Multiannual Financial Framework
The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) is the European Union’s long-term budget plan. It sets out the EU’s spending priorities and limits over a seven-year period, ensuring financial stability and aligning investments with the EU’s key policy goals.
The MFF is divided into broad spending categories known as “headings”, which reflect different areas of EU policy. One of the most crucial for international partnerships is: Heading 6: Neighbourhood and the World.
This heading finances the EU’s external action, including:
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International cooperation
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Humanitarian aid
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Peacebuilding
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Partnerships with non-EU countries
Through Heading 6, the EU addresses global challenges, supports human rights, and promotes sustainable development worldwide. It includes key instruments like the NDICI – Global Europe instrument which channels significant Official Development Assistance (ODA) to countries in need and supports EU values globally.
The MFF is not just about budgeting—it defines how the EU chooses to engage with the world. For civil society, development organisations, and global partners, the MFF is a powerful tool for:
- Poverty Reduction
- Promoting Democracy and Human Rights
- Tackling Climate Change
- Supporting Countries in Crisis
CONCORD’s work on the MFF is part of a dedicated project, Financing and Funding for Sustainable Development.
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OUR PRIORITIES
Protect and increase ODA
Ensure the EU meets its 0.7% GNI target for development aid, protects aid from budget cuts, and keeps at least 93% of external funding DAC-compliant.
Safeguard international cooperation instruments
Maintain a dedicated tool for international cooperation with strong support for human development, gender equality, and civil society.
Promote human rights and inclusion
Make human development and a rights-based approach the foundation of EU external action, focusing on the most marginalised groups.
Support civil society
Provide flexible, predictable, and accessible funding for civil society organisations—especially those operating in fragile or high-risk environments.
MFF PROCESS
Negotiating the MFF is a complex, multi-year process that begins well before a formal proposal is published. Here’s a top-line look at how it unfolds:
Early Consultations
Informal talks, debates, and stakeholder engagement shape inital ideas and priorities.
Commission Proposal
The European Commission publishes a draft MFF, which sets off formal negotiations.
Negotiations Across Institutions
Member States
The Council of the EU
The European Parliament
Role of Civil Society
Organizations like CONCORD engage throughout:
Influencing national and EU decision-makers
Defending aid effectiveness and policy priorities
Monitoring how funds are implemented and spent
For more details on the process see the timeline below.
TIMELINE
LATEST PUBLICATION
As the EU prepares the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), it must prioritise the development of a coherent international cooperation strategy that is both predictable and flexible, complementing the financial framework, to ensure funding reaches those most in need while maintaining the ability to respond to emerging crises.
This position paper aims to complement CONCORD’s first position paper Shaping International Partnerships: Budgeting our Common Future. It presents key recommendations to ensure that the EU’s international partnerships adhere to its commitment to global development principles, and provides a framework to uphold the integrity of ODA.
Latest News
Shaping the EU’s Long-Term Budget: Key Takeaways from the European Parliament’s INI Report on the MFF
On May 7, the European Parliament adopted its own-initiative (INI) report on the renewal of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the EU’s long-term budget. This marks a key milestone in the negotiations for the next MFF, which will begin in 2028 and run until...
