EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028 - 2034

The Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) is generally negotiated on two levels: the overall MFF structure and programme regulations. For the music sector, we are especially looking at the following aspects and programmes:

MFF budget and overall structure and set-up:

• General structure and overall budget
• Own resources EU, digital fines
• Indicators and performance framework

Programme regulations (more on the programmes below):

• AgoraEU
• Competitiveness Fund
• Erasmus+
• Horizon Europe
• National and Regional Partnership Plans
• Global Europe

Watch this page for more updates to come on the MFF negotiations

In July 2025, the European Commission presented its proposal for the future Multiannual Financial Framework 2028 – 2034. AgoraEU is the new name for the programme bringing together the Culture strand and MEDIA strand of the (current) Creative Europe programme and the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme. The budget proposed for AgoraEU is 8.6 billion Euro which is distributed across the three strands as follows:

• Creative Europe Culture strand: 1.796 billion Euro
• MEDIA+ strand: 3.194 billion Euro
• Democracy, Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values strand: 3.593 billion Euro

This represents an increase compared to the current programme structure e.g. from 805.9 million Euro in the current Culture strand to the proposed 1.796 billion Euro.

The general objective of the AgoraEU is to “promote cultural and linguistic diversity and heritage, to increase the competitiveness of the cultural and creative sectors, in particular the media and audiovisual industries, to safeguard artistic and media freedom, and to protect and promote equality, active citizenship, rights and values as enshrined in the Treaties and in the Charter, thereby enhancing democratic participation and societal resilience.”

In addition to this general objective, the proposal also defines specific objectives for each programme strand. For the Culture strand the objective is to “contribute to cross-border cultural creation, cooperation, participation and accessibility, and cross-border circulation of a diversity of cultural works, while strengthening the social, economic and international dimensions of the cultural and creative sectors”.

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Responsible committees: Culture and Education (CULT) and Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)

Rapporteurs: Emma Rafowicz (S&D, FR) for CULT and Alice Kuhnke (Greens/EFA, SE)

Draft report discussion in committee expected for June 2026

Vote in EP plenary expected for October/November 2026

The Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYCS) Council is responsible for AgoraEU. Preparatory work takes place in the Cultural Affairs Committee (CAC).

Progress report in the Council on AgoraEU (November 2025):

Recommendations and amendment proposals:

• Re-introduce CCS definition in legal base (similar as in current Creative Europe programme with variations regarding media and audiovisual sectors)
• Re-introduce Programme Committee
• Re-introduce Creative Europe Desks/CERV contact points

Presidency compromise text on AgoraEU (January 2026, published in February 2026) - more details will follow

The European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) combins several instruments of the EU on it's strategic priorities. It merges programmes like Digital Europe, EU4Health, InvestEU and LIFE but also the European Defence Fund and the European Defence Industry Programme. The research programme Horizon Europe is also part of the ECF but has it's separate financial envelope.

For the music sector, the digital leadership component of the ECF is relevant which is set to support start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs in particular on digital and AI technologies, technological sovereignity, advancing digital applications and services etc. It also specifically mentions the 'support to cultural and creative industries, complementing the AgoraEU programme'.

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Responsible committees: Industry, Research and Energy Committee (ITRE)
Rapporteur: Christian Ehler (EPP, DE)

Opinion Culture and Education Committee (CULT)
Rapporteur: Laurence Farreng (Renew, FR)

Draft opinion published on 20 January 2026: includes proposal for more specific references of CCI and culture-specific calls

The Permanent Representatives Committee decided to set up a European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) subgroup within the Ad Hoc Working Party on the MFF. 

Progress report in the Council on the ECF (November 2025):

The latest (published) Revised Presidency text makes additions and deletions in comparison to the Commission proposal. This includes deleting the reference to the cultural and creative industries in the 'Digital Leadership' section.