EU long-term budget: bankrolling big polluters, defunding nature and citizen action

Today, the European Commission published its final plans for the 2028-2034 budget – the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), including a proposal to reform the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). A concerning novelty is the inclusion of a “European Competitiveness Fund” (ECF) which would merge activities currently running under 14 different budget lines, spanning a broad range of topics from defence, health, digitalisation and space to circular economy and the energy transition.

Whilst the Commission suggests to spend 410 billion euros for this European Competitiveness Fund, it absorbs the LIFE programme which was exclusively dedicated to protect nature, climate and the environment – allocating more money to polluting industries instead. This comes at a time of biodiversity and climate crises when funding and public support for adequate action to fulfil the EU’s environmental goals are urgently needed.

The Commission’s proposal also eliminates the “second pillar” of the CAP, which currently funds environmental measures and rural development programmes. This means that agri-environmental and climate measures are now just one of many objectives, with no dedicated funding or minimum spending requirements for Member States. The CAP, which is linked to some of the EU’s most damaging public subsidies, would mainly continue to support an industrial food system that degrades ecosystems and accelerates the climate crisis.

Clara Bourgin, Food, Farming and Nature campaigner at Friends of the Earth Europe said:

“EU public money should serve the public good, not bankroll big polluters. Prioritising competitiveness while gutting environmental and health protections is short-sighted and will only deepen the climate and biodiversity crises.”

On the discontinuation of the LIFE programme, André Prescher-Spiridon, Head of EU Policy at Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland / Friends of the Earth Germany said:

“Today the European Commission decided to sacrifice one if its flagships on the altar of competitiveness. The LIFE programme has successfully protected nature for over 30 years, bringing entire species back from the brink of extinction and supporting citizen action in every corner of the EU and beyond. If member states and Parliament don’t reject this proposal, they will end the only dedicated funding for nature on EU level in times of desperate need.”

On the CAP, Clara Bourgin continued:

“The new CAP proposal only adds fuel to the fire, deepening the crisis for both farmers and the environment. Without a dedicated budget for environmental action and rural development, climate and biodiversity goals are treated as optional. This isn’t just inadequate, it’s irresponsible. Without a CAP that can support farmers towards a just and sustainable transition, the EU will end up collapsing the very systems food production depends on.”