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The Council and the European Parliament have agreed on the EU’s annual budget for 2026. Next year’s budget will focus on delivering Union priorities and dealing with ongoing challenges. It will boost competitiveness, strengthen Europe’s defence readiness and preparedness, provide support for humanitarian assistance and address migratory pressures.
At the same time, the budget safeguards the flexibility to react swiftly and effectively to unforeseen needs and crises.
The 2026 budget amounts to €192.8 billion in total commitments and €190.1 billion in total payments. €715.7 million has been kept available this year under the expenditure ceilings of the current multiannual financial framework for 2021-2027, allowing the EU to react to unforeseeable needs.
“Today’s agreement shows that Europe can deliver, even in challenging times. The 2026 EU budget will allow us to deliver on our common priorities – security, competitiveness and border control – all while ensuring that the EU can react swiftly and effectively to unforeseen needs and crises.”
– Nicolai Wammen, Minister for Finance of Denmark and chief Council negotiator for the 2026 EU budget
| 2026 EU budget (in € million) | ||
| Headings | Commitments | Payments |
| 1. Single market, innovation and digital | 22,163.0 | 23,336.6 |
| 2. Cohesion, resilience and values | 71,649.8 | 73,166.7 |
| 3. Natural resources and environment | 56,529.4 | 52,577.3 |
| 4. Migration and border management | 5,018.9 | 3,887.9 |
| 5. Security and defence | 2,813.5 | 2,253.3 |
| 6. Neighbourhood and the world | 15,600.0 | 16,569.7 |
| 7. European public administration | 13,277.5 | 13,277.5 |
| Special instruments | 5,715.9 | 5,022.5 |
| Total | 192,768.1 | 190,091.6 |
| Appropriations as % of GNI (gross national income) | 1,00% | 0,99% |
Commitments are legal promises to spend money on activities whose implementation extends over several financial years. Payments cover expenditure arising from commitments made for the EU budget during current and preceding financial years.
This is the sixth annual budget under the EU’s long-term budget, the multiannual financial framework (MFF) for 2021-2027. The 2026 budget is complemented by actions to support the COVID-19 recovery under NextGenerationEU, the EU’s plan to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Next steps
The European Parliament and the Council now have 14 days to formally approve the agreement reached. The Council is expected to endorse it on 24 November. Adoption of the budget requires a qualified majority within the Council.
Compliments of the Council of the European Union