EU 2028-2034 Budget Talks Face Social and Cohesion Funding Concerns

European Union leaders are negotiating the next seven‑year Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028‑2034. The talks, taking place at a summit in Brussels, aim to secure agreement among the 27 member states before the budget takes effect on 1 January 2028.

Greece, which will hold the EU presidency in the second half of 2027, warns that any shortfall in cohesion or agricultural funding could deprive the country of crucial resources for regional projects and food‑production support. Greek officials cite the risk that a reduced budget would exacerbate the pressures already created by the war in Ukraine and the Middle‑East, as well as climate‑related challenges.

In Hungary, trade‑union groups including the Confederation of Hungarian Trade Unions (SZEF) have issued an open letter to their government, urging it to defend workers’ interests in the Brussels negotiations. They stress that the social and cohesion funds are at risk of cuts and call for a European employment and social policy that protects labour rather than harms it. The unions also highlight concerns about a possible French push to halve its contribution to the EU budget, which could further threaten the funding pool.