Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

Change 9

Changed14.23. Recalls the Interinstitutional Agreement adopted as part of the 2020 MFF agreement, whereby expenditure to cover NGEU financing costs “shall aim at not reducing programmes and funds”; questions whether the Council’s approach is in line with the MFF agreement on the cascade; recalls that the EURI special instrument is to be mobilised in accordance with the MFF regulation, the applicable sectoral rules and other legal obligations and taking into account priorities, prudent budgeting and sound financial management, which require in particular appropriate margins for unforeseen expenditure;

Change 10

Changed15.24. Intends,Restores, therefore, to restoreall the cuts proposed by Council;Council to ensure that programmes are properly resourced and that the budget’s flexibility and response capacity are maintained throughout the annual budgetary procedure; insists on the need for the Commission to provide reliable, timely and accurate information on NGEU borrowing costs and on expected Recovery and Resilience Facility disbursements throughout the budgetary procedure; recalls that Parliament is deeply concerned about the impact of the inherent uncertainty for the EURI interest line and questions the forecast from the Commission on NGEU borrowing costscosts; andwelcomes expectedthe Recoverycut-off anddate Resilienceof Facilitythe disbursementsend throughoutof September for the budgetarybudgeting of the EURI costs which brings more predictability to the procedure; is aware that the Amending Letter 1/2025 will update the needs estimation for 2025; is adamant to cater fully and timely for the NGEU repayment costs that will fall due in 2025;

Change 11

Changed16.25. Underlines, once again, that repayment of the EURI borrowing costs is a legal obligation for the Union and a non-discretionary expenditure item in the EU budget; isinsists adamant,on thereforetransparency toin caterthe fullyimplementation andof timelythe forcascade in the NGEUannual repaymentbudgetary costsprocedure thatand willadds falla dueremark in 2025; agreesthe tobudget, apply,showing inthe thisshare regard,of thede-commitment newlyof establishedappropriations, EURIother cascadethan mechanism,external inassigned therevenue, lettermade andsince the spiritbeginning of the recently revisedcurrent MFF Regulation;on the budget line; proposes to finance 65% of the overrun costs by the de-commitment compartment of the EURI Special Instrument; deems the margin of EUR 46.2 million, which was programmed before the DB was submitted, to be available for reinforcing programmes under the ceiling of Heading 2b; intends to revisit the amendments linked to the cascade mechanism once the Amending Letter provides updated estimations of the actual needs for the EURI line in 2025;

Change 12

Changed17.26. Recalls that programmes under Heading 1 play a key role in increasing the Union’s competitiveness, driving growth, economic development and job creation as well as in ensuring that the green and digital transitions leave no-one behindbehind; byrecalls, providingin this respect, that these programmes provide the necessary support for research and innovation,innovation in key sectors such as health, climatefood, andclimate, natural resources, byand boostingagriculture, boost funding for cross-border infrastructure, in particular in the transport sector,and byenergy bolsteringsectors, bolster the Union’s investment in cutting-edge technology, andthereby bystimulating improvingjob creation and improve the competitiveness of the Union economy, with an emphasis on SMEs and youth entrepreneurship; underlines the importance of the EU research programmes for meeting the EU’s climate objectives and calls for special support to research projects on de-carbonisation;

Change 13

Changed18.27. Highlights the vital role that Horizon Europe plays in this context; recalls that the programme remains heavily over-subscribed and is therefore unable to support a large number of research projects evaluated as ‘excellent’; proposes, therefore, to increase allocations for the programme by a total of EUR 242 million compared to the DB, with reinforcements for the European Research Council, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and Clusters ‘Health’, with the particular aim to reinforce the mental health research, ‘Culture’ ‘Climate, Energy and Mobility’, ‘Food’, EIC and ‘Widening participation’;

