PRESS RELEASE BY THE OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER The Speaker of the House of Representatives stresses the need for EU budget to reflect realities of smaller Member States

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Carmelo Abela, has underlined the importance of ensuring that the European Union’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034 is ambitious and capable of addressing the geopolitical, economic and strategic challenges facing Europe, without compromising the principles of solidarity, convergence and cohesion on which the EU is founded.

He made these remarks during a meeting of Speakers of Parliament from the V4+ Friends of Cohesion countries, held at Bratislava Castle in Slovakia on 13 November 2026.

Addressing the meeting, Abela argued that while investment in competitiveness for the Union, defence, energy security and European resilience is necessary, these priorities must not come at the expense of Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Both remain essential instruments for promoting balanced development, economic convergence and food security across the Union.

He also stressed that European security should not be viewed solely through a military aspect. Conflict prevention and resolution, dialogue and diplomacy must play an equally important role in addressing tensions, preventing escalation and securing lasting peace. In this regard, the European Union has a particular responsibility to promote peaceful solutions to international disputes, support mediation efforts and strengthen multilateral cooperation.

Highlighting the importance of Cohesion Policy for Malta, Abela noted that it had been instrumental in supporting investment, modernisation and the country's sustainable development. However, he emphasised that Member States do not all face the same circumstances, and that the specific structural challenges confronting small island countries, including insularity, limited land availability, connectivity costs and dependence on external factors, must be adequately taken into account in the allocation and implementation of EU funds.

According to Abela, a fair system for allocating resources cannot rely solely on broad economic indicators but must also take into account the specific vulnerabilities and needs of individual Member States and their regions.

Malta therefore supports an EU budget backed by sufficient resources to guarantee adequate and predictable funding for cohesion and agriculture, while enabling the Union to address emerging priorities. He argued that these objectives, should complement rather than compete with one another for increasingly limited resources.

Turning to the financing of the next Multiannual Financial Framework, the Speaker maintained that the financial burden must be shared fairly and sustainably among Member States. He pointed out that any discussion about increasing national contributions to the EU budget should be accompanied by a thorough review of the administrative expenditure, greater budgetary discipline and a clear commitment to efficiency.

The Speaker also highlighted the important role of national parliaments in the process. As representatives of citizens, national parliaments have a responsibility to scrutinise their respective governments' negotiating positions, examine the implications of proposed budgetary choices and encourage informed democratic debate on the future direction of the European Union.

He described cooperation within the V4+ Friends of Cohesion framework as an important opportunity to exchange views, identify shared concerns and strengthen the parliamentary contribution to negotiations on the next EU budget.

Concluding his address, the Speaker reaffirmed Malta's commitment to continuing to work constructively with its European partners to secure a timely, ambitious and balanced agreement on the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework.

Such an agreement, he said, must provide the resources needed to address Europe's emerging priorities while safeguarding cohesion, agriculture and, above all, the principle of solidarity, which remains at the heart of the European project.