The European Union's Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028-2034: between strategic autonomy, regional cohesion, and geoeconomic competitiveness

This study compares the EU’s 2021–2027 and proposed 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Frameworks through a comparative analysis of official documents and positions of the European Commission, European Parliament and Council of the European Union. It examines the shift toward flexible, performance-based national plans and strategic priorities, alongside Parliament’s call to protect cohesion and agricultural funding and expand the operational budget. The findings reveal major institutional differences over governance, transparency and own resources, with significant risks for Bulgaria and other net beneficiaries. As negotiations remain ongoing, the results constitute an ex-ante institutional-political assessment rather than a causal impact evaluation