The Parliament proposes an allocation of €10.72 billion for AgoraEU, representing an increase of €2.14 billion (in current prices, i.e. not adjusted for inflation) compared to the European Commission’s original proposal. The allocation follows the recent publication of a joint open letter, signed by NEMO and more than 500 organisations, calling for a stronger budget for AgoraEU as a strategic investment in Europe’s cultural, social and democratic foundations.
Overall, the Interim Report foresees a €197.3 billion increase in the total MFF for 2028-2034, equivalent to an approximate 10% rise in the EU budget. Within this framework, the Parliament also proposes:
- An additional €25 billion for Horizon Europe
- €30 billion increase for the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF)
These two programmes account for the largest nominal increases under Heading 2 (Competitiveness, Prosperity and Security). The proposed rises are seen as creating further opportunities to strengthen support for the creative and cultural sectors within the ECF, as well as to improve the visibility of culture‑related research and innovation within Horizon Europe.
Under the Parliament’s proposal, AgoraEU would see an estimated 25% increase in funding, the highest percentage rise of any programme listed under Heading 2 in the Interim Report. The Parliament highlights the importance of more ambitious funding, particularly for the Culture strand of Creative Europe, which remains consistently over‑subscribed and under‑resourced. The Interim Report will inform upcoming negotiations with the Council and the Commission as discussions continue on the final shape of the EU’s next long‑term budget.
Beyond the proposed budget figures, the Interim Report also signals a stronger political recognition of culture within the next MFF. It identifies culture as a strategic priority under Heading 2, frames cultural vitality as an integral component of the EU’s strategic autonomy, and explicitly references the Culture Compass for Europe in its citations.
While the report represents a positive shift, it does not constitute the European Parliament’s final position. Under the proposal, AgoraEU would account for 0.53% of the total MFF, compared to 0.43% in the Commission’s original proposal. This remains well below the €12 billion advocated by the Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) and falls short of the 2% for culture target promoted through the Ask, Pay, Trust and Cultural Deal for Europe campaigns, which NEMO support. As negotiations progress, there is therefore still considerable scope to strengthen the budgetary ambition for culture in the next EU long‑term budget.
