MFF 2028-2034: A needed simplification that should not come at the expense of delivering

On 16 July 2025, the European Commission presented its proposal for the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), outlining a €2 trillion budget to address Europe’s long-term strategic challenges.

Reacting to the proposal, Valeria Ronzitti, SGI Europe General Secretary, highlighted:

"We welcome the Commission’s efforts to move towards a more inclusive and strategic EU budget. In particular, we welcome the inclusion of two long-standing requests from SGI Europe: the creation of EU Public Goods through a new programme, Catalyst Europe, and the recognition of social investment as a priority, with €100 billion earmarked through National and Regional Partnership Plans and €50 billion via the Social Climate Fund. Both align with what SGI Europe has long advocated: investing in physical and social infrastructure as a core economic policy.”

“However, we are concerned by what the proposal leaves out: There is still no explicit mention of services of general interest. No dedicated budget lines, no tagging mechanism, and no recognition of the role that providers of SGIs must play in shaping and implementing the new National and Regional Partnership Plans. Moreover, the simplification should not come at the expense of the partnership principle, with the local and regional levels that must remain at the heart of the implementation of the MFF."

"If the MFF is truly to deliver for economies and people across all regions, SGIs must not be invisible. They are central to achieving competitiveness, territorial cohesion and effective social investment. We urge EU institutions to correct these mistakes as negotiations move forward."

SGI Europe urges EU institutions and Member States to strengthen democratic accountability and ensure that the MFF genuinely empowers communities, supports quality SGIs, and delivers visible EU added value on the ground.