Negotiators from the European Parliament concluded an agreement with the Council earlier today on the EU’s budget for the upcoming year. This agreement is all the more important as it precedes what should be a final agreement in the EU Council on the next seven-year budget for the European Union (MFF).

However, developments are still blocked due to Hungary and Poland’s opposition to the Rule of Law conditionality, which seeks to prevent EU funds going to states that fail to uphold the EU’s fundamental values.

Eider Gardiazabal MEP, S&D negotiator on the MFF, said:

"Today's achievement is a good result that includes our priorities. However, I am afraid we may not be able to formally adopt it, because of Hungary and Poland blocking this momentous achievement."

Pierre Larrouturou MEP, S&D negotiator on the 2021 budget of the EU, said:

"The European Parliament and the Council have today reached an agreement for the 2021 budget of the European Union. €164 billion to protect citizens, reduce the immediate impacts of the crisis and prepare for a more prosperous, more balanced and more sustainable future. In the last two days of negotiations, the Parliament snatched an additional €183 million for its priorities: health, climate and employment.

"In a very constrained environment, this is a good result. Faced with governments that did not want to give up a single cent, the European Parliament did the maximum and obtained additional budgets. But, in good conscience, we all know this budget falls short. This was the maximum that could be obtained given the multi-year budget that was negotiated with heads of state who decide unanimously."