Enlarged EU budget plans to allocate a 17% increase in cohesion and agricultural funds for Romania
**Romania to Face Stricter Funding Conditions Under New EU Budget Framework**
The European Union (EU) has unveiled plans for its next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034, which includes a significant increase in funding for Romania. The total allocation for Romania under the new MFF stands at EUR 60.2 billion, representing a 17% increase compared to the previous 2021-2027 MFF.
However, the funds will be subject to more rigorous conditionality, a shift from the previous MFF, particularly regarding agricultural funds, which were disbursed unconditionally in the past. The stricter disbursement criteria aim to ensure that Romania is well prepared, has clarity about priorities, and is capable of delivering results to receive the allocated funds.
In addition to cohesion and agriculture funds, Romania is allocated EUR 4.6 billion from the Social Climate Fund and EUR 1 billion for migration policies, bringing total planned allocations under the 2028-2034 MFF to about EUR 60.2 billion.
The new MFF aligns with the European Commission's broader EU budget reform goals, aiming to be more streamlined, flexible, and impactful. The EU plans a more systematic linking of funding to conditions across the board, building on lessons from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) and other instruments.
Romania must therefore prepare for a more demanding framework to access these funds under the new MFF. The Commission's proposal for the new MFF has initiated a complicated debate that will last for the next two years, with six European Commissioners, including Romania's representative Roxana Mânzatu, expressing opposition to the European Commission's proposal to finance the future Union budget by introducing new taxes.
| Aspect | MFF 2021-2027 | MFF 2028-2034 | |------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------| | Total allocation to Romania | Lower (approx. EUR 46.7 billion cohesion + agriculture) | EUR 54.6 billion (17% increase) + social climate & migration funds (EUR 5.6 B) | | Disbursement conditions | Largely unconditional for agriculture; moderate for cohesion | Stricter conditionality; readiness, priority clarity & results required | | Approach to funding criteria | Less systematic linking of conditions | More systematic and stringent conditionality across policy areas | | Focus areas | Cohesion, agriculture | Cohesion, agriculture, social climate, migration, results-based management |
Minister of Investments and European Projects, Dragoș Pîslaru, has emphasized the importance of Romania being well prepared, having clarity about priorities, and being capable of delivering results to receive the allocated funds. The draft published by Economedia.ro indicates stricter disbursement criteria for Romania under the new MFF 2028-2034.
Sources: [1] Economedia.ro [2] European Commission [4] European Parliament
- Stricter disbursement criteria for Romania under the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034 will require a clear understanding of priorities and the ability to deliver results in order to receive the allocated funds.
- The increased funding for Romania under the new MFF is not only for cohesion and agriculture, but also includes allocations from the Social Climate Fund and for migration policies, suggesting a broader focus on general-news and business topics in the context of EU politics.
