Victor Negrescu warns that the new EU budget could reduce Romania’s funding for agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare, and digitalization

MEP Victor Negrescu warns that the new proposal for the European Union budget, discussed ahead of the European Council meeting on 15–16 October in Brussels, could reduce the funds available to Romania in the coming period. The proposal provides for a budget of €1.622 trillion at 2025 prices, 8% below the level initially put forward by the European Commission.

Negrescu says the stakes are high for funding roads, schools, hospitals, agriculture, rural development and Romanian companies. He noted that the proposed minimum threshold for agricultural support would fall from €130 to €90 per hectare, while funding for Erasmus+, healthcare, digitalisation, artificial intelligence and civil protection would also be reduced.

According to the MEP, the 80% protection mechanism does not guarantee that Member States’ current allocations will be fully preserved. Agriculture, cohesion and rural development would be included in joint plans linked to requirements and milestones similar to those under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

Negrescu is calling for a government with full powers and a stable majority for the European negotiations. EU leaders aim to reach a political agreement on the budget by the end of the year.