The N-VA calls for a leaner, more strategic EU budget: “No more a cumbersome giant”

The European Parliament recently debated the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which will come into effect from 2028. The N-VA delegation seized the opportunity to advocate for a fundamental overhaul of the EU budget. They argue that the current system is outdated, cumbersome, and ill-suited to today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. “We need to firmly choose lean, efficient tools and targeted investments that truly add value, especially in the areas of security and energy supply,” they emphasized.

An opportunity for fundamental reform

Chair of the European Parliament’s Budget Committee, Johan Van Overtveldt, stressed that the MFF must be more than just a technical distribution exercise. “We support the focus on Competitiveness The extent to which companies in one country can compete with similar companies in another country. A law came into force in Belgium in 1996 to monitor competitiveness. This stipulates that Belgian salaries may not evolve faster than the average of those in the three neighbouring countries. The Central Economic Council (CEC) performs an annual measurement to see if the objectives have been obtained. competitiveness , reforms, and a more effective external policy. But that should not be an excuse for further centralization or an ever-expanding budget. The European Union needs to offer simplicity, efficiency, and security to its citizens and businesses. Not a bloated bureaucratic giant, but a Union that knows what it must do—and, more importantly, what it’s better off not doing.”

Nuclear energy as a strategic lever

MEP Kris Van Dijck also put forward a concrete proposal: through an amendment, he called for explicit attention to investments in nuclear energy. “Today, nuclear power accounts for nearly a quarter of the EU’s electricity production. We can’t keep ignoring that reality,” Van Dijck pointed out. “The Union must take the lead in nuclear expertise, safety, and innovation. Through programs like Euratom and projects such as ITER, we can build a future of clean, safe, and affordable energy.” Unfortunately, the amendment narrowly failed to secure a majority.

A budget for strategic choices

N-VA emphasizes that the MFF should not be just a mechanism for distributing funds. It needs to evolve into a strategic instrument that drives technological progress and enables the Union to confidently fulfill its core tasks. Only then can the EU remain resilient and relevant in a rapidly changing world.