Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

Change 14

Changed13.17. Recalls that programmes under Headingheading 1 play a keycrucial role in supporting research and innovation,innovation increasingin key sectors, including health, energy and climate, enhancing the Union’s competitiveness, driving sustainable growth, economic development and quality job creation with an emphasis on SMEs, boosting funding for cross-border infrastructure, in particular in the transportsustainable andtransport, energy and digital sectors, thus contributing significantly to the green and digital transitions;

Change 15

Changed14.18. 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 60 million compared to the DB, with reinforcements for the Cluster ‘Health’ to boost R&D, including research in areas such as cardiovascular diseases, lifestyles focusing on primary and secondary prevention as key objectives to increase life expectancy in the Union, cancer, antimicrobial resistance, non-communicable and rare diseases, palliative care, mitigating health risks, and mental health, as well as for the Cluster ‘Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society’ and the Cluster ‘Climate, Energy, Mobility’;Mobility’, with special attention and support to research projects in the area of decarbonisation in Europe;

Change 16

Changed15.19. Calls on increasing the CEF Energy investments for an improved functioning and a deeper integration of energy markets, through modernisation of cross-border infrastructure, enhanced transmission andvia distribution grids and interconnections, better integration ofand larger investments in renewables and energy efficiency, including to reduce high electricity prices broadening of clean energy supply, while significantly reducing UnionUnion’s dependence on fossil fuelsfuels, enhancing security of supply, mitigating price volatility and improving energy efficiency;security and enabling the Union to achieve its decarbonisation objectives for 2030 and 2050; proposes, in this regard, to increase appropriations for CEF Energy by EUR 50 million above the DB; believes that these measures will contribute to the Union’s objectives lowering energy costs to households and companies in Europe and to achieve the fair transition;

Change 17

Changed16.20. Recalls that the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)CEF is key for the Union’s overall security and for boosting investment in high-performance sustainable trans-European networks, and thereby promoting interconnectivity as well as for supporting the completion of TEN-T; inhighlights thisthat sense,CEF Transport remains largely oversubscribed and calls for additional investments to support research, development of cutting-edge technologies and innovation in transport infrastructure and digital connectivity ; stresses that additional investment is needed to ensure a fully operational TEN-T network, support research, innovation and cutting-edge technologies in transport infrastructure, includingdeploy byalternative stimulatingfuels and digital connectivity, strengthen the deploymentUnion’s solidarity lanes with Ukraine in border regions, and enhance the resilience of alternativecritical fuelsinfrastructure, competitiveness and cohesion, also taking into account the need for investment into climate and environmentally friendly cross-border transport infrastructure such as rail projects and improvingimprovement digitaland connectivityinvestment ;in clean mobility; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for CEF Transport by EUR 30 million above the DB;

Change 18

Changed17.21. Stresses that a well-functioning Single Market is critical for the Union’s competitiveness and for enhancing access to markets for Union businesses, especially SMEs and young entrepreneurs; notesemphasises thatthe SMEsimportance inof particularsupporting areSMEs as the backbonemain drivers of the European economy ; opposes Council's cuts and calls on a budgetary reinforcement to further support European SMEs, start-ups and young entrepreneurs in their competitiveness, resilience and their access to market, in line with the objectives of the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, announced by the Commission; proposes an increase of EUR 4 million above the DB for the SME strand of the Single Market programme, to enhance technological advancement, competitiveness and economic resilience;

Change 19

Removed18. Reinforces Heading 1 by EUR 144 024 914 in commitment appropriations above the DB (excluding pilot projects and preparatory actions) and by EUR 632 272 317 compared to the Council reading;

Added22. Reiterates the substantial investment needs in forward-looking digital infrastructure, underpinned by well-regulated, human-centred and trustworthy artificial intelligence and cybersecurity; stresses in this context the need to improve digital skills to match the needs of companies and to equip citizens to counter disinformation; proposes therefore an increase of EUR 4 million to the Skills strand of the Digital Europe Programme;

Added23. Recalls the important role played by the decentralised agencies under heading 1, including the Agency for the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC), whose work is relevant for safeguarding the Union’s digital and communications networks; decides to reinforce BEREC by EUR 0,67 million above the DB to support the agency and strengthen the Union’s broader institutional resilience at a moment when this is increasingly tested;

