In a decisive move to shape the European Union’s financial future, the European People’s Party (EPP) Group has laid out a bold vision for the EU Budget 2026, urging the European Parliament to rally behind a set of “strong and clear” priorities.
As geopolitical tensions cast a long shadow over the continent, the EPP is positioning itself as a unifying force, determined to steer the bloc through choppy waters with a focus on defence, security, and economic resilience.
Andrzej Halicki MEP, the EPP Group’s Vice-Chair and the Parliament’s lead negotiator on the budget guidelines, minced no words ahead of today’s critical vote. “In times of geopolitical uncertainty, the European Parliament must act as one,” he declared, issuing a clarion call to all “constructive political groups” to back the EPP’s ambitious agenda.
The priorities, which include energy, competitiveness, agriculture, health, crisis response, democracy, and bolstering the EU’s global standing, reflect a broad yet resolute strategy to tackle the myriad challenges facing Europe’s 450 million citizens.
The vote, scheduled for today in Strasbourg, is more than a procedural step—it is a litmus test for the Parliament’s ability to transcend its fractious politics and deliver for the common good.
“This is about our Institution’s credibility,” Halicki insisted. “It’s not just about figures and priorities; it’s about proving we can stand united despite our differences.” For the EPP, the stakes could not be higher: a fragmented Parliament risks undermining the EU’s capacity to respond to crises, from Russian aggression on its eastern flank to energy shortages and economic headwinds.
The guidelines, which will set the stage for the European Commission’s draft budget in June, underscore the EPP’s determination to place “courage and unity” at the heart of its fiscal blueprint. Halicki emphasised that the budget must “impact all Europeans,” rejecting any notion of it being hijacked by narrow interests or pet projects. This stance is a thinly veiled rebuke to smaller factions within the Parliament, some of whom have been accused of prioritising domestic agendas over the collective needs of the bloc.
At its core, the EPP’s proposal is a pragmatic response to a world in flux. Defence and security top the list, a nod to the ongoing war in Ukraine and rising threats from authoritarian regimes. Energy and competitiveness follow closely, as Europe grapples with the fallout from its decoupling from Russian gas and the need to outpace global rivals like China and the United States. Agriculture, a perennial priority, reflects the bloc’s commitment to its farmers, while health and crisis response signal lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Critics may argue that the EPP’s laundry list of priorities risks diluting focus, but Halicki sees it differently. “By adopting these priorities, we reaffirm our role in shaping a budget that serves the common good,” he said.
