Kicking off the EU budget discussion

EU Investment Capacity Group’s First Online Meeting on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)

The European Parliament has started preparing for the discussions on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). With growing demands on the EU budget, from green and digital transitions to defence, competitiveness, and cohesion, there is a strong need for a well-balanced, long-term and forward-looking EU financing strategy. 

The EU Investment Capacity Group is an initiative by the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) that aims to stimulate the discussion and elaboration of policy proposals within the progressive family to feed into the MFF debate. It provides an informal space for the exchange of ideas, proposals and information related to the upcoming debate on the EU Budget and other EU financial and investment policies. 

This first closed-door brainstorming meeting served as a starting point for exchanging views on the key challenges and opportunities ahead, identifying priorities for the parliamentary debates, and shaping the Group’s approach and priority topics.

To kick off the discussion, MEP and S&D Rapporteur on the MFF Carla Tavares provided input on the INI report of the European Parliament, followed by reactions from Margarida Marques and Marco Buti, Professor, European University Institute (EUI), among other participants. Afterwards, the Group brainstormed on its priority topics and activities for 2025. 

This online expert meeting was upon invitation only. For more information regarding this event, please do not hesitate to contact Vanessa Zwisele, FEPS Project Officer (vanessa.zwisele@feps-europe.eu).