Added24. Proposes to provide the necessary human resources to the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC), key in countering the growing hybrid threats posed by the Russian Federation, to ensure it can fully deliver on its mandate in the evolving geopolitical context in light of the fact that adequate staffing is essential to ensure its critical functions are effectively carried out;

Added25. Reinforces heading 1 by EUR 148 696 914 in commitment appropriations above the DB (excluding pilot projects and preparatory actions) and by EUR 636 944 317 compared to the Council reading;

Sub-heading 2a - Economic, social and territorial cohesion

Change 20

Changed19.26. Underlines the keyimportant role cohesion policy plays in delivering on Union policy priorities, improving peoples’ quality of life and boosting the Union economy by contributing to fair and sustainable growth and development, promoting economic and social convergence between countries and regions, notably mountainous, insular and outermost regions, supporting the green and digital transitions, fostering investments, innovation and employment and addressing regionalregional, economic and social disparities and inequalities; recognises that the mid-term review of cohesion brought increased flexibility; reiterates nevertheless that cohesion policy is not a crisis response tool and, therefore, should not be called on to make up for shortcomings of funding in other policies and priorities, in budgetary flexibility or crisis response mechanisms to the detriment of its long-term policy objectives; calls on the Commission and all Member States to maintain the cruising speed of implementation of cohesion policy, in parallel to the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility;

Change 21

Changed20.27. Welcomes the recent acceleration in the execution of operational programmes in the Member States and regions and calls on Member States to continue to provide the necessary administrative capacity at all levels of governance; insists on the importance of ensuring funds accessibility to achieve absorption; calls on the Commission to do its utmost to protect the legitimate interests of final beneficiaries and to ensure that final beneficiaries can continue to benefit from Union funding in cases of breaching the rule of law by national governments, without weakening the application of Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2020/2092 and while maintaining the Member States’ payment obligation under the Union law;

28. Accepts the Council position with respect to sub-heading 2a;

Sub-heading 2b - Resilience and values

29. Underlines that the expenditure programmes under sub-heading 2b have to share the already tight resources and margins with the EURI budget line which covers the NGEU interest costs, and that this has de facto prevented the Commission from proposing reinforcements where they are needed; is determined to cover these interest costs in a reliable and transparent manner while safeguarding programme allocations in this sub-heading;

Change 22

Changed23.30. Is alarmed by the ever-growing impact of natural disasters;disasters often linked to worsening climate change and are thus likely to occur with even greater frequency; underlines that in light of the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events and natural disasters, effective Union coordinationcoordination, preventive measures and robust disaster response capacities across Member States are all the more required; stresses that the RescEU mechanism has so far proven to be an instrumental and successful Union instrument in responding to crisis situations; notes that the Union action in this context responds to high citizens’ expectations; emphasises the need to significantly increase the funding of the Union's capacities to ensure effective disaster prevention, preparedness and rapid response capabilities and coordination and cross-border preparedness; highlights that investing in prevention and early detection protects lives and is more efficient than responding to crises; decides therefore to increase funding for the Union Civil Protection Mechanism by EUR 30 million;

Change 23

Changed24.31. 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 that enhance the availability, accessibility and affordability of medicinal products, medical devicesdevices, crisis-relevant products and crisis-relevanthospital products;infrastructures, as well as supporting Member States’ actions to promote access to sexual and reproductive health, rights and services, especially considering the backlash against women’s rights in several Member States; underlines that the Union’s public health needs are steadily progressingincreasing in light of the increased demographic pressure; highlights the programme's crucial role in strengthening health resilience and preparedness for future health crises, recalls the importance of reinforcing the cross-border healthcare cooperation; proposes to increase the programme’s appropriations by EUR 5 million above the DB to support investments with a focus on cardiovascular diseases, by focusing on primary and secondary prevention as key objectives to increase life expectancy in the Union, cancer, rare diseasesdiseases, andpaediatric diseases, mental health;health, including youth mental health, and the issue of antimicrobial resistance;

