How to watch the Committee on Budgets (BUDG)

Committee voting and EP building policy files

Olivier Chastel Renew

The Chair conducts a brief voting session on the Global Europe regulation, a 2026 budget transfer and the Pole Star building, then moves to early information files on the Brussels B5/2026 project, the New Delhi EEAS delegation lease renewal and the ECHA Helsinki premises ‘Building 2030’ planning, outlining timelines, budgetary thresholds and alignment with the Commission’s property strategy.

In this chapter

1. Voting session: Global Europe regulation, budget transfer and Pole Star decision
2. Building policy case 2: early information on Brussels B5/2026Olivier Chastel
3. EEAS New Delhi delegation: lease renewal constraints and timingOlivier Chastel
4. ECHA Helsinki premises: 2030 lease expiry and early warningOlivier Chastel

Watch the moment Share

Administrative budgets: EESC transfer and Pole Star building

Nils Ušakovs and 5 others

Members examine the EESC’s internal transfers to bolster communication, social media and external staff, with MEPs contesting the added‑value of such spending, before turning to the Commission’s long‑term usufruct arrangement for the Pole Star building, where the rapporteur and several MEPs query delays, density, financial terms and use of buffer space, and the OIB defends the project’s operational synergies and loan‑financed fit‑out under constrained annual appropriations.

In this chapter

1. Transfer for EESC: communication budget and external staffNils Ušakovs
2. Pole Star building: rapporteur questions and critical MEP interventionsOlivier Chastel
3. Commission/OIB: buffer space, synergies and loan financing for Pole StarSari Lehkonen

Watch the moment Share

DEC 11/2026: Connectivity for Peace and Chernobyl

Lenka Filipkova and 2 others

The Chair reorders the agenda to introduce transfer DEC 11/2026, and the Commission details the proposed redeployment from macro‑financial assistance grants to finance the Connectivity for Peace package in the South Caucasus and urgent Chernobyl repairs, followed by MEPs’ questions on the sharp budget increase, geopolitical rationale and financing structure, and the Commission’s justifications on EBRD‑led co‑funding and use of unused MFA appropriations.

In this chapter

1. Resumption of meeting and introduction of DEC 11/2026
2. Commission: justification of transfer for Connectivity for Peace and Chernobyl repairsLenka Filipkova
3. Chernobyl repairs and Connectivity for Peace: MEP concerns and Commission replyAndrzej Halicki

Watch the moment Share

Further group positions and security-focused amendments

Janusz Lewandowski and 3 others

The Left, ESN and Victor Negrescu present additional perspectives on social versus defence spending, administrative savings, border control financing and targeted reinforcements for security, resilience and anti‑fraud capacities through specific amendment proposals.

In this chapter

1. The Left: condemn shifts from social policy to defenceJanusz Lewandowski
2. ESN: endorse Council savings, except on bordersAlexander Jungbluth
3. Catch‑the‑eye: Negrescu on security promises and resilienceJanusz Lewandowski

Watch the moment Share

Political groups: responses to Council cuts and funding priorities

Janusz Lewandowski and 5 others

EPP, PfE, ECR, Renew and Greens set out contrasting lines on the 2027 budget, ranging from rejecting Council cuts to competitiveness, security and resilience programmes to backing overall restraint and reprioritisation towards agriculture, internal security and border management.

In this chapter

1. EPP shadow: reject cuts to competitiveness and securityJanusz Lewandowski
2. PfE shadow: support selected Council cutsJulien Sanchez
3. ECR (Szydło/Rzońca): agriculture and borders firstJanusz Lewandowski

Watch the moment Share

2027 general budget introduction and rapporteur’s priorities

Janusz Lewandowski and 1 other

The rapporteur presents the 2027 general budget file, criticising Council’s horizontal cuts, limited use of flexibilities and approach to Ukraine loan costs, and details the impact on flagship programmes and external action while outlining Parliament’s intended amendments.

