A budget for Europeans Investing in what matters The European Union (EU) budget is supporting projects and investments to improve the quality of life of European citizens. It supports citizens, businesses and regions - across the EU and beyond. It helps create jobs, funds projects that modernise our healthcare systems and education, enables scientific breakthroughs by supporting cooperation between researchers from across the EU and funding top-notch research infrastructure. It supports our European companies to modernise and become more efficient, and strengthens our security. It helps improve transport and energy infrastructure, tackle climate change and promote digital progress. The EU budget is a game changer that enables Europeans to receive rapid support when disaster strikes. It covers solidarity operations – for instance the deployment of firefighting teams to regions ravaged by forest fires, or rescue teams to places hit by floodings. The European budget helped to develop common solutions to fight crises, as shown during the recent energy crisis, COVID-19, or the impacts of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Spending together for a bigger impact The current long-term budget runs from 2021 to 2027. It amounts to €1.2 trillion, around 1% of the EU’s gross domestic product (GDP). This is topped up by the temporary recovery instrument, NextGenerationEU, amounting to some €800 billion over the same period. The EU budget and you The EU budget each year finances hundreds of projects that improve the life of Europeans. Find more about the projects close to you. Research and innovationCheck out success stories of projects under Horizon Europe, the EU’s main programme to fund research and innovation.Cohesion policyDiscover cohesion policy projects, aiming to reduce economic and social disparities in the EU, in your region.Environment and climate actionFind out more about LIFE programme projects that aim to shift to a sustainable and resilient economy while protecting and restoring nature.Employment and social inclusionDiscover how the EU invests in people, with the aim of building a more social and inclusive Europe.CultureCheck out the projects funded by Creative Europe, the EU’s programme supporting European culture and audiovisual sectors.International partnershipsFind out more about the projects funded by the EU around the world, contributing to sustainable development, peace and stability. Explore the map to discover how the EU invests in your region with cohesion funds: Success stories Strengthening energy security in France and SpainThe Biscay Gulf electricity interconnector will double the electricity exchange capacity between France and Spain, providing cleaner, more secure, and more affordable power for millions of citizens. The project received a €578 million grant via the Connecting Europe Facility for Energy and is scheduled to be finalised by 2028. Find out more EU funding success stories How the EU budget works The EU budget complements national budgets. It comes into play when it is more effective to spend at EU level rather than the local, regional or national ones. The long-term budget – known also as the Multiannual Financial Framework – sets out the spending priorities and limits for several years. On this basis an annual budget is negotiated and adopted every year. This supports:competitiveness, creating high-quality jobs, contributing to the green and digital transitionsprojects with a European dimension, like cross-border infrastructure, student exchanges or multi-country projectsfood security, supporting farmers, promoting sustainable agriculture and a high quality of life across all regionsdefence and securityshared response on crises and emergencies, like the COVID-19 pandemic or the impacts of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukrainethe EU’s global actions through international partnerships, development cooperation and humanitarian aid. Road to the next long-term budget The next long-term EU budget is on its way, as the Union needs a new multi-annual budget, from 2028.In February 2025, the Commission outlined the key issues that the next EU budget will need to address and how it could be modernised.Citizens are also involved in this reflection about the next EU long-term budget. Between March and May 2025, 150 randomly selected citizens from the 27 EU countries participated in a European citizens panel to debate and provide recommendations for the priorities of the future long-term budget. In parallel, the Citizens' Engagement Platform, an online discussion forum, is open to contributions from the general public. Hundreds of citizens have already taken part in this debate. Europeans talk EU budget: “The major priority should be security and defence”Europeans talk EU budget: “The major priority should be security and defence”Europeans talk EU budget: “Housing, jobs, let’s look at that”Europeans talk EU budget: “Housing, jobs, let’s look at that”Europeans talk EU budget: “Education should be available to everyone”Europeans talk EU budget: “Education should be available to everyone”Close In July 2025, the European Commission presented its proposal for the new long-term budget. It sets out a simpler budget that further increases the impact of investments with EU added value. The proposal will be negotiated with the European Parliament, elected by the EU citizens, and the Council of the EU, representing the Member States, before final adoption. The next long-term budget should come into force in January 2028. Explainer - how the EU budget is decidedMore information on how the long-term budget is negotiated Related links EU budget 2028–2034 explainedThe long-term EU budget
Research and innovationCheck out success stories of projects under Horizon Europe, the EU’s main programme to fund research and innovation.
Cohesion policyDiscover cohesion policy projects, aiming to reduce economic and social disparities in the EU, in your region.
Environment and climate actionFind out more about LIFE programme projects that aim to shift to a sustainable and resilient economy while protecting and restoring nature.
Employment and social inclusionDiscover how the EU invests in people, with the aim of building a more social and inclusive Europe.
CultureCheck out the projects funded by Creative Europe, the EU’s programme supporting European culture and audiovisual sectors.
International partnershipsFind out more about the projects funded by the EU around the world, contributing to sustainable development, peace and stability.
Strengthening energy security in France and SpainThe Biscay Gulf electricity interconnector will double the electricity exchange capacity between France and Spain, providing cleaner, more secure, and more affordable power for millions of citizens. The project received a €578 million grant via the Connecting Europe Facility for Energy and is scheduled to be finalised by 2028.