Change 24

Changed25.32. Reiterates its unwavering support for promoting the learning mobility of young people and researchers; proposes to reinforce, against this background, the Union flagship programme Erasmus+, which consistently contributes to the priorities of long-term competitiveness, employabilityemployability, knowledge, innovation and resilience, directly benefitting citizens, including learners and young people and engaging them in Europe's democratic life; emphasises that the programme is required by law to put in place measures to make grants schemes fairer and more accessible and boost participation rates among people with fewer opportunities and from disadvantaged backgrounds across the entire continent also in the context of high costs of living and inflationary context and calls for a readjustment of Erasmus+ grants to account for higher inflation and higher living costs; proposes, therefore, an increase of EUR 5 million for Erasmus+, specifically to ensure that the programme is accessible to all; rejects the proposed budget cuts of EUR 257 million by the Council as reckless and unjustified;

Change 25

Changed26.33. Highlights,Calls inon addition,the Commission to take the necessary measures to ensure that the appropriationsHungarian undergovernment Erasmusrespects +its shouldobligation alsotowards befinal intendedrecipients, toin coverline with the costsConditionality incurredregulation; byhighlights, in addition, that in the Commissionface forof anpersistent alternativenon-compliance solutionby benefittingthe Hungarian students,government inwith linethis withobligation, the requirementappropriations includedunder inErasmus the+ conditionalityshould regulationalso tobe properlyused safeguardby the legitimateCommission interestsfor ofan finalalternative recipientssolution andbenefitting beneficiaries;Hungarian students; underlines that any alternative solution shall be implemented without prejudiceweakening tothe application of the implementing decision underof the15 conditionalityDecember regulation2022 ofunder DecemberRegulation 2022,(EU, Euratom) 2020/2092, which is a consistent and lawful application of that regulation;Regulation;

Change 26

Changed27.34. 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 combatting disinformationdisinformation, threats to democracy, enhancing media literacy and promoting and protecting media freedom and pluralism as the basis for a functioning democracy; highlights that Creative Europe is one of the key programmes dedicated to the cultural and creative sectors, and has strong results and high oversubscription proposes to increase financing for the cross-sectoral strand of the Creative Europe programme by a total of EUR 2,5 million above the DB;

Change 27

Removed28. Reiterates the major role of the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme in promoting European values; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for the programme by EUR 2,5 million above the DB;

Added35. 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, in 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; underlines that active and empowered civil society is key for democracy and the democratic life of our societies; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for the programme by EUR 2,5 million above the DB; in order to provide, inter alia, direct funding to civil society organisations working closest to the citizens at local, national and Union level, to protect and promote Union values and to counter democratic backsliding;

Removed29. Recalls the need to support Employment and Innovation initiatives as well as the free movement of workers; proposes in this regard to reinforce the financing for the ESF+ under the Employment and Social Innovation strand by EUR 2,5 million and the financing for the information and training measures for workers’ organisations by EUR 1 million;

Added36. Highlights the growing threat posed by disinformation and foreign information manipulation to the Union’s democratic processes, stresses the need to support local media, strengthen fact checking, investigative journalism, quality content production and media literacy initiative in all Member States;

Added37. Recalls the need to reinforce the support to Employment and Innovation initiatives as well as initiatives supporting labour mobility and social justice, in pursuance of the objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights; underlines, furthermore, the need for effective social dialogue and proper information and training for workers’ organisations; proposes in this regard to reinforce the financing for the ESF+ under the Employment and Social Innovation strand by EUR 2,5 million, including in order of support promotion of socio-economic inclusion of disadvantaged groups and the financing for the information and training measures for workers’ organisations by EUR 2 million;

Added38. Recalls that families, particularly those that include children or dependants in their care, are facing financing difficulties and bearing the burden of expenditure; stresses, that they must be the subject of special attention in the relevant aspects of the Union budget and of the European Pillar of Social Rights’ priorities;

39. 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;

Change 28

Changed31.40. Recalls the important role played by the decentralised agencies under sub-heading 2b, including the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) that has to deal with an increased casework and additional needs in digitalisation and global partnerships, stresses, in this regard, the central role that the EPPO plays in protecting the Union’s budget and financial interests, in ensuring compliance with the rule of law, which requires adequate levels of financial and human resources; as well as the European Institute for Gender Equality which plays a key role in achieving the equality objectives of the Union; therefore reinforces the Agencies’ funding by respectively EUR 6 million, EUR 3 million and EUR 1 million to ensure their sustainable operations;

