On June 11, 2026, the Cyprus Presidency of the EU circulated a comprehensive Negotiating Box for the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, proposing a moderate 2% reduction from the European Commission’s proposal.
On Thursday, June 11, 2026, the Cyprus Presidency of the European Union circulated the comprehensive Negotiating Box (Nego Box) for the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034, based on the European Commission’s proposal.
The document results from five months of intensive work and consultations among member states, aiming to establish a balanced basis for discussion that reflects their priorities and sensitivities. For the first time, a comprehensive negotiating framework with concrete figures has been presented.
The Presidency worked closely with member states and institutions to narrow differences and identify a credible basis for convergence, while preserving the core features of the proposed MFF architecture, which aims to modernize, simplify, and increase flexibility.
Deputy Minister for European Affairs of Cyprus, Ms. Marilena Raouna, stated that the task was to build a balanced compromise that recognizes member states’ interests and represents the Council as a whole. She emphasized that the Negotiating Box includes the first concrete figures for the new MFF, balancing ambition with fiscal responsibility, and aims to strengthen the EU’s resilience and autonomy in the current geopolitical environment.
The proposed figures include a moderate overall reduction of 2%, from €1.76 trillion to €1.73 trillion, representing 1.23% of EU GNI (or 1.13% excluding NextGenerationEU debt repayment). This reduction is applied across all headings, with smaller cuts to Heading 1, which includes cohesion, fisheries, and agriculture policies.
Specific proposals include increasing the ring-fenced amount for fisheries to €2 billion, and a one-off reinforcement for member states with GNI below 90% of the EU average. For Heading 2 and Heading 3, a horizontal cut of 3.9% is proposed, maintaining funding levels above current periods. Heading 4 is proposed to be reduced by 0.5%, within available margins.
The Negotiating Box is viewed as a milestone towards a political agreement, aiming to facilitate substantive discussions and reach consensus by the end of 2026.
