As the European Commission prepares to unveil its proposal for the next seven-year EU budget on Wednesday, political groups in the European Parliament are gearing up for intense negotiations to defend their funding priorities. The upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which requires approval from both the European Parliament and all 27 EU member states, has triggered a fierce push by parties to secure their flagship programs.

Each group is determined to safeguard at least one core priority. For the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), that is the European Social Fund (ESF), a nearly €100 billion programme supporting jobs, education, and social inclusion. S&D MEP Carla Tavares called the ESF a “red line,” insisting the budget must reflect support for health, employment, and worker skills. The group is also advocating for increased contributions from member states and new EU-wide levies on digital firms and imported parcels.

The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), Parliament’s largest group, also backs the ESF but is equally focused on preserving funds for agriculture and regional cohesion. Romanian MEP Siegfried Mureșan warned against merging existing programs into broader funds, a move reportedly central to the Commission’s draft. The EPP wants to ensure separate and direct budgets for farmers and regional development projects.

The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) echoed the EPP’s position, prioritising the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and infrastructure investments related to defence, including military mobility.

On the other hand, the liberal Renew Europe group opposes the idea of national “cash pots,” which they argue could sideline EU regions. French MEP Fabienne Keller warned such an approach would undermine EU unity and reduce transparency. Renew is calling for more “own resources” at the EU level, such as carbon border taxes, to avoid painful budget cuts and ensure funding does not benefit what they describe as “autocratic” regimes.

Meanwhile, the Greens and The Left are pushing for a socially and environmentally focused budget. The Greens want at least 50% of the MFF dedicated to climate-related goals, up from the current 30%. The Left is prioritising housing, child welfare, and poverty reduction, proposing a €20 billion European Child Guarantee.

In sharp contrast, the far-right Patriots for Europe (PfE) group opposes defence spending and EU aid to Ukraine. Instead, they call for stricter border control and the scrapping of climate policies, which they claim harm farmers and industry.

With the Parliament holding the power to reject the Commission’s proposal, the stakes are high. A resolution adopted in May made one thing clear: MEPs believe the current level of national contributions is insufficient to meet the EU’s growing needs.

As negotiations begin, a clash of competing visions for Europe’s future is set to unfold — one that will shape everything from social policy and agriculture to defence and climate action.