Change 14

Changed20.29. Recalls that the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is key tofor the Union’s overall security and for boosting investment in high-performance,high-performance sustainable trans-European networksnetworks, and thereby promoting interconnectivity as well as for supporting the completion of TEN-T and the extension of corridors towards the partner countries in the Eastern Neighbourhood; in this sense, calls for more CEF Transport investments into the climate and environmentally friendly cross-border transport infrastructure, in particular with regard to decarbonisingrail projects and investment in clean mobility; calls, at the Unionsame economy,time, therebyon acceleratingincreasing the greenCEF transitionEnergy investments for deploying renewable energy, energy efficiency and promotingother interconnectivity;sustainable energy projects; highlights its vital importance to energy projects in Ukraine in light of the Russian war of aggression; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for CEF Transport by EUR 40 million above the DB in 2025;2025 furtherand proposesCEF toEnergy top-upby CEFEUR Energy30 withmillion anabove additionalthe EURDB 30in million;2025;

Change 15

Changed21.30. Highlights the added value of the Digital Europe Programme in view the Union’s digital transition, technological progress and competitiveness and proposes an increase of EUR 10 million for the budget line Artificial Intelligence and EUR 5 million above the DB for the skills strand of the programme; points out that enhancing digital skills and literacy are imperative for empowering citizens to fully participate in the knowledge economy;

Change 16

Changed22.31. Stresses that a well-functioning Single Market is critical for the Union’s competitiveness and tofor enhanceenhancing access to markets for EU businesses;businesses, emphasisesespecially SMEs and young entrepreneurs; notes that SMEs in particular are the backbone of the European economy and that they have been hit hard by high inflation and energy prices andprices; proposes, as a result, an increase of EUR 5 million above the DB for the SME strand of the Single Market programme;programme, notably to support the European net-zero industry academies;

Change 17

Changed23.32. Further proposes a number of additional reinforcements for selected budget lines in Heading 1, among which InvestEU, the Anti-Fraud Programme, Space and Customs cooperation; commends the impact of Space Programme on the security of the Union by providing early warnings to the relevant authorities in times of crises, such as floods, through Copernicus and providing crucial navigation services to rescue and transport services through Galileo; underlines the increasing needs in investing in both Space programme strands in the future;

Change 18

Changed24.33. Reiterates the important role played by the decentralised agencies active under this heading; proposes to increase appropriations for the European Union Agency for Railways and for the BEREC Office;Office in line with their identified needs and expanding mandates;

Change 19

Changed26.35. Underlines the key role cohesion policy plays in delivering on Union policy prioritiespriorities, improving peoples’ quality of life and boosting the Union economy by contributing to fairfair, inclusive and sustainable growth and development, promoting economic and social convergence between countries and regions, notably outermost regions, addressing regional and social inequalities, supporting the green and digital transitions, and fostering innovation and employment; reiterates that cohesion policy is not a crisis response tool and, therefore, should not be called on to make up for shortcomings in budgetary flexibility or crisis response mechanisms to the detriment of its long-term policy objectives; calls on the Commission and theall Member States to accelerate implementation of cohesion policy;policy, in parallel to the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility;

Change 20

Changed27.36. Recalls that the execution of operational programmes in the Member States and regions should be accelerated and thatcalls on Member States to prevent delays caused by a lack of administrative capacity should be avoided at all levels of governance; wishes to allocate the remaining margin of EUR 755 965 to the budget line for Operational technical assistance;assistance, to contribute towards accelerating implementation ;

Change 21

Changed29.38. Underlines that the expenditure programmes under Heading 2b have to share the already tight resources and margins under Heading 2b with the EURI budget line which covers the NGEU debt management and interest costs and, eventually, debt repayments;repayments, and that this has de facto prevented the Commission from proposing reinforcements where they are needed; is intent on covering these borrowing costs in a reliable and transparent manner without having to reduce programme allocations for this purpose; is convinced that, for 2025, the cascade mechanism and the newly created EURI Special Instrument make it possible that this objective can be achieved; emphasises that this is a crucial message to the beneficiaries of EU funding and the public at large;

