Let’s talk about something HUGE that happens just once every seven years—when the EU decides how to spend nearly €2 trillion of our collective money. Right now, Brussels is locked in negotiations that will shape Europe until 2034.

So where does

all this money go?

Forget the boring technical names—let’s break it down in real terms:

A Europe that works for everyone (about 45% of the total budget). This is about the money that builds our communities and ensures nobody is left behind – funding infrastructure and roads, schools and education, hospitals, the development of rural areas, agriculture and fisheries, and policies focusing on social issues such as inclusion and migration.

A Europe that is competitive (about 30%)
Money for research and innovation,  aiming to attract private investments and boost European industries. This includes everything from digital transformation to healthcare investments and even defense. 

A Europe this is connected globally (about 10%)
This is how Europe positions itself in the world – cooperating with other countries, responding to crises like Ukraine, and providing humanitarian aid when disaster strikes. It could be Europe’s contribution to global stability and solidarity. Or it could prioritize corporate interests over people and the planet.

Keeping the Machine going (about 6%)
Just like any organization or institution, the EU needs to pay for administration, buildings, and staff to make sure everything runs smoothly.

When nearly €2 trillion is on the table, whose voices get heard? Will it be ordinary citizens, workers, young people, and local communities? Or will it be corporate lobbyists and political elites? These negotiations happen behind closed doors, but the impact will be felt in every town square, every school, every hospital, and every community across Europe and even beyond. The decisions made in 2026-2027 will determine what Europe prioritizes for the next DECADE.

This isn’t just a budget. It’s about the kind of Europe – and world – we want to live in. 

How

the budget negotiations

work

Right now, there are high-stakes negotiations happening in Brussels. They involve four key players (European Commission, European Parliament, European Council and Member States) with a very tight timeline. Here’s how it works:

Step

The Opening Bid (Summer 2025)
The European Commission kicks off the process by presenting an overall proposal for the budget, namely: the total amount and how much of it goes to communities, research, global action and administration. This is just the starting point of the negotiations process!

Step

The Backroom Debates (September 2025 – Late 2026)
This is where it starts getting interesting! The European Council (representing national governments) and the European Parliament ( your directly elected representatives) each agree on what THEY want. They debate, bargain, and try to get their priorities included. The European Council also decides the final amount – so they have a lot of power.

Step

The Final Showdown (Throughout 2027)
Now all three EU institutions sit down together in what they call “trilogues” – close-doors meetings where they look for compromise and try to push forward their positions and priorities. This is the key moment for the negotiations, and they need to agree on everything by the end of 2027.

Step

Game On! (January 2028)
The new budget officially starts, and the money starts flowing according to the rules they just agreed on.

By the time January 2028 rolls around, it will be too late to change anything. The decisions made in the coming months will shape Europe and its role in the world for the NEXT SEVEN YEARS. Don’t let these decisions be made solely from closed-door conversations. Demand that your voice is heard.