In this chapter

1. Introduction of 2027 general budget and Council cutsJanusz Lewandowski
2. Rapporteur: impact on flagship programmes and external actionNils Ušakovs

Watch the moment Share

Opening of meeting and vote on Amending Budget 2/2024

Janusz Lewandowski PPE

The Chair opens the Budgets Committee meeting, adopts the agenda and minutes, and conducts the test and roll‑call vote approving Draft Amending Budget No 2/2024, resolving minor technical issues with the electronic system.

In this chapter

1. Opening of meeting and adoption of agendaJanusz Lewandowski
2. Vote on Draft Amending Budget No 2/2024Janusz Lewandowski

Watch the moment Share

Opening of annual exchange and agencies’ strategic orientations

Monika Hohlmeier and 1 other

The Chair and standing rapporteur frame the annual exchange on EU agencies around MFF constraints, staffing, funding stability and shared services, followed by agencies’ leaders outlining efficiency measures, limits to further savings, and modernisation plans including digitalisation, shared services and revised governance under the new ECHA regulation.

In this chapter

1. Chair and rapporteur: framing MFF and synergies debateMonika Hohlmeier
2. Agencies Network and ENISA: efficiency limits and shared servicesMonika Hohlmeier
3. ECHA regulation reform and cross‑agency modernisationMonika Hohlmeier

Watch the moment Share

2027 EU budget, institutional appropriations and Erasmus+/Ukraine financing

Monika Hohlmeier and 8 others

The rapporteur and groups discuss the 2027 draft budget constraints created by EURI repayments, interest costs and Ukraine loan servicing, highlight risks for core programmes and flexibility, then examine 2027 administrative budgets for EU institutions and the EEAS, and finally debate the use of Erasmus+ recoveries and margins to finance new priorities, including the Ukraine support loan and possible UK contributions.

In this chapter

1. 2027 EU budget: constraints, Ukraine financing and flexibilityMonika Hohlmeier
2. 2027 administrative budgets: EU institutions and EEAS needsMichalis Hadjipantela
3. Erasmus+ cuts and Ukraine loan financingHélder Sousa Silva

Watch the moment Share

BUDG mission to London and EU‑UK budgetary relations

Karlo Ressler and 3 others

The delegation reports on the London mission, covering Horizon Europe/FP10, youth mobility, Erasmus re‑association and security/defence financing, while Members debate UK attitudes to Brexit, conditions for deeper EU‑UK cooperation, and the need to frame any association in fiscally responsible, taxpayer‑visible budgetary terms.

Watch the moment Share

Buildings, childcare facilities and multiannual programme votes

Olivier Chastel and 2 others

Members assess Frontex’s planned Warsaw training centre lease and the JRC Ispra zero‑energy childcare facility, focusing on costs and political sensitivity, before proceeding to block and roll‑call votes on several 2028–2034 EU funding programmes, 2026 inter‑institutional transfers and the Frontex building authorisation.

Watch the moment Share

Opening, 2026 transfers and budget scrutiny

Monika Hohlmeier and 3 others

The Chair opens the BUDG meeting, adopts the agenda and coordinators’ decisions, and examines 2026 budget transfer requests for Parliament and other EU institutions, including translation, staff mobility, missions, IT, buildings, AI infrastructure and statutory payments, with the rapporteur and Members testing the political acceptability and budgetary soundness of the reallocations.

Watch the moment Share

Draft Amending Budget 2/2026: Commission presentation and MEP Q&A

The Commission presents DAB 2/2026, detailing revised revenue forecasts and additional commitments and payments mainly for cohesion, rural development, agriculture and the Ukraine loan, after which the rapporteur and MEPs question the assumptions on fertilizer‑price support, Ukraine‑related staffing, cohesion payment backlogs and customs‑duty revenues, and the Commission provides clarifications and figures on each point.

In this chapter

1. Agenda item 27: Commission presents Draft Amending Budget 2/2026
2. Rapporteur and MEP questions: payments, Ukraine loan and new customs duty
3. Commission answers on agriculture support, Ukraine staffing and payment backlogs

Watch the moment Share

Commission building policy: MEP questions, governance issues and follow‑up

Olivier Chastel and 2 others

MEPs probe the Commission on further surface reductions, rent vs purchase decisions, collocation and mutualisation, climate‑risk integration, legal and financial implications of the 23‑building sale, telework effects, and Jean Monnet 2 oversight and safeguards; the Commission replies on portfolio mix, joint procurement, investigations, Luxembourg childcare and project control, before the Chair presses again on contract validity and closes the item.

