European Union – Participation by the minister for European affairs in the Ministerial Conference on the Multiannual Financial Framework (Sofia, 9 March 2018)

The Multiannual Financial Framework translates the EU’s priorities into financial terms for a 7-year period (2021-2027). The conference in Sofia organized by the Bulgarian presidency of the Council of the European Union will provide an opportunity to continue the debate on the priorities and challenges of the future EU budget launched by the initial discussions held by the heads of state and government of the 27 member states at the informal summit in Brussels on February 23. The work carried out in Sofia will contribute to the reflections of the Commission, whose proposal is expected at the beginning of May.

The minister will reaffirm the importance of a budget commensurate with strong European ambitions equal to the challenges the EU is facing: a Europe that protects, that is fully competitive, with confirmed historical policies (common agricultural policy and cohesion policy). The minister will also underscore the need to reform the revenue side of the budget, with genuine own resources and the elimination of rebates.