EU Budget 2026: more funds for research, infrastructure, and humanitarian aid

European Parliament approves a €192.8 billion budget, strengthening key programs and addressing global and regional challenges

The European Parliament has approved the European Union budget for 2026, signed by President Roberta Metsola, confirming its central role in defining financial priorities. The agreement, reached with Member States on November 15, resulted in an additional €372.7 million compared to the European Commission’s initial proposal.

The total budget amounts to €192.8 billion in commitments and €190.1 billion in payments, remaining €715.7 million below the maximum ceiling set by the multiannual financial framework. The 2026 budget was approved with 419 votes in favor, 185 against, and 53 abstentions, following the Council of the EU’s approval.

Among the main changes, the Parliament has increased funding for research and innovation: Horizon Europe will receive an additional €20 million, while cross-border transport and energy networks will benefit from an increase of €23.5 million. Civil protection and the RescEU mechanism will receive an extra €10 million, as will military mobility and border management, reflecting the EU’s commitment to security and resilience.

Environment and climate remain key priorities, with an additional €10 million allocated to the LIFE program. Social and education programs such as Erasmus+ and EU4Health will each receive €3 million more, with the new financing costs of NextGenerationEU – amounting to €4.2 billion, double the initial estimates – not resulting in cuts to key programs, thanks to the cascading mechanism.

On the international front, the Parliament has decided to increase allocations for the EU neighborhood: +€35 million for the south and +€25 million for the east, along with an additional €35 million for humanitarian aid, addressing global instability and emergencies related to climate change. Finally, support for European agriculture rises by €105 million, with particular focus on young farmers.

With this budget, the Eurozone aims to strengthen competitiveness, cohesion, and solidarity, while also providing resources to tackle emerging challenges and strategic priorities at both the internal and external level.

Andrea Pelucchi