In this chapter

1. MEPs’ questions on Brussels portfolio, collocation and climate risksOlivier Chastel
2. MEP Ušakovs: Jean Monnet 2 safeguards and use of sales revenueNils Ušakovs
3. Commission replies: Brussels leasing, mutualisation, investigation and Luxembourg projects
4. Follow‑up on building sale contracts and close of item 26

Watch the moment Share

Commission building policy: strategic orientations in Brussels, Luxembourg and JRC

Monika Hohlmeier PPE

The Chair opens the Commission building policy item and OIB, OIL and JRC present their respective strategies, including Brussels downsizing and greening, building sales and new search zones, Luxembourg’s shift to dynamic collaborative space and Jean Monnet 2 timeline, and JRC’s research‑infrastructure specific approach and sustainability gains.

In this chapter

1. Transition to agenda item 26: Commission building policyMonika Hohlmeier
2. OIB Brussels: 2030 downsizing and greening strategy
3. OIB Brussels: portfolio optimisation, sales proceeds and search zoneMonika Hohlmeier

Watch the moment Share

Commission building policy: agenda introduction

The Chair opens agenda point 26 on the European Commission’s institutional building policy, presents the objective of clarifying the Commission’s real estate strategy and projects, and hands the floor to OIL officials and rapporteur Chastel.

Watch the moment Share

EEAS building policy: MEP scrutiny and replies

Olivier Chastel and 2 others

The standing rapporteur and MEP Ušakovs question EEAS on security non‑compliance, costs and impact of new crises, specific delegations (Fiji, Barbados), colocation arrangements, lease‑termination safeguards and internal capacity, and EEAS provides detailed figures and explanations on security pacing, financing of reinforcements, colocation cost‑sharing and contractual protections in leases.

In this chapter

1. Rapporteur Chastel: questions on security, Fiji/Barbados and colocationOlivier Chastel
2. Shadow Ušakovs: questions on leases and capacityNils Ušakovs
3. EEAS replies: security pacing, Fiji/Barbados and lease safeguardsJohan Van Overtveldt

Watch the moment Share

EEAS building policy: portfolio, security and greening

Johan Van Overtveldt ECR

The Chair opens the agenda item on EEAS building policy and the service presents its global portfolio, crisis‑driven constraints, network modernisation, security upgrade programme, sales and ownership strategy, colocation with Member States and EU partners, and integration of environmental and EMAS criteria in all projects.

In this chapter

1. Agenda item 25 opened: EEAS building policy contextJohan Van Overtveldt
2. EEAS portfolio, crises impact and planning method
3. Network modernisation and security upgrade strategy
4. Sales, ownership policy, colocation and greeningJohan Van Overtveldt

Watch the moment Share

EEAS building policy: strategy and MEP scrutiny

Johan Van Overtveldt and 2 others

The Chair and EEAS outline the overall delegation real estate portfolio, modernisation and security upgrade plan, and priorities on ownership, sales, colocation and environmental performance, followed by MEP questions on security compliance, staffing limits, crisis-driven needs, and lease and colocation practices, with detailed EEAS clarifications before closing the item.

In this chapter

1. EEAS building policy: portfolio, modernisation and greeningJohan Van Overtveldt
2. EEAS buildings: security, staffing and colocation Q&AJohan Van Overtveldt

Watch the moment Share

Digital levy and UN tax debate: MEP Q&A and conclusions

Johan Van Overtveldt and 7 others

MEPs question experts on the interaction between a potential EU digital levy, the emerging UN tax convention and OECD processes, including implications for EU own resources, digital services taxation design and trade compatibility, before the co‑rapporteur and Chair draw political conclusions and close the digital levy agenda item.

