The next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) : in-depth analysis

The traditional issues of European budgetary negotiations are the size of the budget, the distribution of funds and the system of own resources. Under difficult circumstances, the negotiations on the new MFF post-2020 will start in 2018 and should be concluded by the end of 2019 or no later than the beginning of 2020. The unity of the EU budget is a cornerstone of European budgetary policy. However, a complete unity of all revenue and expenditure, and all financial instruments has not yet been achieved. Today the budgetary system is characterised by differentiation, fragmentation and increased use of 'satellite' instruments, and debates on additional financial instruments, like a budget for the Eurozone. The question of how to integrate these instruments into the Union's budget system and thus guaranteeing democratic scrutiny, should be an additional issue of the negotiations on the MFF post-2020.