The ECR Group is not convinced by the Parliament's suggestions to the European Commission as it prepares the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034. Speaking during the plenary debate on the EU's next long-term budget, Bogdan Rzońca, ECR coordinator in the Committee on Budgets, called for a more priority-driven approach that excludes higher own resources and joint debt.

“We believe that this document is not bold enough for the very difficult times we are facing. First and foremost, we need to make spending more realistic. We need to save where we can.

“For example, gender budgeting is not a priority. Remaining within the green deal is an economic mistake that kills entrepreneurship and leads to companies leaving the European Union for other continents,” Rzonca said.

The ECR wants to see a clear focus on defence, security and cross-border infrastructure, as well as energy security through nuclear power and the promotion of fusion energy, and support for states bordering Russia. On the other hand, it calls for cuts to Green Deal projects, which the ECR group sees as increasingly out of touch with economic and energy realities, and to anything that is not in the common and prior interest.

“Decarbonisation, such doctrinal decarbonisation, is also a mistake. Wind farms and photovoltaics are becoming more expensive because rare metals are becoming more expensive, because energy is becoming more expensive. And this is a never-ending problem.”

The ECR also rejects the idea of increasing own resources, which would burden citizens and have little realistic chance of being implemented. Instead, the ECR relies on redeployment and cutting the unnecessary.

“Own resources are also a difficult problem, because many people say that it would be good to have more than 1 per cent. But who wants to pay? There are not many people willing to pay into the budget and increase this amount. So this is just empty talk. So what is being proposed? More debt. And this is, in my opinion, a terrible mistake, a cardinal mistake on the part of the European Union, when we say, even with noble goals, that we will incur joint debt for defence and security.”

Finally, Mr Rzońca pointed to the growing autonomy of the European Commission as a serious institutional concern.