Change 29

Changed32.41. Considers that the activities of the EPPO do in itselfthemselves not only contribute to the protection of the Union’s financial interests, but also have the potential to recover amounts of the Union budget that were not used for its intended purpose due to criminal activities; considers that amounts resulting from seizing and confiscating measures adopted by the European Delegated Prosecutors in the Member States could, after deduction of costs incurred by the Member States’ authorities to implement these measures, flow back into the Union budget, in line with Article 38 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1939; proposes therefore to create a new revenue line for ‘Receipts of seizing and confiscating measures adopted by the EPPO’;EPPO;

Change 30

Changed33.42. Reinforces sub-heading 2b overall by EUR 5660 500 000 in commitment appropriations above the DB levels (excluding pilot projects and preparatory actions) and by EUR 831835 089 901 compared to the Council reading;

Heading 3 - Natural Resources and Environment

Change 31

Changed34.43. Recalls that the agricultural programmes under Headingheading 3 play a key role in bolstering support for farmers, notably the younger generation, across the Union, in particular given the farmers' discontent, and given the critical role that agriculture plays in food security; underlines that farmers are facing important challenges such as geopolitical disruptions, trade disputes, extreme weather conditions, epizootic diseases, market volatility, ruralthe poverty,transition administrativeto burdenmore andsustainable increasedpractices, societalrural expectations;poverty, and administrative burdens; 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,farmers and farm workers, guaranteeing food security;security and assuring the availability of supplies and reasonable prices for consumers;

Change 32

Changed35.44. Reiterates its concern about the negative impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine on global food security and affordability and input prices as well as inputthe prices;negative impact of extreme heath, droughts, forest fires and other extreme, climate change induced, weather patterns on the agricultural sector; emphasises the need to help newyoung farmers and youngnew farmersentrants as well as small and medium-sized farmers with additional means and thereby ensuring the sustainability of the sector and generational renewal; proposes, therefore, to increase complementary income support to young farmers by EUR 23 million above the DB;

Change 33

Changed36.45. Emphasises that farmers and rural communitiescommunities, including the younger generation are vital contributors to quality, healthy and nutritious food, such as fruits and vegetables, food security and that they play a key role in the preservation of rural areas and in countering the depopulation of the most remote areas; stresses the need to reverse Council’s cuts under the agricultural programmes, particularly in light of rising food prices and the growing challenges to food security; recalls that regional and local economies are dependent on tourism, agriculture, fisheries and forestry and are especially sensitive to climatic changes and stresses the need for additional Union investment in rural infrastructure, including roads, rail lines, digital connectivity, tourism and access to essential services such as healthcare and education;

Change 34

Changed37.46. Calls for maintaining a 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 increaseexpand funding for farmers by increasing the allocation of this budget line under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) by EUR 30 million above the DB;

47. Underscores that trade policy and agricultural policy must be designed in an integrated manner in order to respect fair competition and international trade commitments as well as Union’s global food security responsibilities and environmental and climate policy objectives; stresses in this regard that the framework agreement with the United States on transatlantic tariffs will increase pressure on European farmers notably in sensitive sectors such as the wine sector which is already facing significant challenges; therefore proposes to increase the allocation of the budget line dedicated to the wine sector under the EAGF by EUR 15 million above the DB;

Change 35

Changed39.48. Recalls that fisheries, aquaculture and fishing products processing sectors are fundamental pillars of the economic, social and cultural fabric of Union coastal and island communities and outermost regions and that the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF) is a fundamental funding programme for fishersfishers, andaquaculture forproducers, food security, the cohesion of coastal and island communitiescommunities, suchthe asmodernisation forof the renewalUnion’s fleet and the generational renewal; emphasises the importance of continuing the Union’s fleet;zero tolerance approach with strong actions against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by the example and work for achieving global sustainable fisheries, ensuring compliance by all countries of shared rules, promoting a level playing field, and promoting economically, environmentally and socially sustainable fisheries; highlights the importance of POSEI and success of its implementation; stresses, however, that the POSEI budget allocations have not been revised since 2013;

