On the draft general budget of the European Union for the financial year 2026

The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs calls on the Committee on Budgets, as the committee responsible, to incorporate the following into its motion for a resolution:

1. Stresses that 2026 will be a difficult year for the Union economy due to the geopolitical context; points to the challenges posed by the return of protectionism; calls for those challenges to be reflected in next year's budget;

2. Notes that the budget should provide adequate support to make the Union economy more resilient to external shocks;

3. In view of the military threat to the Union, emphasises the urgent need to stimulate investment in the arms industry;

4. Calls for the 2026 Union budget to contribute to achieving the targets set in the Member States’ medium-term fiscal and structural plans;

5. Believes that competitiveness and cohesion are inseparable; stresses that cohesion policy is essential for the development of the Single Market; calls for priority to be given to both innovation-enhancing and cohesion-enhancing investments in order to rebuild the Union's competitiveness;

6. Recalls that public investment should be a driver for further private investment; points out that a significant increase in private investment capital is a necessary condition for the Union budget to be effective in stimulating the economy;

7. Emphasises the need for strong budgetary assistance for a responsible migration policy supporting the Union economy in view of the strong migratory pressures;

8. Stresses that Union budget support for NGOs should be consistent with the Union’s economic objectives and must not undermine its strategic priorities, such as energy independence or economic competitiveness;

9. Notes that 2026 is the last year of operation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF); stresses the need for complementarity between expenditure from the budget and the RRF, as well as avoiding double financing.