Changes from plenary report to plenary report

Added The section of the European Economic and Social Committee for which one post is added to the establishment plan and the level of commitment and payment appropriations increased by EUR 70 000;

Removed42. Underlines the importance of a stronger Health Union and enhanced protection, prevention, preparedness and response against human health hazards; highlights the vital role that the EU4Health programme plays in this respect, as well as in supporting actions to achieve universal health coverage across the Union, including access to quality sexual and reproductive health services especially considering the backlash against women’s rights in several Member States ; proposes to increase the programme’s appropriations by EUR 50 million above DB to strengthen health resilience and preparedness for future health crises and in support of investments in preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer, rare diseases, diseases affecting children and supporting the actions for improving the mental health of European citizens, particularly teenagers;

Added The section of the European Committee of the Regions for which one post is added to the establishment plan and the level of commitment and payment appropriations increased by EUR 70 000;

Removed43. Reiterates its unwavering support for promoting the learning mobility of young people and researchers contributing to building of a European Education Area; proposes to reinforce, against this background, the EU flagship programme Erasmus+, and the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programme, which play a vital role in supporting learning mobility opportunities, improving people’s skills and employability as well as engaging them in Europe's democratic life; emphasises that both programmes are required by law to put in place measures to boost participation rates among people with fewer opportunities and from disadvantaged backgrounds and calls for a readjustment of Erasmus+ grants to account for higher inflation and higher living costs; is committed to ensuring that Erasmus+ does not become a de facto selective programme open only to those who can afford to participate and recalls that the Commission is required to put in place financial support measures for people with fewer opportunities; proposes, therefore, an increase of EUR 70 million for Erasmus+; insists that the top-up be used to contribute in particular to the programme’s over-arching aim of becoming more accessible, including by providing the necessary increased financial support per participant with fewer opportunities; proposes, moreover, a reinforcement of EUR 1 million for the ESC above DB, specifically to ensure the programme is accessible for all;

Added The section of the European Data Protection Supervisor for which four posts are added to the establishment plan and the level of commitment and payment appropriations increased by EUR 280 000;

Removed44. Underscores the continued socio-economic challenges in the cultural and creative sectors, which are often made up of small organisations and individual artists, and the key role of these sectors in fostering media literacy, combatting disinformation, and promoting and protecting media freedom and pluralism as the basis for a functioning democracy; proposes to increase financing for programmes dedicated to the conservation, restoration, and enhancement of cultural and historical sites, as well as for the promotion of regional traditions and languages and to make use of the funding available under Creative Europe to protect the Jewish heritage in Europe; increases, therefore, the financing for the various strands of the Creative Europe programme by a total of EUR 8 million above the DB;

Added The section of the European External Action Service (EEAS) for which the level of commitment and payment appropriations increased by EUR 10 000 000.

Removed45. Reiterates the indispensable role of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme in promoting European values and citizens’ rights, in fostering active civic engagement, in building resilient societies and raising awareness on disinformation, in combatting gender-based violence, notably violence against women, girls and the LGBTQI+ community, and in supporting the key principles of democracy, the rule of law, solidarity, inclusiveness, justice, non-discrimination and equality; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for the programme by EUR 9 million above the DB, with reinforcements for the equality and rights, ‘citizens’ engagement and participation’, Daphne and ‘Union values’ strands, the latter providing direct funding to civil society organisations working closest to the citizens at local, national and Union Level to protect and promote EU values and to counter democratic backsliding;

AddedThe overall adjustment results in an increase of EUR 10,8 million of heading 7.

Removed46. Demands an increase of the support to the Turkish-Cypriot line by EUR 1 million above DB in order to finance the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus and support the bi-communal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage;

AddedSection 2 – European Council and Council

Removed47. Deems it necessary to allocate adequate resources for the effective implementation of EU rules on social security coordination in order to facilitate labour mobility and easier transfer of social security benefits and free movement of workers in order to establish a real labour market at European level contributing to the completion of the single market by topping up the financing of the relevant line by EUR 2 million;