In this chapter

1. MEP questions: UN tax convention and EU digital levyJohan Van Overtveldt
2. Expert responses: design of DSTs and UN vs OECD dynamicsJohan Van Overtveldt
3. Digital levy workshop: political conclusions and closureSandra Gómez López

Watch the moment Share

Panel 2 mandate: international digital taxation

Johan Van Overtveldt ECR

The Chair opens the second panel on international digital taxation, with Amaro presenting data on digital service classifications, revenue estimates from different DST bases, and income‑based alternatives, followed by the UN Secretariat outlining the new tax framework convention, its workplan, and options for nexus and withholding that reflect developing country needs and coexist with OECD/EU rules.

In this chapter

1. Panel 2 opening: international digital taxation perspectivesJohan Van Overtveldt
2. UN Secretariat: tax framework convention, developing country needs and nexus designJohan Van Overtveldt

Watch the moment Share

Enache’s VAT alternative and Panel 1 political Q&A

Johan Van Overtveldt and 8 others

Enache critiques national and EU digital services taxes as low‑yield, distortive and regressive own resources and advocates a strengthened, harmonised VAT base as a superior EU financing tool; co‑rapporteurs and MEPs then test both experts on design choices for an EU digital levy, incidence on consumers and SMEs, revenue potential, interaction with VAT and BEFIT, and the political feasibility of securing Council agreement amid stalled OECD/UN processes and EU–US tax tensions.

In this chapter

1. Expert Enache: DST assessment and VAT-based alternativeJohan Van Overtveldt
2. Co-rapporteurs: questions on digital levy design and VATDanuše Nerudová
3. MEPs Keller, Andresen, Saramo: EU digital levy design and global tax contextFabienne Keller
4. Panel 1 Q&A: EU digital levy design, incidence and national coordinationKinga Kollár

Watch the moment Share

Workshop opening and Thomadakis on EU digital levy

Johan Van Overtveldt ECR

The Chair presents the workshop’s objectives on a possible EU digital levy as an own resource, links it to NGEU repayment and the post‑2027 MFF, explains the format, and gives the floor to Thomadakis, who analyses the tax challenges of digitalisation, lessons from the failed 2018 EU DST, evidence from national DSTs, and strategic design options for a stable EU‑level digital services tax.

In this chapter

1. Workshop opening and panel 1 agendaJohan Van Overtveldt
2. Thomadakis: feasibility and design of an EU DSTJohan Van Overtveldt

Watch the moment Share

2028–2034 programmes, Decarbonisation Fund and CBAM votes

Hélder Sousa Silva and 2 others

MEPs adopt compromise packages and reports on Horizon Europe, CEF, Single Market & Customs, civil protection and health preparedness, then approve the Decarbonisation Fund, extend CBAM, validate institutional budget transfers and an OIB buildings file, and lodge a formal objection related to an Erasmus cost‑of‑living amendment.

In this chapter

1. 2028–2034 EU programmes: research, infrastructure, civil protectionHélder Sousa Silva
2. Erasmus+, Decarbonisation Fund, CBAM and closing budget itemsLucia Yar

Watch the moment Share

Reopening of sitting and Draft Amending Budget votes

Monika Hohlmeier PPE

The Vice‑Chair restarts the Budgets Committee, confirms agenda and voting procedures, and leads the voting session on Draft Amending Budget 1/2026, including entry of the 2025 surplus, mobilisation of the EU Solidarity Fund, technical assistance under the EGF and establishment of the European Competitiveness Fund.

In this chapter

1. Committee opening: agenda, minutes and voting session
2. Draft Amending Budget and special adjustment fundsMonika Hohlmeier

Watch the moment Share

Pre‑vote budget files: CAP, fisheries, buildings

Johan Van Overtveldt and 7 others

Initial sitting covers the post‑2027 CAP financing debate, budget transfers for a fisheries partnership and advisory bodies, and the Commission’s request to extend usufruct contracts for Brussels buildings, with rapporteurs’ recommendations, Commission clarifications and procedural next steps ahead of later votes.

In this chapter

1. Meeting opening and future CAP financingJohan Van Overtveldt
2. Budget transfers for fisheries and advisory bodiesJohan Van Overtveldt
3. Commission building policy: usufruct extensionsOlivier Chastel

Watch the moment Share