What the EU budget does The European Union (EU) budget funds projects and investments that improve lives across Europe. It supports citizens, businesses, and regions—within the EU and beyond.The EU budget invests in areas where working together brings better results: creating jobs, modernising healthcare and education, funding cutting-edge research, supporting European companies, and strengthening security. It helps improve transport and energy networks, tackles climate change, and promotes digital innovation. It also allows the EU to act quickly when disasters strike—by sending firefighting or rescue teams, and by helping Member States respond to major crises, like the COVID-19 pandemic or the impacts of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.The current long-term EU budget, known as the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), runs from 2021 to 2027. It totals around €1.2 trillion—about 1% of the EU’s GDP—and is reinforced by NextGenerationEU, a temporary recovery instrument worth about €800 billion. The EU budget complements national budgets. It focuses on areas where collective action delivers more impact than countries could achieve alone. Each year, an annual budget is adopted within the long-term framework, supporting priorities such as:Competitiveness, creating high-quality jobs, contributing to the green and digital transitionsProjects with a European dimension, like cross-border infrastructure, student exchanges or multi-country projectsFood security, supporting farmers, promoting sustainable agriculture and a high quality of life across all regionsDefence and securityShared response on crises and emergencies, like the COVID-19 pandemic or the impacts of Russia’s war of aggression against UkraineThe EU’s global actions through international partnerships, development and humanitarian aid.The next long-term EU budget is on it way, as the Union needs a new multi-annual budget, from 2028. Key figures 6.8 millionNumber of people who found a job through European Social Fund initiatives since 20212.5 millionNumber of businesses supported through the cohesion policy between 2014 and 202298 million tonnesAmount of CO₂ that is prevented from being released each year Areas of actionThe EU budget in motionThe current debate on the budget - and how it has developed over time.The long-term EU budgetInformation about the current budget (2021-2027), and the previous one (2014-2020)The EU as a borrowerFacts and figures about the EU as a borrower on the capital marketsLifecycle of the Annual EU budgetLearn how the annual budget is prepared, implemented and assessedPerformance and reportingInformation on the implementation, performance, and results of the EU budget and its programmesTransparencyInformation about budget beneficiaries, results of regional policy projects, and data about the European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020Protection of the EU budgetMeasures ensuring the protection of the EU budgetStrategic Technologies for Europe PlatformFunding to support the European industry and boost investment in critical technologies Key achievements The EU is the leading donor of humanitarian assistance. In 2024, the EU budget allocated over €2.49 billion in humanitarian assistance, helping more than 300 million people. In 2024, almost €61 billion were allocated to support climate objectives, and over €14 billion targeted biodiversity objectives. The equivalent of 32% and 6.7% of the total EU budget respectively. In 2024, nearly €38 billion of the EU budget supported gender equality: that’s 19% of the total budget.Galileo, the EU’s satellite navigation system, is used by over 4 billion smartphone users worldwide.Through the EU budget, 16 million people benefitted from the Erasmus Programme since 1987, enabling them to study, train, or work abroad.Investments through EU budget financed the installation of 3,613 km of cross-border electricity cables between 2014 and 2020.Since the beginning of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the EU has provided unprecedented and comprehensive support to Ukraine and its people. It mobilised more than €158 billion in financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support, including in essential areas such as demining, energy, and prosecuting Russia’s crimes. More than 30 Nobel prizes were won by researchers whose work was supported thanks to the EU budget, highlighting EU’s excellence in science.In 2024, 5 Oscar-nominated films were funded by the EU budget, showcasing the impact of support for creative industries. In focus Europe's budget: The power of togetherThe European Union (EU) budget is supporting projects and investments to improve the quality of life of European citizens. It supports citizens, businesses and regions - across the EU and beyond.The next long-term EU budget is on its way, as the Union needs a new multi-annual budget, from 2028.In July 2025, the European Commission presented its proposal for the new long-term budget. It sets out a simpler budget that further increases the impact of investments with EU added value.Read more Latest news News article2 August 2023Half-yearly report on H1 2023 debt management operations and overarching debt management strategy1 min readNews article22 February 2023EU funding operations remain strong in second half of 2022 according to new report2 min readSee all Related links Directorate-General for BudgetEU funding programmesFinancial Transparency System
The European Union (EU) budget funds projects and investments that improve lives across Europe. It supports citizens, businesses, and regions—within the EU and beyond.The EU budget invests in areas where working together brings better results: creating jobs, modernising healthcare and education, funding cutting-edge research, supporting European companies, and strengthening security. It helps improve transport and energy networks, tackles climate change, and promotes digital innovation. It also allows the EU to act quickly when disasters strike—by sending firefighting or rescue teams, and by helping Member States respond to major crises, like the COVID-19 pandemic or the impacts of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.The current long-term EU budget, known as the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), runs from 2021 to 2027. It totals around €1.2 trillion—about 1% of the EU’s GDP—and is reinforced by NextGenerationEU, a temporary recovery instrument worth about €800 billion.
The long-term EU budgetInformation about the current budget (2021-2027), and the previous one (2014-2020)
Performance and reportingInformation on the implementation, performance, and results of the EU budget and its programmes
TransparencyInformation about budget beneficiaries, results of regional policy projects, and data about the European Structural and Investment Funds 2014-2020
Strategic Technologies for Europe PlatformFunding to support the European industry and boost investment in critical technologies
Europe's budget: The power of togetherThe European Union (EU) budget is supporting projects and investments to improve the quality of life of European citizens. It supports citizens, businesses and regions - across the EU and beyond.The next long-term EU budget is on its way, as the Union needs a new multi-annual budget, from 2028.In July 2025, the European Commission presented its proposal for the new long-term budget. It sets out a simpler budget that further increases the impact of investments with EU added value.Read more
News article2 August 2023Half-yearly report on H1 2023 debt management operations and overarching debt management strategy1 min read
News article22 February 2023EU funding operations remain strong in second half of 2022 according to new report2 min read
