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“The war of aggression against Ukraine. Trade tensions and wars. Technological shifts and climate change reshaping industries and societies,” Serafin said. He pointed out that last July, the European Commission had presented its proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework – a budget that would take Europe forward to 2035 and beyond. “Our proposal aims to strike a balance. We continue to support the policies that have proven successful. At the same time, we are responding to new challenges – defence, security and competitiveness.”
Serafin said that according to the proposal, cohesion and agriculture would be kept as strong pillars of the EU budget, and their budgets would remain stable. “We focus new resources where the political demand is the highest: defence, security, competitiveness, and border protection,” Serafin explained. He added that National and Regional Partnership Plans would bring together reforms and investments under one coherent framework, linking cohesion, agriculture, and other key programmes with a total envelope of 865 billion euros.
“To strengthen Europe’s capacity to respond to shared challenges at our borders we will integrate the funds for borders, security and migration and integration into the National and Regional Partnerships,” Serafin said. “Member States will receive a pre-allocated amount of EUR 34 billion for migration and border management, three times the current envelope. We will double financing for the Frontex agency and Europol, respectively to EUR 12 billion and EUR 3 billion. The proposal takes into account the specific needs of Member States at the external border, especially in light of the current geopolitical situation.”
Serafin underlined that the European Commission clearly recognized Estonia’s crucial role in safeguarding the Union’s external frontier. That is why the proposal strengthens funding for border management, infrastructure, and resilience measures. He added that the countries bordering Russia and Belarus would benefit from a bonus in the allocation of funds, reflecting their specific challenges both in terms of security and economic development.
“Defence is now a European priority and it is reflected clearly in the numbers,” Serafin said. He pointed out that military mobility would receive 18 billion euros, ten times the current level. “It means roads, bridges, railways and digital infrastructure that serve both civilians and defence. Military mobility will be anchored in the Connecting Europe Facility, ensuring that connectivity, resilience, and security are developed together,” Serafin said, and added that Estonia was using the Connecting Europe Facility to develop the Rail Baltic.
The Commissioner also spoke about the EU’s commitment to Ukraine’s recovery, resilience and path to membership. “Ukraine is not only our partner; it is part of our shared security. Supporting Ukraine is investing in Europe’s own stability,” he said.
According to Serafin, the new multiannual financial framework will be more flexible and responsive. It will have a crisis mechanism allowing Member States to access EU support swiftly in times of major shocks without improvisation or delay.
Serafin underlined that in the present times, it was clear that the European Union budget should focus more on security and defence. This is also the focus of the proposal for a new multiannual financial framework. “It is a budget for an independent Europe: capable of defending its territory and values, connected through the infrastructure of the future, and confident in its ability to act in the world.”
Serafin’s speech was followed by a debate on the matter of significant national importance “Estonia’s choices and opportunities in the European Union’s long-term budget for 2028–2034”, initiated by the European Union Affairs Committee, with presentations by Meelis Meigas, Head of the EU Policy Unit of the Fiscal Policy Department of the Ministry of Finance, and Peeter Tali, Chairman of the European Union Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu.
Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)
Video recording will be available on the Riigikogu YouTube channel. Video recording of the speech in English.
Riigikogu Press Service
Merilin Kruuse
+372 631 6592; +372 510 6179
merilin.kruuse@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee
Link uudisele: Piotr Serafin at the Riigikogu: Defence is now a European priority
Source: Parliament of Estonia