Quick question: How often does the European Union negotiate its long-term budget?
Hint: far less often than you'd expect.
The answer is every seven years. And once it's agreed, there's almost no going back.
Most of us don't notice when it happens. But we all live with the results. Right now, leaders are negotiating the 2028–2034 budget and the choices made in the coming weeks will shape climate funding, global health, and development cooperation for the next seven years. This is the moment to make our voices heard.
What is the MFF?
MFF stands for Multiannual Financial Framework. Think of it as a giant economic plan: it sets how much money the EU is allowed to spend and on what. Agriculture, research, climate protection, and much more.
Most EU spending goes into programmes within Europe. But a smaller share of the budget funds global partnerships — including development cooperation, humanitarian assistance, health, education, and climate resilience around the world. The so-called "Global Europe Instrument" may make up only a small part of the budget, but it can have an enormous impact on people's lives, global stability, and security.
Why does this budget matter so much?
Our challenges are global. Crises, conflicts, pandemics — these require a collective response.
Reaching global climate finance goals, for example, requires significantly more funding than currently available. Climate finance is an investment in our shared prosperity and resilience. The impacts of climate change drive displacement, resource conflicts, and regional instability. At the same time, every dollar invested in climate adaptation in partner countries generates more than ten dollars in benefits.
On top of that, EU development investments demonstrably deliver a double dividend: between 2020 and 2022, the €24.2 billion the EU invested in development cooperation simultaneously created around €24.4 billion in new export opportunities for European companies. Global investments are therefore not just a moral obligation. They are, quite pragmatically, in Europe's own interest.
What matters right now
The European Commission put forward its budget proposal in July 2025. On 18 June 2026, EU heads of state and government, together with the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission, will meet in Brussels to discuss the political direction of the MFF. It's a pivotal moment: leaders will be deliberating on how much funding goes to the Global Europe Instrument and what it's used for.
A coalition of over 100 groups from across sectors and regions, the MFF Hub, has put forward concrete recommendations:
1. Protect the funding for the Global Europe Instrument
At a time of growing geopolitical instability and shrinking development budgets worldwide, maintaining this funding is essential if the EU wants to remain a credible partner on development, climate action, and global stability.
To sustain that level of ambition, the coalition is also calling for stronger EU own resources — those are new revenue streams that can help fund shared European priorities. This would give the EU more room to invest in climate, development, and global stability, take pressure off national budgets, and ensure that long-term commitments are backed by long-term funding.
2. Set clear targets for climate and development investments
At least 50% of the Global Europe Instrument should go to climate and environmental objectives, with 35% dedicated to climate action and 15% to biodiversity. At the same time, at least 20% should go directly to human development, through investments in health, education, nutrition, and social protection. These investments build resilience, create economic opportunity, and help communities weather future crises.
The coalition is also calling for the existing 93% Official Development Assistance (ODA) target to be maintained. ODA is defined by internationally agreed standards — it ensures that the bulk of funding genuinely goes to sustainable development and poverty reduction, rather than other areas such as migration management, border security, or other areas that may be foreign policy priorities but don't qualify as development aid.
3. Protect strategic partnerships with Sub-Saharan Africa
Africa is home to some of the world's fastest-growing economies and youngest populations — and a vital partner in addressing shared challenges like climate change, food security, sustainable growth, and global stability. Clear funding commitments would help build lasting partnerships, support economic resilience and development, and strengthen cooperation that benefits people on both continents.
What role do Germany and France play?
As the EU's largest member state, the German government's support is often crucial in building majorities for the long-term EU budget. At the same time, the German government has been cautious in ongoing debates about expanding the EU budget, calling for stronger prioritisation and more efficient use of existing funds given strained national finances.
France is another important voice in the EU budget negotiations. At a time when Europe is deciding what kind of global partner it wants to be, France should use its influence to champion continued investment in international cooperation and sustainable development.
It is therefore important that we send a clear signal to decision-makers in Germany and France: Europe must remain a strong partner for development, climate resilience, and global stability.
Why we need to act now
Negotiations are happening right now. This is the moment when civil society pressure can make the most difference. Once the budget is adopted, the window closes for seven years.
Initiatives like the MFF Hub are already channelling the demands of civil society, NGOs, and citizens from across Europe. Because more funding for development cooperation and climate justice means more future for everyone.