Brussels, 28 April 2026 — The European Parliament’s “Interim report on the proposal for a Council regulation laying down the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the years 2028 to 2034” entails several provisions that would substantially improve the European Commission’s proposal for the 2028-34 Multiannual Financial Framework, yet still lacks strong mainstreaming of climate and nature.
Positively, the Parliament’s report calls for earmarked funding for LIFE activities in the European Competitiveness Fund, for an increase of the EU budget and of critical individual funds such as the Connecting Europe Facility and Global Europe, as well as for substantially better provisions for strengthening the role of regions and local authorities in spending decisions and oversight, whilst reiterating the need for effective multi-level governance and the importance of the partnership principle, including “the involvement of economic and civil society actors”.
However, the interim report falls dramatically short on climate and nature provisions.
Beyond general statements according to which “climate-related expenditure must be integrated into the MFF to accurately monitor and track funding and its impacts”, it calls neither for a specific climate mainstreaming target nor for a dedicated biodiversity minimum spending target.
Furthermore, it fails to explicitly call for a full phase-out of the financing of harmful activities, including financial support for fossil infrastructure investments, and to explicitly support a better operationalisation of the “Do No Significant Harm” principle. As such, it falls short of the amendments required for an effective Budget expenditure tracking and performance framework.
Olivier Vardakoulias, Economist and Finance & Subsidies Policy Coordinator at CAN Europe, said:
“As the EU faces its second fossil energy crisis in recent years, the lesson must finally be learned: earmarking sufficient funds for accelerating investments in the clean energy transition in the EU’s long-term budget for 2028-34 is of paramount importance. That is how Europe lowers energy bills, cuts costly fossil fuel imports undermining the EU’s economic resilience, and shields industries via decarbonisation.
Against this backdrop, the failure of EU lawmakers to support concrete green mainstreaming targets is deeply out of touch with the current context. But it is not too late to fix this. We urge the MEPs to support ambitious green mainstreaming targets and to fully exclude fossil fuels and other harmful activities from EU spending rules throughout the upcoming negotiations on individual regulations, including the Performance Regulation.”
For more information and media interviews:
Jani Savolainen, Senior Communications Coordinator, jani.savolainen@caneurope.org, +358 504667831
Notes to editors: