Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

Change 5

Changed10.18. Highlights that the 2025 annual budgetary procedure will be the first exercise based entirely on the MFF Revision; recalls that, according to the MFF Revision, the Flexibility Instrument has been reinforced and that a maximum allocation of EUR 1 546.1 billion to be mobilised in 2025 has been topped up by 495 million and amounts carried over from 2024; notes that the Commission proposes to use an amount of EUR 1 192.8 million under the Flexibility Instrument for the EURI cascade Step 2 but that the Council deviates from the Commission approach in several significant aspects;

Change 6

Added19. Reiterates its position that before having recourse to the EURI special instrument, the budgetary authority is expected to examine the possibility for covering part of any shortfall within the headings and through the Flexibility and Single Margin Instruments; emphasises that this process must be objective and based on real needs and cannot be driven by any arbitrary benchmarks; intends, therefore, to ensure that all programmes are properly resourced and that the budget’s flexibility and response capacity is maintained throughout the annual budgetary procedure;

20. Notes, further, that the initial 2025 availabilities for the Single Margin Instrument for Commitments (Article 11(1)(a) of the MFF regulation) stand at EUR 1 124 million and that the Commission proposes to use EUR 490.4 million for heading 7 European Public Administration; resumes that as a result, a total amount of EUR 1 468.9 million remains available for unforeseen expenditure in 2025, of which an amount of EUR 835.1 million under the Flexibility Instrument and an amount of EUR 633.8 million under the Single Margin Instrument (assuming that the neither the Flexibility Instrument, nor the SMI are still mobilised in the course of 2024);

Change 7

Changed12.21. Highlights that the Commission’s DB estimates the EURI ‘overrun’ costs to amount to EUR 2,5 billion and applies a 50:50 approach to the cascade mechanism; notes that the Commission proposes, therefore, to cover an amount of EUR 1.24 billion from the budget - i.e. 50% of the costscost overruns - stemming byfrom the unallocated margin under sub-heading 2b for an amount of EUR 46.2 million and by the Flexibility Instrument for an amount of EUR 1 192.8 million, with the remaining half to be mobilised through the new EURI instrument over and above the ceiling, covered by de-commitments made since 2021; acknowledges thatthat, therefore, under this scenario no recourse to the ‘back-stop’ is required;

Change 8

Changed13.22. RegretsDisagrees with the Council’s approach to opt for what it calls “prudent” budgeting, creating artificial margins under the MFF ceilings; notes that the Council, in its position on the 2025 budget, and similar to 2024, reduces appropriations dedicated for EURI borrowing costs; points out that the Council’s position to cover only around 35% of the overrun costs by the EURI Special Instrument runs counter to the 50:50 benchmark that the Council itself insisted on during the MFF negotiations; alerts that in order to finance the difference and create additional unallocated marginmargins (mostly in H2b but also in other headings, presumably in view of using it in future years through the SMI), sizeable reductions to a number of flagship programme envelopes have been proposed that have repercussions in 2025 as well as in 2026 and 2027; stresses that the cuts in heading 2b are particularly disconcerting as the only motivation is to use the money for financing EURI to the detriment of the people-centred nature of the programmes anchored in the same heading as EURI; recalls that the most affected programmes, Horizon Europe, CEF digital and Erasmus, are well-established priorities for the European Parliament and flagship programmes of the Union; highlightsdeplores that the Council targets for reductions are across several headings and even touch some programmes that were already subject to the MFF revision redeployments, such as Horizon, reduced by 400 million;million, or lines that were topped up in previous years, such as Erasmus+, reduced by 295 million, EU4Health or LIFE;

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;

Heading 1 - Single market, Innovation and Digital

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’;

28. Proposes, moreover, to make available again EUR 180 million in research de-commitments under Article 15(3) of the Financial Regulation under Horizon Europe, EUR 60 million each in assigned revenue for the European Research Council, for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and for European Innovation Council;

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;

34. Reinforces Heading 1 by EUR 341 566 628 in commitment appropriations above the DB (excluding pilot projects and preparatory actions) and by EUR 984 803 912 compared to the Council reading;

Heading 2a - Economic, social and territorial cohesion

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 ;

37. Reinforces Heading 2a by EUR 755 965 in commitment appropriations, i.e. by the remaining margin under the sub-ceiling, above the DB (excluding pilot projects and preparatory actions) and by EUR 889 718 compared to the Council reading;

Heading 2b - Resilience and values

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;

39. Stresses, in an effort to spare the programmes under this heading from undue budgetary rigidity, that it deems the margin of EUR 46.2 million to be available for the programme top-ups in Heading 2b; wishes the equivalent amount for the EURI cascade to be covered by the de-commitment compartment of the EURI special instrument;

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;

Added49. 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;

50. 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;

Heading 3 - Natural Resources and Environment

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;

57. 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;

58. 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;

Heading 4 - Migration and Border Management

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;

62. 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;

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;