Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) meaning

In this issue: EU fundamentals Banking and Finance Competition and state aid Data protection and cybersecurity Free movement, immigration and employment Financial services Environmental Insurance and reinsurance IP Life sciences TMT International trade Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Trackers EU fundamentals Commission proposes €2 trillion long-term EU budget for 2028–2034 The European Commission unveiled on 16 July 2025 a new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034, amounting to almost €2 trillion. It seeks to reinforce the EU’s resilience and competitiveness across defence, climate, migration and innovation. The draft budget brings in fresh revenue sources and simplified National and Regional Partnership Plans to provide stronger, more efficient support throughout Member States. See: LNB News 17/07/2025 34. European Commission releases July 2025 infringement package The Commission has issued the July 2025 infringement package, identifying the EU Member States it is pursuing for failing to...

In this issue EU fundamentals Banking and Finance Competition and state aid Data protection and cybersecurity Financial services Energy Environment IP Life sciences TMT Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Trackers EU fundamentals Council of the EU agrees its position on the 2025 EU draft budget The Council of the EU has settled on its stance for the 2025 draft budget, setting overall commitments at €191.53bn and payments at €146.21bn. It underscores the need for the budget to keep demonstrating the EU’s solidarity with Ukraine and to tackle associated crises. The Council argues the budget must be grounded in real needs, practise careful fiscal planning, and retain adequate headroom under the multiannual financial framework (MFF) ceilings to manage unexpected events and confront the Union’s challenges, while still allocating sufficient funding to deliver EU policies and programmes and to honour existing commitments on schedule. It also notes that...

In this issue: EU fundamentals Commercial Competition and state aid Banking and finance Corporate Data protection and cybersecurity Financial services Energy Environment Insurance and reinsurance IP Life sciences Regulatory TMT International trade Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Trackers and horizon scanners EU fundamentals The Commission has launched a four-week call for evidence to shape technical guidance on applying the ‘do no significant harm’ principle within the 2028–34 multiannual financial framework. Required by Article 5 of the proposed Regulation establishing a budget expenditure tracking and performance framework, the guidance will be applied where feasible and appropriate. The evidence window closes on 1 April 2026, with adoption scheduled for Q4 2026. See: LNB News 04/03/2026 56. Commercial: The Council of the EU has agreed conclusions to steer delivery of the 2030 Consumer Agenda, urging enhanced consumer protection—particularly online—greater encouragement of sustainable consumption, stronger...

The EU glossary brings together and clarifies terms regularly used in EU law. Blue economy The European Union’s blue economy covers all activities and sectors linked to oceans, seas and coastlines, whether operating directly in the marine environment (eg shipping, seafood, energy production) or on land (eg ports, shipyards, coastal infrastructures). Circular Economy Action Plan In March 2020, under the European Green Deal, the European Commission adopted a new Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP). The CEAP seeks to: make sustainable products the norm across the EU prioritise sectors likely to be highly affected by circularity, such as construction and buildings, batteries and vehicles, water, packaging, plastics, batteries, electronics empower consumers and public procurers cut waste For further details on the CEAP, see News Analysis: New circular economy action plan published, Sustainable products and supply chains (EU Law)—overview and Practice Note: EU Environment—horizon scanner, which covers key new and upcoming EU legislation and consultations relating to waste regulation,...