Renew Europe Leads Coalition for a Stronger, More Competitive, and Secure 2026 EU Budget

The Renew Europe Group has played a key role in forming a coalition to support a reformed 2026 EU budget.

In light of geopolitical challenges and the need to enhance Europe’s competitiveness, Renew Europe has ensured the Parliament’s budget guidelines focus on essential sectors like research, innovation, health, and defence, securing necessary funding for the Union’s future.

MEP Stine Bosse (Moderaterne/Denmark) Renew Europe’s budget negotiator, stated: “European liberals and democrats have ensured that the Parliament’s guidelines reflect our priorities for a sustainable and secure Europe. This is a good example of working together in the four centrist groups. Our request for investment in connectivity, including cross-border electricity grids and hydrogen infrastructure, is included, addressing a crucial bottleneck for the green transition and Clean Industrial Deal.”

“Investing in research and innovation is vital to keeping Europe competitive. We call for increased funding under Horizon Europe to support at least 50% of strong research proposals, boost SMEs, and retain talent.”

Renew Europe also advocates for greater funding for EU security and defence, emphasising the need for a Defence Union, strategic autonomy, and improved coordination of defence spending among Member States. The group supports a robust EU4Health budget, including action on rare diseases and anti-microbial resistance, measures against foreign interference through the digital rulebook, sufficient LIFE spending, and promotes gender equality in EU activities.

“A strong Europe is a safe Europe,” added Stine Bosse. “We urge the European Commission to ensure that Member States have the resources to innovate and enhance military capabilities while supporting military mobility and dual-use technologies.”

A key ask from Renew Europe has been successfully adopted as part of the text: we called for the urgent establishment of the ethics body for members of the EU institutions and advisory bodies. Renew Europe is committed to promoting an EU budget that effectively funds research, innovation, security, and defence, continuing to collaborate across party lines to ensure Europe’s competitiveness and resilience in uncertain times.