According to the European Commission and Polish negotiators, the European Union (EU) budget for 2024 will guarantee a balance between the smooth implementation of projects and the challenges facing the EU. “Our success is to ensure adequate funding for cohesion policy and the Common Agricultural Policy of key importance for Poland”, said Finance Minister Magdalena Rzeczkowska.

According to the Ministry of Finance, this funding will be provided both for projects from the 2014-2020 programming period, which is coming to an end, and for the acceleration of projects from operational programmes for the 2021-2027 financial framework.

“We welcome the increase in funding for humanitarian aid to Ukraine. We also appreciate the increase in funds allocated to countries hosting Ukrainian refugees and for other measures related to the war in Ukraine, including the expansion of military transport capacities inside the EU and border protection”, said the Polish Finance Minister.

Participants in the negotiations decided that the necessary modifications to next year’s EU budget would be adopted as soon as the revision of the EU’s 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework is agreed.

The EU budget for 2024 reflects new challenges related to military conflicts close to the EU’s borders, as well as the need to deal with the consequences of natural disasters in EU and neighbouring countries. It is also a budget for continuing expenditure related to the reconstruction of Member States after the economic crisis caused by the pandemic.

In the end, it was possible to increase funding for Polish priorities such as student exchanges (Erasmus programme), support for transport links, including military links with Ukraine, and humanitarian aid, both for Ukraine and the Middle East.

The reached agreement will be confirmed by the EU Council and the European Parliament within the next 2 weeks.

Adrian Andrzejewski