Change 36

Changed40.49. Underlines the important role that the LIFE programme plays in supporting climate adaptation and mitigation, in delivering on the European Green Deal and achieving the Union’s climate neutrality goal,commitment, 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 trend of biodiversity loss; emphasises in this context that the biodiversity budget line of the LIFE programme is oversubscribed and the Union’s biodiversity expenditure target of 10 % for 2026 is not expected to be met; emphasises likewise the role of the LIFE programme in accelerating the clean energy transition; proposes, therefore, to increase appropriations for the clean energy transition strand by EUR 15 million above the DB and for the nature and biodiversity strand by EUR 1015 million above the DB; notes the new guidelines by the Commission on grant agreements under the LIFE program and recalls, in line with Article 11 TEU, that an active dialogue with civil society is vital for fostering an active civic space, ensuring accountability and transparency and informing policymakers about best practices;

Change 37

Changed41.50. Reverses all the cuts unduly made by the Council under Headingheading 3, by restoring the DB levels for all other lines; recalls that, traditionally, anas Amendingusual, LetterAL will1/2026 completecompleted the picture regarding available resources under the EAGF and that the approach to amendments can be adjusted accordingly in the course of the conciliation;

Change 38

Changed42.51. Reinforces Headingheading 3 by EUR 9398 000 000 in commitment appropriations above the DB (excluding pilot projects and preparatory actions) and by EUR 110115 704 728 compared to the Council reading;

Heading 4 - Migration and Border Management

Change 39

Changed43.52. Underlines that armed conflicts, instability in neighbouring regions, as well as poverty and underlying trends in economic development, demographic changes, but alsoand the consequences of climate change, continue to create migration flows towards the Union, placingrequiring a significant pressureresponse onfrom programmes and agencies under Headingheading 4;

Change 40

Changed44.53. Reiterates the importance of ensuring proper implementation of the Asylum and Migration Pact, in full compliance with international human rights law, and of respecting the principles of solidarity and the fair sharing of responsibility; stressesnotes that effectiveadequate managementfunding andfor the effective protection of the Union’s external borders, inland, air and maritime, arefor essentialcombatting irregular immigration, and for maintainingenhancing the freedomscapacity for asylum and return processing, is essential for the proper functioning of the Schengen area and crucial for bolstering the security of the Union and its citizens; emphasises the necessity for predictable financial support to Union’s borders;

Change 41

Changed45.54. Underlines the needimportance for Member States to bettercomply protectwith vulnerabletheir peoplecommitments, fromincluding upholding the obligations enshrined in national, Union and international legislation, the right to asylum, and ensuring effective, management and protection of the Union’s external borders, as well as effective, safe and dignified reception, integration and return and readmission procedures; underlines the need to fight criminal networks, migrant smuggling and traffickingtrafficking, networksto better protect vulnerable people and address the negative effects of the instrumentalisation of migrants as part of hybrid attacks;attacks as defined in the Crisis Regulation, notably by pro-Russian forces; recalls the crucial role Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI) plays in that regard; proposes therefore to increase appropriations for the BMVI by EUR 30 million above the DB; points in this regard to the recently politically agreed revision of the Europol Regulation , in order to strengthen Europol's role, pending adoption by the co-legislators;

55. Notes that additional financing is needed under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) in order to ensure an appropriate implementation of the Asylum and Migration Pact, further boost national capacities and improve procedures for migration management; decides, therefore, to reinforce the AMIF by EUR 10 million above the DB;

Change 42

Changed47.56. 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 Union’s external borders, assistance to national authorities onwith border monitoring and surveillance and other tasks related to coast guard activities, such as search and rescue, return operations, sharing intelligence and expertise with all Member States as well as the neighbouring non-Uniontthird countries affected by migratory trends and cross-border crime; decides therefore to refuse the Council’s unjustified cut and restore appropriations to the levels of the DB; calls on the Agency to continue to improve is efficiency and effectiveness in terms of resource management;

Change 43

Changed48.57. Reinforces Headingheading 4 overall by EUR 40 000 000 in commitment appropriations above the DB and by EUR 61 000 000 compared to the Council reading;

