The 2028–2034 EU long-term budget: what’s in it for climate?
The proposed EU long-term budget (MFF) deprioritises climate and the environment, emphasising competitiveness, security and defence instead. Climate action is framed mainly through industrial decarbonisation under the Clean Industrial Deal, while wider environmental goals, especially biodiversity, are sidelined despite large financing needs. Estimates point to an annual €344 billion climate investment gap and a further €460–630 billion required, yet the European Commission’s claim of €700 billion in green spending is inflated by greenwashing and broad exemptions. Flexibilising the MFF and merging environmental programmes further threatens ambition. This paper reviews the horizontal environmental safeguards and evaluates climate and environmental provisions in the budget’s two largest programmes.
Check out our web dossier An MFF fit for purpose Assessing Europe’s long-term budget.