Lost in negotiations: a new MFF without common vision?

The European Commission’s proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) has opened a complex and potentially contentious negotiation process for the EU institutions and Member States. While there is a broad agreement on the scale of the challenges facing the Union, positions diverge sharply on priorities, governance and implementation.

This session examines how positions on the next MFF are taking shape and identifies the main fault lines where negotiations risk stalling. The session pays particular attention to controversial elements such as the role of national-regional partnership plans (NRPP); the balance between flexibility and predictability; and the implications for cohesion, competitiveness and EU added value. By mapping areas of convergence and disagreement, the session assesses whether the emerging debate reflects a shared strategic vision or whether it risks becoming fragmented, thereby delaying or diluting the EU’s long-term budgetary ambitions.