Change 22

Removed30. Recalls that programmes under Heading 2b play a key role in ensuring resilience and values by providing support and opportunities for young people through Erasmus+, including the Special Olympics World Games (SOWG) 2025, and through the European Solidarity Corps; reinforcing support for the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme; investing in preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer diseases affecting children and improving mental health by increasing EU4Health; investing in skills development; ensuring social security coordination in order to facilitate labour mobility and easier transfer of social security benefits; supporting vulnerable communities, as well as rural, isolated and mountainous areas, social dialogue and trade unions, cultural and creative industries;

Change 23

Removed32. Emphasises its strong preference for covering a larger share of EURI borrowing costs by availabilities in the de-commitment compartment of the EURI Special Instrument over and above the MFF ceilings which would have the effect of restoring some margin within Heading 2b and creating budgetary space in the Flexibility Instrument; proposes, therefore, to cover 65% of the overrun costs in 2025 by the de-commitment compartment of the EURI special instrument;

Added40. Recalls that programmes under Heading 2b play a key role in ensuring resilience and values by providing support and opportunities for young people through Erasmus+, including support to the Special Olympics World Games (SOWG) 2025, and through the European Solidarity Corps; 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; calls for a readjustment of Erasmus+ grants to account for higher inflation and higher living costs; proposes to reinforce support for the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme, to invest in preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancer diseases, rare diseases and diseases affecting mental health, by increasing EU4Health, to invest in skills development, including through reskilling and upskilling, to ensure social security coordination in order to facilitate labour mobility and easier transfer of social security benefits and to support vulnerable communities, as well as rural, isolated, insular and mountainous areas, social dialogue, labour mobility, trade unions, and the cultural and creative sectors;

Change 24

Changed33.41. Is alarmed by the growingever-growing impact of natural disasters in Europe and its neighbourhood and concerned about the Union’s ability to respond effectively;disasters; underlines that these disasters are often linked to the worsening climate change and are therefore likely to occur with greater frequency and intensity in the future; is, therefore, highly concerned about the Union’s ability to respond effectively and in a timely and effective manner; wishes to protect human lives and secure livelihoods; stresses the need to augmentinvest in climate mitigation and adaptation measures, in particular in vulnerable regions; stresses, in this context, the Commission’surgent crisisneed to boost the Union’s response capacity; increases, therefore, appropriations for the Union Civil Protection Mechanism by EUR 42 million above DB; calls for a prioritisation of investments that help reduce the impact of natural disasters;disasters stressesas thatwell as in the Union,investments beingin basedthe onpreventive solidarity,measures, willpreparedness and resilience; stresses that the Union should find the resources forto express solidarity by supporting the areas, citizens and companies affected by the recent floods;devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe in September 2024;

Change 25

Changed34.42. Underlines the importance of a stronger Health Union and enhanced preparedness;protection, prevention, preparedness and response against human health hazards; highlights the vital role that the EU4Health programme plays in this respect;respect, proposes,as therefore,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;health of European citizens, particularly teenagers;

Change 26

Changed35.43. Reiterates its unwavering support for promoting the learning mobility of young people;people and researchers contributing to building of a European Education Area; proposes to reinforce, against this background, the Erasmus+EU flagship programme Erasmus+, and the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) programmes,programme, which play a vital role in supporting learning mobility opportunities, improving people’s skills and employability andas promotingwell socialas inclusion;engaging them in Europe's democratic life; emphasises that both programmes aimare required by law to put in place measures to boost participation rates among people with fewer opportunities -and anfrom objectivedisadvantaged thatbackgrounds isand challengedcalls byfor soaringa inflationreadjustment andof theErasmus+ increasedgrants costto ofaccount living;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+ (57 million EUR for Promoting learning mobility of individuals and groups, and cooperation, inclusion and equity, excellence, creativity and innovation at the level of organisations and policies in the field of education and training — Indirect management; 5 million EUR for Promoting non-formal and informal learning mobility and active participation among young people, and cooperation, inclusion, creativity and innovation at the level of organisations and policies in the field of youth; 8 million EUR for Promoting learning mobility of sport staff, and cooperation, inclusion, creativity and innovation at the level of sport organisations and sport policies);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;

