Annual Budget Conference 2021 - The EU budget and NGEU: fireworks or big bang?

In 2020, the EU agreed a €2.0 trillion economic response to support the recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and build a greener, more digital and more resilient future. At the heart of it is the EU budget. To finance part of this response – the NextGenerationEU recovery instrument of some €800 billion – the European Commission, on behalf of the EU, will borrow on the capital markets.

Fast forward to 2021, the EU first borrowing transactions are already a reality. The funds under the 2021-2027 long-term budget and NextGenerationEU are starting to flow to the EU countries, regions, municipalities and companies, helping make Europe’s economy better fit for the future. New own resources for the EU budget will be proposed in 2021.

The new responsibilities of the EU budget are raising major questions about its changing role today and in the future.

To take stock of the ongoing reflection and shape the future debate, the European Commission is hosting the conference "The EU budget and NextGenerationEU: fireworks or big bang?". The event will take place on 8 November 2021. It will bring together policy-makers, research organisations, capital market participants and citizens in a lively online discussion on:

• How fit is the EU budget to address the challenges ahead of the EU?
• NextGenerationEU as a game changer on the capital markets – making it happen.
• New revenue to the EU budget – why does it matter?
• Bringing policy ambition at the heart of the EU budget – how to make the green and digital transitions happen?

Interested to join the debate and have your say about the changing role of the EU budget?

The event has ended and you are now invited to watch the recorded video. The event programme will help you navigate through the video.

Watch the recording

Have a look at the photos and videos of the event

Want to read about the evolving nature of the EU budget?

Check our policy brief!

The Annual EU Budget Conference is part of a broader initiative, the Conference on the Future of Europe, which enables people from across Europe to share their ideas and help shape our common future.