Heading 5 - Security and Defence

Change 44

Changed49.58. 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 full-scale war of aggression against Ukraine; underlines the need for the Union and its Member States to significantly enhance UnionUnion-level securitycooperation of their armed forces and their defence capabilitiesindustries in order to create a genuine capabilities-based defence unionUnion and to better prepare for and respond to current warfare strategies, unprecedented geopolitical challenges and new hybrid security threats; highlights, in particular, the need for adequate financial support to Member States with external Union borders and especially those with a land border with Russia and/or Belarus, to ensure they have the resources to maintain facilities and installations necessary to secure the external borders of the Union, including electronic border security enhancements and other tools for border monitoring and surveillance; considers that there is broad consensusunderstanding that the Union's current Union budget is too limited to meet the needs for ensuring the security of Europeans in the short and long term; therefore supports significantlythe increasingfull financialuse andof budgetarythe Union2024 investmentMFF forrevision Europeanincrease defencein heading 5 in order to continue better cooperation and coordination between Member States, including measures guaranteeing full interoperability and making joint procurement the future;rule;

Change 45

Removed50. Reiterates that military mobility is essential to the Union’s defence preparedness and the protection of its citizens in light of the shifting security environment, the increasing need for cross-border dual-use transport by both road and rail, as well as for law enforcement movements; underlines that the programme is oversubscribed and has substantial absorption capacity; decides, therefore, to increase appropriations for military mobility by EUR 35 million above the DB;

Added59. Calls for the establishment of European Maritime Security Hubs in the Black Sea, North Sea and Baltic Sea, as a matter of priority in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and underlines that such hubs should enhance maritime situational awareness, enable real-time monitoring from space to seabed and strengthen early warning capacities and reactions to the increased threats from the Russian shadow fleet, while ensuring the security of commercial routes; stresses that it must coordinate existing Union and NATO actions, including demining, and manage financial resources to support the development of maritime infrastructure; considers that locating these hubs in the Black Sea, North Sea and Baltic Sea is essential for safeguarding Union security and deepening coordination with NATO;

Added60. Reiterates that the protection of external border of the Union is crucial, and therefore the military mobility programme is essential to the Union’s defence preparedness and the protection of its citizens in light of the shifting security environment, the increasing need for connectivity via rail, road, sea, and air; highlights the benefits of dual-use projects that also contribute to civilian connectivity, economic recovery, and decarbonisation; points out that the dual-use nature of these investments also produces a positive effect on the general transport infrastructure in the Union; underlines that the programme is oversubscribed and has substantial absorption capacity especially in borderline regions at the frontier with Ukraine and the Russian Federation, which require reinforced infrastructure to cope with heightened security needs; decides, therefore, to increase appropriations for military mobility by EUR 35 million above the DB;

Added61. Stresses that cybersecurity must be treated as a transversal, coherent and coordinated priority within the Union’s security and defence policy; strongly supports Union’s efforts to tackle rising security threats such as the spread of disinformation, including online disinformation, fake news campaigns against the Union, terrorism, radicalisation and violent extremism within the Union and its neighbouring countries;

62. Decides to restore the nuclear safeguards budget line to the level proposed in the DB in order avoid endangering the programme implementation;

63. 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); proposes a targeted staffing and financial reinforcement to allow the Agency to properly perform its tasks;

Change 46

Changed53.64. Reinforces Headingheading 5 overall by EUR 5552 136000 377000 in commitment appropriations above the DB and the Council reading;

Heading 6 - Neighbourhood and the World

Change 47

Changed54.65. Welcomes that the MFF revision in 2024 provided for additional funding under Headingheading 6; deplores, however, the fact that this revision fell short of the needs identified by ParliamentParliament, including the Sub-Saharan Africa where the minimum amounts set in the NDICI Regulation are not met and the infrastructure needs are very big; regrets that various budget lines under Headingheading 6 see considerable decreases in the DB as compared to the budget 2025 and in particular for humanitarian aid in contradiction with ever-increasing needs; acknowledges the limited margin available under this Headingheading and the resulting small room for manoeuvre;

Change 48

Changed55.66. Reiterates its full support to Ukraine in the fight for its territorial integrity, freedom and democracy; deplores the terrible loss of lives and the suffering of the Ukrainian people caused by Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression;