President von der Leyen announced the EU’s proposed €2 trillion Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034, aimed at addressing Europe’s challenges and ambitions. The budget is designed to support citizens, businesses, and partners with a focus on cohesion, prosperity, competitiveness, security, external action, and EU administration. This decision has been well received by civil society actors. The increased support for civil society through the new AgoraEU program is positive, but it raises concerns about the lack of mechanisms for civil society participation. The proposal could significantly boost funding for media freedom, civil society, and values-driven initiatives by merging programs like CERV and Creative Europe into AgoraEU. This, along with Erasmus+, would account for about 3% of the total budget—nearly doubling current allocations. Read more here.
Source: Western Balkans Info Hub; Civil Society Europe; Center for Sustainable Media; European Commission
