Changes from adopted text to adopted text

AddedThe number of posts in the establishment plans of the institutions and the appropriations proposed by the Commission in the Draft Budget, as amended by Amending Letter 1/2026, are agreed by the Conciliation Committee with the following adjustments to reflect the budgetary impact of the lower-than-expected salary increase for 2025 on administrative expenditure for 2026:

Removed37. Urges the Commission to prohibit the allocation of Union funds or participation in Union programmes to public institutions, individuals or associations linked to or promoting terrorist, islamist, anti-semitic movements or figures;

Added The section of the European Parliament for which the level of commitment and payment appropriations is decreased by EUR 31,4 million;

Removed38. 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;

Added The section of the European Council and Council for which the level of commitment and payment appropriations is decreased by EUR 9,3 million;

Removed39. 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;

Added The section of the European Commission for which the level of commitment and payment appropriations is decreased by EUR 140,1 million;

Removed40. 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;

Added The section of the Court of Justice of the European Union for the level of commitment and payment appropriations is decreased by EUR 8,4 million;

Removed41. 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;

Added The section of the European Court of Auditors for which the level of commitment and payment appropriations is decreased by EUR 3,4 million;

Removed42. Considers that the activities of the EPPO do in themselves 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;

Added The section of the European Economic and Social Committee for which the level of commitment and payment appropriations is decreased by EUR 1,9 million;

Removed43. Reinforces sub-heading 2b overall by EUR 60 500 000 in commitment appropriations above the DB levels (excluding pilot projects and preparatory actions) and by EUR 835 089 901 compared to the Council reading;

Added The section of the European Committee of the Regions for which the level of commitment and payment appropriations is decreased by EUR 1,8 million;

RemovedHeading 3 - Natural Resources and Environment

Added The section of the European Ombudsman for which the level of commitment and payment appropriations is decreased by EUR 0,1 million;

Removed44. Recalls that the agricultural programmes under heading 3 play a key role in bolstering support for farmers, notably the younger generation, across the Union, in particular given the farmers' discontent, and given the critical role that agriculture plays in food security; underlines that farmers are facing important challenges such as geopolitical disruptions, extreme weather conditions, epizootic diseases, market volatility, the transition to more sustainable practices, rural 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 and farm workers, guaranteeing food security and assuring the availability of supplies and reasonable prices for consumers;

Added The section of the European Data Protection Supervisor for which the level of commitment and payment appropriations is decreased by EUR 0,4 million;

Removed45. 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 the 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 young farmers and new entrants 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;

Added The section of the European External Action Service for which the level of commitment and payment appropriations is decreased by EUR 6,0 million.

Removed46. Emphasises that farmers and rural communities, including the younger generation are vital contributors to 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;

AddedIn addition, the following adjustments are agreed:

Removed47. 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 expand 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;

Added For the section of the Court of Justice of the European Union, six posts are added to the establishment plan, whereas the number of contract agents is increased by five. The corresponding level of commitment and payment appropriations is increased by EUR 0,7 million considering recruitment on average mid-year.

Removed48. 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;

Added For the section of the European Ombudsman, the level of commitment and payment appropriations is increased by EUR 0,3 million.

Removed49. 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 fishers, aquaculture producers, food security, the cohesion of coastal and island communities, the modernisation of the Union’s fleet and the generational renewal; emphasises the importance of continuing the Union’s 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;

Added For the section of the European Data Protection Supervisor, 12 posts are added to the establishment plan (of which seven for the European Data Protection Supervisor and five for the European Data Protection Board), whereas the number of contract agents is increased by five. The corresponding level of commitment and payment appropriations is increased by EUR 1,2 million considering recruitment on average mid-year.

Removed50. 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 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 15 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;

Added For the section of the European External Action Service, the level of commitment and payment appropriations for security in Delegations (budget line 3 0 0 3) increases by EUR 3,0 million.

Removed51. Reverses all the cuts unduly made by the Council under heading 3, by restoring the DB levels for all other lines; recalls that, as usual, AL 1/2026 completed the picture regarding available resources under the EAGF and that the approach to amendments can be adjusted accordingly in the course of the conciliation;

AddedThe overall adjustment results in a decrease of EUR 197,7 million of heading 7.

Removed52. Reinforces heading 3 by EUR 98 000 000 in commitment appropriations above the DB (excluding pilot projects and preparatory actions) and by EUR 115 704 728 compared to the Council reading;

AddedSection 1 – European Parliament

RemovedHeading 4 - Migration and Border Management

AddedSection 2 – European Council and Council

Removed53. Underlines that armed conflicts, instability in neighbouring regions, as well as poverty and underlying trends in economic development, demographic changes, and the consequences of climate change, continue to create migration flows towards the Union, requiring a significant response from programmes and agencies under heading 4;

AddedSection 3 – European Commission

Removed54. 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; notes that adequate funding for the effective protection of the Union’s external borders, inland, air and maritime, for combatting irregular immigration, and for enhancing the capacity for asylum and return processing, is essential for the proper functioning of the Schengen area and for bolstering the security of the Union and its citizens; emphasises the necessity for predictable financial support to Union’s borders;

AddedSection 4 – Court of Justice of the European Union

Removed55. Underlines the importance for Member States to comply with their commitments, including 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 trafficking, to better protect vulnerable people and address the negative effects of the instrumentalisation of migrants as part of hybrid 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;

AddedSection 5 – European Court of Auditors

Removed56. 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;

AddedSection 6 – European Economic and Social Committee

Removed57. 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 with 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 third 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;

AddedSection 7 – European Committee of the Regions

Removed58. Reinforces heading 4 overall by EUR 40 000 000 in commitment appropriations above the DB and by EUR 61 000 000 compared to the Council reading;

AddedSection 8 – European Ombudsman

RemovedHeading 5 - Security and Defence

AddedSection 9 – European Data Protection Supervisor

Removed59. 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 Union-level cooperation of their armed forces and their defence industries in order to create a genuine capabilities-based defence Union and to better prepare for and respond to current warfare strategies, unprecedented geopolitical challenges and 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 understanding that the current Union budget is too limited to meet the needs for ensuring the security of Europeans in the short and long term; therefore supports the full use of the 2024 MFF revision increase in heading 5 in order to continue better cooperation and coordination between Member States, including measures guaranteeing full interoperability and making joint procurement the rule;

AddedSection 10 – European External Action Service

Removed60. 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;

AddedAs a consequence, the agreed level of commitment appropriations is set at EUR 13 277,5 million, with no margin left under the expenditure the ceiling of heading 7 and the mobilisation of the Single Margin Instrument for an amount of EUR 748,2 million in accordance with Article 11(1)(a) of the MFF Regulation and of the Flexibility Instrument for an amount of EUR 23,3 million in accordance with Article 12 of the MFF Regulation.

Removed61. 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;

AddedThematic special instruments: EGF, ESR, EAR and BAR

Removed62. 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;

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

Removed63. Decides to restore the nuclear safeguards budget line to the level proposed in the DB in order avoid endangering the programme implementation;