AddedSection 4 – Court of Justice

Removed48. Underlines the significance of the social dimension in the Union budget and the need for effective social dialogue, proper information and training for workers’ organisations, with a view to further developing and increasing the capacity and involvement of social partners; highlights the importance of the free movement of workers, coordination of social security schemes and the EaSI strand of ESF+ for labour mobility and social protection; reinforces, therefore, the financing for the relevant lines;

AddedSection 6 – European Economic and Social Committee

Removed49. Recalls the important role played by the decentralised agencies and the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) under Heading 2b, reinforces funding and staffing levels for the Fundamental Rights Agency, for the European Institute for Gender Equality, the European Labour Authority and the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation in line with the agencies’ identified needs; underlines the importance of protecting the Union budget against fraud, corruption and other misconduct, thus reinforcing public perception on EU’s capacity to protect taxpayers’ money; stresses, in this regard, the central role that the EPPO plays in protecting the Union’s financial interests, including with respect to the use of NextGenerationEU funds, and ensuring compliance with the rule of law; proposes, in this regard, to reinforce the EPPO in terms of financing and staff to allow the body to fulfil its duties and protect the Union’s financial interests;

AddedSection 7 – European Committee of the Regions

Removed50. Reinforces Heading 2b overall by EUR 241 750 000 in commitment appropriations above the DB levels (excluding pilot projects and preparatory actions) and by EUR 1 050 328 669 compared to the Council reading;

AddedSection 9 – European Data Protection Supervisor

RemovedHeading 3 - Natural Resources and Environment

AddedSection 10 - European External Action Service

Removed51. Recalls that programmes under Heading 3 play a key role in bolstering support for farmers, notably the younger generation, across the Union, in particular given the farmers' discontent, the extreme weather conditions, ongoing challenges of the Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the critical role that agriculture plays in food security; stresses the crucial role of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) in this regard and recalls the objectives under Article 39 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which include increasing agricultural productivity by promoting technical progress, optimum utilisation of the factors of productions, ensuring a reasonable standard of living for farmers, and guaranteeing food security; highlights the critical importance of LIFE, given its role in protecting biodiversity and fostering climate action and the clean energy transition;

AddedAlso, the proposed - budgetary neutral – changes to the level of appropriations by budget lines for which amendments have been introduced by the European Parliament to its own section are approved, as follows:

Removed52. Reiterates its concern about the negative impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on global food security and affordability and about farmers’ ability to withstand inflationary pressure and increased input prices; emphasises the need to help new and young farmers and asks for investments on generational renewal through targeted funding programmes as well as small and medium-sized farmers with additional means and thereby ensure the sustainability of the sector and generational renewal; notes that CAP direct payments have significantly decreased in real terms due to inflation, while the administrative burden on farmers has increased; reminds that the common agricultural policy represents about 30% of the EU budget and created a legal framework with financial benefits for healthy food and more sustainable practices, by supporting all the farmers, who make efforts in this green transition beneficial for the health of citizens and for local producers; stresses the vital importance of sufficient funding for agriculture, including for the Programme of options specifically relating to remoteness and insularity (POSEI) in order to uphold the viability of agriculture in outermost regions; proposes, therefore, to increase income support to young farmers by EUR 40 million above the DB;

AddedSection 1 – European Parliament

Removed53. Emphasizes that farmers and rural communities are vital contributors to quality, food security, and the safeguarding of European food security, and they play a key role in the preservation of rural areas and in countering the depopulation of the most remote areas; it further underscores that they also have a strategic role in zones characterized by high seismic, hydrogeological, and drought risk, and therefore require adequate support from the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP);

AddedAs a consequence, the agreed level of commitment appropriations is set at EUR 12 845,0 million, with no margin left under the expenditure the ceiling of heading 7 and the mobilisation of the Single Margin Instrument for an amount of EUR 721,0 million in accordance with Article 11(1)(a) of the MFF Regulation.

