The European Union has formally adopted its 2026 budget, reinforcing climate, energy, research, and resilience priorities at a time of mounting economic and geopolitical pressure. The budget was signed into law by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, marking the final step in the annual EU budgetary process.

The total EU budget for 2026 amounts to €192.8 billion in commitments and €190.1 billion in payments. Compared with the original proposal from the European Commission, Members of the European Parliament secured an additional €372.7 million following negotiations with member states concluded in November.

Boost for Climate, Energy and Research

A notable share of the increased funding has been directed toward programmes supporting Europe’s climate and energy transition. Research and innovation funding under Horizon Europe was increased by €20 million, reinforcing support for clean technologies, industrial competitiveness, and long-term climate solutions.

Environmental and climate action funding under the LIFE Programme also received additional resources, underlining the EU’s commitment to biodiversity protection, climate adaptation, and emissions reduction.

Investment in transport and energy infrastructure was strengthened with an extra €23.5 million, supporting cross-border connectivity and energy system integration, which remain central to Europe’s energy security strategy.

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Resilience, Security and Crisis Preparedness

Beyond climate and energy, the 2026 budget reinforces broader resilience objectives. Funding for military mobility and border management was increased, reflecting heightened focus on defence readiness and internal security. Resources for the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and RescEU were expanded to improve disaster preparedness and response capacity amid rising climate-related emergencies.

Humanitarian aid allocations were also raised in response to escalating global crises, while EU4Health and Erasmus+ received additional funding to support public health initiatives and educational mobility across the bloc.

Managing NextGenerationEU Costs

MEPs also addressed the growing repayment costs linked to the NextGenerationEU recovery package. Borrowing costs for 2026 are expected to exceed earlier forecasts, but Parliament ensured that flagship programmes would not face cuts. Instead, the additional burden will be absorbed through an agreed financial mechanism designed to safeguard core EU policies.

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A Budget with Strategic Headroom

The 2026 budget was adopted by a clear majority in the European Parliament and subsequently endorsed by the Council. Importantly, it leaves a financial margin within the current multiannual financial framework, providing flexibility to respond to unforeseen events.

Overall, the budget signals a continued effort by the EU to balance fiscal pressure with sustained investment in climate action, energy transition, research, and social resilience.

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