Written by Marcin Grajewski,

© luzitanija / Fotolia

The European Union is preparing its next long-term budget – the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). However, more than one and a half year after the European Commission made its MFF proposal, differences persist over the size of the budget and spending levels on particular policies. The European Parliament has called for an ambitious budget, capable of financing new initiatives, such as the European Green Deal. Despite tensions, a decision on the next MFF is still expected in 2020, before the planned start of the next financing period the following year. The later the decision comes, the more significant the negative consequences for beneficiaries of the EU budget, as some aid programmes could be delayed.

This note offers links to recent commentaries, studies and reports from international think tanks on the EU’s long-term budget and related issues. The current item includes a recent package of publications on the MFF prepared by the European Parliamentary Research Service.

How could net balances change in the next EU budget?
Bruegel, January 2020

EU budget negotiations: The ‘frugal five’ and development policy
European Think Tank Group, January 2020

A new look at net balances in the European Union’s next multiannual budget
Breugel, December 2019

The future of EU finances: New own resources
EUROPEUM, December 2019

How much will the UK contribute to the next seven-year EU budget?
Breugel, December 2019

Budget debate: the battle of the 1% threshold
Fondation Robert Schuman, December 2019

The MFF non-decision: More at stake than delays
European Policy Centre, December 2019

Who pays for the EU budget rebates and why?
Bruegel, December 2019

10 Years of redistribution between the EU Member States
Centrum für Europäische Politik, December 2019

Cross-border, but not national, EU interregional development projects are associated with higher growth
Bruegel, October 2019

New beginnings: An EU budget in support of the next Commission’s agenda
Notre Europe, September 2019

Reconciling foreign policy and development priorities in the EU budget (MFF 2021-2027)
Institute of International and European Affairs, September 2019

A new budget for the EU: Negotiations on the multiannual financial framework 2021–2027
Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, August 2019

Paris-proofing the next Multiannual Financial Framework
European Policy Centre, June 2019

Mainstreaming innovation funding in the EU budget
Jacques Delors Institute, May 2019

From ‘paymaster of Europe’ to ‘shaper of Europeʼs future’: A new self-perception of Germany in the EU
Heinrich Böll Stiftung, May 2019

Migration and the next EU long-term budget: Key choices for external action
European Centre for Development Policy Management, March 2019

A jumbo financial instrument for EU external action?
Bertelsmann Stiftung, February 2019

Reducing climate risk in the post-2020 EU budget
E3G, February 2019

Leveraging the next EU budget for sustainable development finance: The European fund for sustainable development plus
European Centre for Development Policy Management, February 2019

The MFF: Europe’s other ticking clock
European Policy Centre, January 2019

EU budget implications of a no-deal Brexit
Bruegel, January 2019

Reforming the MFF and cohesion policy 2021-27: Pragmatic drift or pragmatic shift?
European Policies Research Centre, January 2019

Financing EU external action: Understanding member state priorities
European Think Tanks Group, December 2018

Budget européen 2021-2027: Doter l’Europe des moyens de nos ambitions
Terra Nova, November 2018

Funding the just transition to a net zero economy in Europe: Opportunities in the next EU budget
E3G, November 2018

Can the V4’s priorities shape ‘Europe’s Priorities’? The multiannual financial framework 2021-2027
EUROPEUM, November 2018

Die Finanzierung der EU nach 2020: Zeit für Reformen
Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft Köln, October 2018

Strengthening cohesion in the EU: How can structural reforms contribute?
European Policy Centre, October 2018

Negotiating the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework in an electoral year: Which consequences?
Notre Europe, Jacques Delors Institute, September 2018

Aiming high or falling short? A brief analysis of the proposed future EU budget for external action
European Centre for Development Policy Management, September 2018

More money, fewer problems? How the ‘Migration Crisis’ affected funding under the MFF
Jacques Delors Institute, Berlin September 2018

Resources for a prosperous Europe: Redesigning the EU budget in a progressive way
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, September 2018

The EU’s multiannual financial framework and some implications for CESEE countries
Bruegel, September 2018

The EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework: Where should Italy stand?
Instituto Affari Internazionali, September 2018

The EU Budget and Common Agricultural Policy beyond 2020: Seven more years of money for nothing?
Bertelsmann Stiftung, August 2018

ESM reform: No need to reinvent the wheel
Jacques Delors Institute, Berlin August 2018

Making better use of public funding: The role of national promotional banks and institutions in the next EU budget
Notre Europe, Jacques Delors Institute, August 2018

Winners or losers? The Baltic States in the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations
International Centre for Defence and Security, July 2018

EU reform: Does everything have to change for things to remain the same?
Carnegie Europe, July 2018

Le Fonds européen de défense ou l’enfant prodige de la défense européenne
Confrontations Europe, July 2018

Budget de l’Union européenne: Quel compromis possible entre la France et l’Allemagne?
Fondation Robert Schuman, June 2018

Financing sustainability: Triggering investments for the clean economy
European Political Strategy Centre, June 2018

A stabilization fund can make the euro area more crisis-proof
Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik, June 2018

The MFF proposal: What’s new, what’s old, what’s next?
Notre Europe, Bertelsmann Stiftung, May 2018

Should the EU budget have a stabilisation function?
Centre for European Policy Studies, May 2018

New EMU stabilisation tool within the MFF will have minimal impact without deeper EU budget reform
Bruegel, May 2018

Common or own goals: Reforming the financing of the European Union
Research Institute of the Finnish Economy, April 2018

No escape from politics: Four tests for a successful fiscal instrument in the euro area

Notre Europe, Bertelsmann Stiftung, March 2018

EPRS publications

Economic and Budgetary Outlook for the European Union 2020
January 2020

The 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework in figures
January 2020

European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund 2021-2027
January 2020

Single market, innovation and digital: Heading 1 of the 2021-2027 MFF
January 2020

Natural resources and environment: Heading 3 of the 2021-2027 MFF
January 2020

Migration and border management: Heading 4 of the 2021-2027 MFF
January 2020

Financing EU security and defence: Heading 5 of the 2021-2027 MFF
January 2020

Financing the EU’s administration: Heading 7 of the 2021-2027 MFF
January 2020

Neighbourhood and the world: Heading 6 of the 2021-2027 MFF

November 2019

Cohesion and Values: Heading 2 of the 2021-2027 MFF

January 2019

2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework and new Own Resources: Analysis of the Commission’s proposal
June 2018


Read this briefing on ‘Financing the European Union‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.