The European Parliament is pushing for the European Union to allocate more funding in its 2027 budget for research, education, healthcare, agriculture, and defense. On Wednesday, Members of Parliament backed a proposal for a budget with €194 billion in commitments and €203.3 billion in payments to beneficiaries—an increase of €1.17 billion compared to the original European Commission plan.
This budget is intended to help the EU address security challenges, strengthen economic competitiveness, and preserve funding for programs supporting students, researchers, entrepreneurs, and healthcare organizations. However, the proposal must still undergo negotiations with other European institutions before being finalized.
MEPs Push for More Money for EU Priorities
The EU budget for 2027 will be the final annual budget in the current multi-year financial framework (2021–2027). MEPs are seeking to ensure sufficient funding for existing programs while also responding to new needs in security, research, and the economy.
The Parliament has set the level of budget commitments at €194 billion. These commitments represent the Union’s legal obligations to provide funding, which may be paid out in the current or future years. Actual payments to beneficiaries are projected at €203.3 billion.
MEPs are also insisting that the costs associated with repaying EU debt should not come at the expense of key programs. According to their position, Europe must be able to fund its commitments while investing in areas vital for its future growth.
Increased Funding for Horizon Europe and Erasmus+
Supporting research, innovation, and education is among the Parliament’s main priorities. The Horizon Europe program, which backs scientific research and technological development, is slated to receive an additional €63 million under the proposal.
Another €96 million is proposed for Erasmus+, the EU program that allows students, university teachers, and other education participants to undertake study visits or gain professional experience abroad.
The higher funding is aimed at keeping these opportunities accessible and at strengthening international cooperation between universities and educational institutions.
For young people from Slovakia, Erasmus+ is one of the EU’s most visible programs, affecting the possibilities for study exchanges, internships, and inter-school cooperation. However, the proposed increase does not automatically mean every individual grant or scholarship will go up.
More Money for Healthcare and Transport
The Parliament is also seeking to boost healthcare funding. The EU4Health program is set to receive an extra €50 million, aiming to support health systems, improve preparedness for health crises, and enhance cooperation between member states.
Transport and energy networks are another major budget area: MEPs want to allocate an additional €260 million to their development. These investments in infrastructure connectivity are expected to improve cross-border transport, energy security, and the functioning of the internal market.
Small and medium-sized enterprises will receive support as well. As a key pillar of the EU economy, easier access to funding can help SMEs with business development, innovation, and competitiveness.
More funding is also set for agriculture, environmental protection, and support for young farmers. MEPs emphasize that focus on new priorities should not come at the cost of traditional EU policies.
Defense and Military Mobility Remain Key Issues
The security landscape in Europe has changed dramatically since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Member states are paying greater attention to defense capabilities, logistics, and the ability to move military equipment across the continent.
The European Parliament wants to increase funding for military mobility by around €20 million. Military mobility includes projects such as improving transportation infrastructure and removing obstacles for moving troops and equipment between countries.
This is part of broader efforts to strengthen European security, including modernizing member states’ armed forces. Slovakia, for example, is investing in expanding its air capabilities, as detailed in the article “Slovakia to Buy Four More F-16 Fighter Jets, Expanding its Fleet to 18.”
MEPs also call for continued support for Ukraine as well as enhanced funding for border protection, migration, and humanitarian aid.
How the Budget Proposal Affects Slovakia
The EU budget directly influences Slovakia. European financial programs support university research, cross-border transport, business projects, agriculture, and the modernization of public services.
Greater funding for research and education could enable new projects and foster international collaboration. The impact, however, will depend on the specific rules of each program, the availability of calls for proposals, and applicants’ ability to prepare quality projects.
Security expenditure is also important for Slovakia as an EU member and Ukraine’s neighbor. Investments in military mobility and defense can improve coordination among European countries.
The final version of the budget will depend on negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. The goal is a compromise deciding on the specific funding allocations for 2027.
Budget Must Still Pass Further Negotiations
By adopting its position, the European Parliament has made clear which priorities it wants to pursue in the 2027 budget talks. However, this is not yet the official final budget.
Negotiations will continue with the Council of the European Union, which represents the member states. If they cannot agree on a unified text, a conciliation process will follow to try to broker a compromise.
The outcome will determine precisely how much funding each sector and program will eventually receive. For students, researchers, business owners, and EU member states, both the overall spending increase and the specific conditions for drawing these funds will be of key importance.
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This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
