
MEPs also received further funding for next year (compared to Commission and Council proposals) for key programmes. Specifically, they negotiated (successfully) an additional amount of 230.7 million. euros, beyond the initial proposal of the European Commission, focusing on landmark initiatives in the fields of research, health, education, young farmers, coordination of social security systems, crisis management from natural disasters, climate action, humanitarian aid, military mobility and border management.
In addition to this additional funding, significant increases resulting from previous savings will benefit the 2025 budget, including 422 million euros for Erasmus+ and 20 million for the “Horizon Europe” program.
It corresponds to Denmark’s national budget of 5.6 million. resident
It is recalled that over 90% of the EU budget finances activities in member countries and beyond, “for the benefit of citizens, regions, farmers, researchers, students, NGOs and businesses”. Unlike national budgets, the EU budget is mainly about investment, with the aim of creating growth and opportunity across the European Union. Given that the EU serves 27 countries with a total population of 450 million, the EU’s annual budget is relatively small, averaging 160-180 billion. euros per year for the period 2021-27. According to European Commission data, this amount is comparable to the national budget of Denmark, which serves 5.6 million people, and is about 30% smaller than the budget of Poland, with a population of 38 million.
