Nicușor Dan calls for an “ambitious” EU budget: “We want substantial amounts for the cohesion chapter and the agriculture chapter”

President Nicușor Dan stated on Thursday, following his discussion with the President of the European Council, António Costa, that Romania supports an ambitious budget for the European Union for the 2028–2034 period, with substantial allocations for cohesion and agriculture. The objective is to reduce disparities between Member States and facilitate companies’ access to competitiveness funds in less developed economies.

Romania has largely defined its position within the “friends of cohesion” group, which it coordinates. Nicușor Dan also called for greater “flexibility” in the use of European funds, given that, according to Nicușor Dan, bureaucracy has delayed the absorption of funding in the past.

Negotiations among the 27 Member States concern both spending priorities and the identification of new sources of revenue for the EU budget. António Costa warned that the coming months would be decisive and stressed that an agreement must be concluded by the end of the year.

The future European budget will have to fund defense, security, competitiveness, innovation, and strategic resilience, without abandoning support for agriculture and cohesion. A compromise is necessary to avoid interrupting investments intended for farmers, companies, students, and researchers.