Removed54. Underscores the negative impact of droughts and other extreme, climate change induced, weather patterns on the agricultural sector; stresses the need to better address the impacts of floods, droughts and wildfires on agricultural primary production, food security and farmers' income; calls for an agricultural reserve that reflects the needs of the farmers to better cope with the climatic events; underlines the importance of the fruit and vegetables sector, of school schemes as well as promotional measures of agricultural products under the Common Agricultural Policy; calls for maintaining an inclusive and strong budget for the promotion of agricultural products as this programme is essential to increase awareness and recognition of Union quality schemes as well as the competitiveness of Union agricultural products; decides, therefore, to increase the allocation of these budget lines under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund by a total of EUR 56 million above the DB; emphasises equally the importance of investing in the digitalisation of small and medium-sized farms and the acquisition of equipment to implement good environmental practices in farming and to contribute to environmental sustainability in Union agriculture;

AddedThematic special instruments: EGF, ESR, EAR and BAR

Removed55. Recalls the economic, social and environmental relevance of fisheries, aquaculture and maritime affairs and the specific economic challenges faced by the small-scale, artisanal and coastal fishing sector; stresses the strategic role of fisheries and the related sectors in this regard and expresses concern over the lack of clarity over the consequences of the Commission proposal to cut the budget of the EMFAF; insists that special attention must be devoted to the fishing fleets in order to improve safety, working conditions, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, including renewal of the fleet;

AddedCommitment appropriations for the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF), the European Solidarity Reserve (ESR), the Emergency Aid Reserve (EAR) and the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) are set at the level proposed by the Commission in the Draft Budget.

Removed56. Underlines the indispensable and complementary role that the LIFE programme, as EU flagship programme, plays in catalysing measures towards climate adaptation and mitigation, in delivering on the European Green Deal and achieving the Union’s climate neutrality goal, in line with the Paris Agreement, by investing in nature and biodiversity, reducing emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy and creating a circular economy, protecting ecosystems and reversing the alarming trend of biodiversity loss; emphasises the role of the LIFE programme in accelerating the just transition; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for the programme by EUR 49 million above the DB; supports the EEA with a modest increase in funding and staff;

Added1.4. Payment appropriations

Removed57. Recalls that, traditionally, an Amending Letter will complete the picture regarding available resources under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund and that the approach to amendments can be adjusted accordingly in the course of the conciliation;

AddedThe overall level of payment appropriations in the 2025 budget is set at the level of the Draft Budget, as amended by Amending Letter 1/2025 with the following adjustments agreed by the Conciliation Committee:

Removed58. Reinforces Heading 3 by EUR 145 250 000 in commitment appropriations above the DB (excluding pilot projects and preparatory actions) and by EUR 149 134 000 compared to the Council reading;

Added1. The agreed level of commitment appropriations for non-differentiated expenditure (headings 1 to 6), for which the level of payment appropriations is equal to the level of commitment appropriations, is taken into account. This applies to the overall reduction for the EAGF by EUR 201,1 million. Taking into account also the adjustment to the Union contribution to decentralised agencies, the combined effect is a decrease of EUR 194,1 million;

RemovedHeading 4 - Migration and Border Management

Added2. The adjustment under heading 7 resulting in an increase of EUR 10,8 million;

Removed59. Recalls that programmes under Heading 4 play a key role to reinforce funding for migration and effective border management in light of the migratory challenges resulting from the current geopolitical context, and to ensure necessary funding for the full accession of Romania and Bulgaria to the Schengen Area;

Added3. The payment appropriations for all new pilot projects and preparatory actions proposed by the Parliament are set at 25% of the corresponding commitment appropriations, or at the level proposed by Parliament, if lower. In the case of extension of existing pilot projects and preparatory actions, the level of payment appropriations is the level defined in the Draft Budget as amended by the Amending letter 1/2025 plus 25% of the corresponding new commitment appropriations, or at the level proposed by Parliament, if lower. The combined effect is an increase of EUR 26,1 million;

Removed60. Underlines that instability in neighbouring regions, as well as poverty and underlying trends in economic development, demographic changes, but also economic reasons, continue to create migration flows towards the Union, placing significant pressure on programmes and agencies under Heading 4;

Added4. The adjustments to differentiated expenditure budget lines, for which the combined effect is an increase of EUR 25,5 million.

