Brussels, 26 November (LaPresse) – The European Parliament has given the final green light to the 2026 EU budget, after securing additional funding for research, competitiveness and security in negotiations with Member States. Out of 657 voters, the text was adopted with 419 votes in favour, 185 against and 53 abstentions. Last week, negotiators from the Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement setting overall commitments at €192.7 billion and payments at €190 billion. Commitments are the maximum amount of financing contracts that the EU can enter into in a year, while payments are the amounts actually spent in a year. MEPs secured an additional €372.7 million for key programmes, including €105 million for the promotion of European agricultural products. Parliament also secured an additional €20 million for research through Horizon Europe; €23.5 million for transport and energy networks; €10 million for civil protection and RescEU; €10 million each for the LIFE programme, border management and military mobility; €3 million for Erasmus+; €60 million for southern and eastern neighbourhood policies; and €35 million for humanitarian aid. After the vote, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola signed the budget, which thus becomes law.
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