Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020

Background information:

The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) lays down the maximum annual amounts ('ceilings') which the European Union may spend in different political fields ('headings') over a period of at least 5 years. The current MFF covers seven years: from 2014 to 2020.

The MFF is not the budget of the EU for seven years. It provides a framework for financial programming and budgetary discipline by ensuring that EU spending is predictable and stays within the agreed limits. It also allows the EU to carry out common policies over a period that is long enough to make them effective. This long term vision is important for potential beneficiaries of EU funds, co-financing authorities as well as national treasuries.

By defining in which areas the EU should invest more or less over the seven years, the MFF is an expression of political priorities as much as a budgetary planning tool. The annual budget is adopted within this framework and usually remains below the MFF expenditure ceilings in order to retain some flexibility to cope with unforeseen needs.

Proposed by the European Commission, the regulation laying down the MFF must be adopted by the Council by unanimity after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament.

The MFF is part of a comprehensive package which also comprises the EU own resources and a set of sector-specific legislations defining the conditions of eligibility and the criteria for the allocation of funds for each EU spending programme.

+ European Commission: Mid-term review of the MFF 2014-2020, September 2016
+ EPRS: In-Depth Analysis: The next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and its duration, October 2017

Council of the European Union: Policies: Multiannual Financial Framework http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/multiannual-financial-framework/

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