Change 27

Changed36.44. Underscores the continued socio-economic challenges in the cultural and creative sectors, which are often made up of small organisations and individual artists;artists, proposes,and therefore,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;

Change 28

Changed37.45. 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,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;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;

Change 29

Removed38. 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, by financing the relevant line by EUR 2 million;

Added46. 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;

Removed39. 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; free movement of workers, coordination of social security schemes and the EaSI strand of ESF+; reinforces, therefore, financing for the relevant lines;

Added47. 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;

Removed40. Recalls the important role played by the decentralised agencies under Heading 2b; reinforcing 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; proposes, furthermore, to reinforce the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in terms of financing and staff to allow the body to fulfil its duties and protect the Union’s financial interests;

Added48. 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;

Change 30

Changed42.51. Recalls that programmes under Heading 3 play a key role in bolstering support for farmers, especiallynotably 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;

Change 31

Changed43.52. 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;

Change 32

Removed44. Underscores the negative impact of droughts and other extreme, climate change induced, weather patterns on the agricultural sector; 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; 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;

Added53. 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);

Removed45. Underlines the indispensable and complementary role that the LIFE programme plays in delivering on the European Green Deal and achieving the Union’s climate neutrality goal by investing in nature and biodiversity, reducing emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy, creating a circular economy; 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;

Added54. 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;

Added55. 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;

Added56. 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;

Change 33

Changed48.59. Recalls that programmes under Heading 4 play a key role into 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;

Change 34

Changed49.60. Underlines that instability in neighbouring regions, as well as poverty and underlying trends in economic development, demographic changes, globalisation inbut transportalso andeconomic communicationsreasons, continue to create migration flows towards the Union, placing significant pressure on programmes and agencies under Heading 4;

Change 35

Added61. 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;

Change 36

Changed51.63. Underlines the importantimportance rolefor thatMember States to comply with their commitments, including upholding the Borderright Managementto asylum, and Visaensuring Instrumenteffective, (BMVI)humane playsand infair managingmanagement and protection of the Union’sEU’s external bordersborders, 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 particularthis regard, in particular supporting Member States with reinforced border protection capabilities including physical infrastructure, buildings, equipment, systems and services required at border crossing points;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 instrumentBMVI should also 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;

Change 37

Changed52.64. Highlights the need for the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) to have the requisite resources to carry out its operationaltasks in accordance with its mandate - border control activities effectivelyat andthe decides,EU’s therefore,external borders, assistance to restorenational theauthorities DBon forsearch theand agency;rescue, notes,return however,operations, sharing intelligence and expertise with concern,all thatEU thecountries Agencyas continueswell toas strugglethe withneighbouring itsnon-EU absorptioncountries capacityaffected by migratory trends and hascross-border notcrime; yetnotes managedthat toFrontex hireis the necessarybiggest staffand tofastest fulfilgrowing itsEU mission;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,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;

Change 38

Changed5365. 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);(EUAA) considering the Agencies’ increased workload;

Change 39

Changed55.67. 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;

Change 40

Changed56.68. 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 dimensiondimension, cybercrime as well as cybercrime;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;

Change 41

Changed57.69. Highlights in particular the importance of reinforcing the means for European cooperation in defence matters;matters and the harmonisation of the defence sector to better respond to the unprecedented geopolitical challenges; considers that such cooperation not only makes Europe and its citizens safer but also leads to greater efficiency, potential savings and strategic autonomy; notes the importance of ‘military mobility’ in funding dual-use transport infrastructure, enabling Member States to rapidly concentrate military power in the context of the war and to support missions and operations under the common security and defence policy; underlines that the programme is oversubscribed and has substantial absorption capacity; decides, therefore, to increase appropriations for ‘military mobility’ by EUR 20 million above the DB;