Removed61. Stresses that the smooth and efficient implementation of the Union’s migration and asylum policy by Member States is key to ensuring the security of the Union and preserving the free movement of people within the Union; insists that the Union’s migration and asylum policy should be governed by the principle of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility, including its financial implications, between the Member States as enshrined in Article 80 of the TEU, and in respect for fundamental rights, in line with Union values and international commitments;

AddedThe adjustments, resulting in an overall decrease of EUR 131,7 million, are set out in the following table:

Removed62. Notes that additional financing is needed under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) in order to ensure appropriate and speedy implementation of the Asylum and Migration Pact; decides, therefore, to reinforce the AMIF by EUR 25 million above DB in 2025 given AMIF’s positive contribution in providing immediate support to refugees;

AddedOverall, this results in a level of payment appropriations of EUR 155 209,3 million, which represents a decrease of EUR 131,7 million in comparison with the Draft Budget, as amended by Amending Letter 1/2025.

Removed63. Underlines the importance for Member States to comply with their commitments, including upholding the right to asylum, and ensuring effective, humane and fair management and protection of the EU’s external borders, as well as effective, safe and dignified reception, integration and return and readmission procedures; underlines the need to better protect vulnerable people from smuggling and trafficking networks and address the negative effects of the instrumentalisation of migrants as part of hybrid attacks, notably by pro-Russian forces; recalls the crucial role the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI) play in this regard, in particular supporting Member States with reinforced border protection capabilities including physical infrastructure, buildings, equipment, systems and services required at border crossing points, as provided for in annex III of the BMVI regulation as well as meeting the requirements of reception conditions for asylum seekers and migrants; underlines that the BMVI should support the acceleration of Romania’s and Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen area; proposes therefore to increase appropriations for the BMVI by EUR 35 million above DB;

Added1.5. Reserves

Removed64. Highlights the need for the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) to have the requisite resources to carry out its tasks in accordance with its mandate - border control activities at the EU’s external borders, assistance to national authorities on search and rescue, return operations, sharing intelligence and expertise with all EU countries as well as the neighbouring non-EU countries affected by migratory trends and cross-border crime; notes that Frontex is the biggest and fastest growing EU agency, and acknowledges that this creates challenges in terms of absorption capacity and staff recruitment; reiterates that the enhanced competences and resources allocated to the Agency must be accompanied by increased transparency and accountability as well as full respect for and protection of fundamental rights; calls on the Agency to continue to improve its efficiency and effectiveness; decides to restore the DB for the agency;

AddedCompared to the Draft Budget, as amended by Amending Letter 1/2025, the amount of EUR 3 billion in payment appropriations for 2025 in relation to the additional flexibilities and support from cohesion funds to the Member States affected by the natural disasters in Europe (Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction RESTORE proposals) is entered into reserve.

Removed65. Proposes to reinforce the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (eu-LISA) by EUR 2 million and to reinforce staff at the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) considering the Agencies’ increased workload;

Added1.6. Budget remarks

Removed66. Reinforces Heading 4 overall by EUR 62 000 000 in commitment appropriations above the DB and by EUR 127 873 362 compared to the Council reading;

AddedThe text of budget remarks corresponds to the Draft Budget, as amended by Amending Letter 1/2025 with the following adjustments proposed in the letter of executability and agreed by the Conciliation Committee:

RemovedHeading 5 - Security and Defence

Added Budget lines for which amendments have been introduced by the European Parliament to its own section are approved without modifications.

Removed67. Recalls the highly unstable geopolitical situation and international environment around the Union giving rise to greater security and defence challenges since the beginning of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; considers that the Union's current budget for ensuring the security of Europeans is not equal to the challenges to be met in the short and long term; therefore supports significantly increasing financial and budgetary EU investment for European defence; calls on the European Commission to pay particular attention to the EU’s external borders neighbouring Russia and frontline countries;

Added PP 08 25 01 — Observatory of Land Grabbing Practices in the EU

Removed68. Underlines the need to top up the Internal Security Fund to ensure sufficient funding for the fight against serious and organised crime with a cross border dimension, cybercrime as well as funding to tackle terrorism and radicalisation; stresses that financial reinforcements are also crucial for combatting the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe by supporting multinational projects on best practices and enhancing exchange of information; considers a reinforcement of EUR 5 million to be justified for this purpose; restores Secure Connectivity to the level of the DB in order not to delay the advancement of a recently agreed programme;