With the upcoming proposal for the EU’s budget 2028-2034, known as the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), Civil Society Europe (CSE) and our working group on funding have been collaborating to provide civil society’s perspective on this critical matter. This paper outlines our recommendations for the next MFF, taking into account lessons learned from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).

The RRF is a key instrument forming the basis of NextGenerationEU, an economic recovery initiative from the European Commission. Through the facility, the Commission gives loans and grants to support reform and investment plans that are put forward by member states, known as National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs). These reforms and investments should make economies more sustainable and prepared for green and digital transitions, and address specific challenges within the member state identified under the European Semester framework.

In 2020 and 2021, CSE carried out two studies on civil society organisations’ (CSOs) involvement in the RRF and NRRPs. The recommendations outlined here are based on lessons learned from CSOs involvement in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of national plans to implement the RRF. This model has been chosen by the Commission as inspiration for the next MFF.

Read our ten recommendations now. Want to learn more about CSE’s work on the MFF and funding? Click here.