Change 42

Removed58. Recalls the crucial role played by decentralised agencies operating in the field of security and law enforcement, in particular with regard to the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) which have both seen their mandates expanded; proposes targeted staffing increases to allow them to properly perform their new tasks;

Added70. Strongly supports EU efforts to tackle rising security threats such as the spread of disinformation, including online disinformation, fake news campaigns against the EU, terrorism, radicalisation and violent extremism within the EU and its neighbouring countries;

Added71. Recalls the crucial role played by decentralised agencies operating in the field of security and law enforcement, in particular with regard to the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) which have both seen their mandates expanded; proposes targeted staffing increases and financial reinforcements to allow them to properly perform their new tasks;

Change 43

Changed60.73. Emphasises that, and once more as a consequence of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the international context has deteriorated rapidly as a result of the food, energyenergy, humanitarian and economic crises,crises , which have dramatically increased pressure on Heading 6; welcomes the fact that the introduction of the Ukraine Facility andover the Western BalkanMFF Facilityceilings overand the MFFWestern ceilingsBalkan Facility provides a stable basis for support for Ukraine and the Western Balkan countries and releases some pressure on the availabilities within Heading 6 and more particularly on the cushion and buffers in the NDICI envelope; reminds that the commensurate redeployments leave behindgenerate gaps on some other budget lines which are difficult to manage;

Change 44

Removed61. Stresses the importance of the Southern Neighbourhood line in supporting political, economic and social reforms in the region; taking into consideration the increasing humanitarian needs in the region as well as other purposes of regional cooperation in providing assistance to refugees, in particular Syrian and Palestinian refugees, and in enabling support along the southern migration routes; proposes to increase appropriations for the line by EUR 60 million above the DB, including to reinforce funding for UNRWA based on EU regulations and values;

Added74. Reiterates its full support to Ukraine in the fight for its freedom and democracy; deplores the terrible impact of lives and the suffering of Ukraine People caused by unprovoked and unjustifiable Russia's war of aggression; welcomes the decision to grant the Ukraine candidate country status and insists on the need to deploy the necessary funds to support its accession process;

Removed62. Underlines that the war continues to have significant effects on countries in the Eastern Neighbourhood, such as Moldova, that have provided shelter and assistance to refugees fleeing the war and faced the knock-on effects of sky-high inflation and energy prices; underlines the importance of sustained support for candidate countries in implementing the necessary accession-related reforms and in enhancing their resilience and preventing and countering hybrid threats; decides, therefore, to increase appropriations by EUR 50 million above the DB for the Eastern Neighbourhood; proposes, furthermore, to increase accession-related support under the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA III) by EUR 3 million in 2025;

Added75. Stresses the importance of the Southern Neighbourhood line in supporting political, economic and social reforms in the region taking into consideration the increasing humanitarian needs in the region as well as other purposes of regional cooperation in providing assistance to refugees, in particular Syrian and Palestinian refugees, and in enabling support along the southern migration routes; proposes to increase appropriations for the line by EUR 60 million above the DB, including to reinforce funding for UNRWA based on EU regulations and values;

Removed63. Proposes to place an amount of EUR 30 million in reserve that can be lifted upon an unconditional withdrawal by the Georgian Government of the controversial law on 'transparency of foreign influence' and a clear commitment that it would not propose such a law again;

Added76. Underlines that the war continues to have significant effects on countries in the Eastern Neighbourhood, such as the Republic of Moldova, that have provided shelter and assistance to refugees fleeing the war and faced the knock-on effects of sky-high inflation and energy prices; stresses the need for targeted financial and technical assistance to help these countries stabilise their economies and strengthen public infrastructure amidst these pressures; underlines the importance of sustained support for candidate countries in implementing the necessary accession-related reforms and in enhancing their resilience and preventing and countering hybrid threats; decides, therefore, to increase appropriations by EUR 50 million above the DB for the Eastern Neighbourhood to address these complex challenges; proposes, furthermore, to increase accession-related support under the Instrument for Pre-Accession (IPA III) by EUR 3 million in 2025 to accelerate the reform process, enhance resilience, and ensure a smooth transition towards EU standards;

Change 45

Removed72. Reiterates the Parliament’s priorities for the forthcoming financial year, namely, focusing Parliament’s budget on its core functions of co-legislator, acting as one arm of the budgetary authority, representing citizens and scrutinizing the work of other institutions, as well as providing the resources for cyber-security and IT development and priority projects on engaging with citizens as well as green and accessible Parliament;

Added88. Calls for an establishment of the Single Seat of the European Parliament;

Added89. Reiterates the Parliament’s priorities for the forthcoming financial year, namely, focusing Parliament’s budget on its core functions of co-legislator, acting as one arm of the budgetary authority, representing citizens and scrutinizing the work of other institutions and the implementation of EU legislation, as well as providing the resources for cyber-security and IT development and priority projects on engaging with citizens as well as green and accessible Parliament;

Change 46

Changed(a) recalls that visitors groups in all the places of work of the Parliament represent an important tool for Members to connect with constituents and to demonstrate their parliamentary work to constituents; welcomes the fact that the Secretary-General will propose to the Quaestors to adjust the ceilings in lineto withreflect the increase ofincreased costs tofaced beby covered;visitors groups; expects the decision on the adjustment of the ceilings to be taken as soon as possible;

Change 47

Changed(c) notes that Parliament is working on a building renovation plan and a comprehensive long-term building strategy to take into account new ways of workingworking, costs, budgetary constraints and the targets and objectives of the Green Deal and ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package; expects the Committee on Budgets to be informed in a timely manner;

Change 48

Removed(d) highlights that one of the most powerful weapons against disinformation is fact-based communication regarding the Parliament’s activities; welcomes the comprehensive actions taken by the services, including the EPLOs, in that regard; expects that such activities are further strengthened, including the close cooperation with other EU institutions and security services in Member States;

Added(d) looks forward to the installation of photovoltaic panels to full capacity in the PFLIMLIN and DE MADARIAGA and CHURCHILL buildings;

Added(e) insists on the need to increase chartered train capacity between Brussels and Strasbourg in 2025;

Added(f) highlights that one of the most powerful weapons against disinformation is fact-based communication regarding the Parliament’s activities including outreach in the languages of linguistic minorities and communities, where appropriate; welcomes the comprehensive actions taken by the services, including the EPLOs, in that regard; expects that such activities are further strengthened, including the close cooperation with other EU institutions and security services in Member States;

Change 49

Added91. Takes note that Article 44(2) of the Implementing Measures of the Members of the European Parliament Statute provides for the possibility to finance extra costs linked to the parliamentary assistance budgets transferring appropriations from their General Expenditure Allowance (GEA); calls on Parliament's administration to take the necessary measures to enable Members who wish to do so to use their GEA to cover the cost of APA missions; highlights that such a measure would help Members to address their increasing staffing needs while being budgetary neutral;

Added92. Points out that multilingualism is a fundamental principle that makes the content of deliberations in the EU institutions more accessible and transparent, and ensures that proceedings are democratic;

Change 50

Changed77.96. Rejects the Council decision to reduce the estimates of the Commission, of the Court of Justice and of the European Court of Auditors by an additional amount in order to compensate for the housing allowance in the Parliament budget; is of the opinion that inviting the Parliament to reconsider its position on the allowance in its own budget by reducing the estimates of the other institutions by the corresponding amount is against the gentlemen’s agreement;

Change 51

Changed(b) restore the level of appropriations partially in line with the estimates of the European Court of Auditors, the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Committee of the Regions, the European Data Protection Supervisor and the European External Action Service by increasing the appropriations above the DB for budgetary lines thatcovering coverbuilding security, particularly in delegations, cyber-security and operational needs;