Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034: Council agrees its position on the European Competitiveness Fund

The Council of the European Union has adopted its partial negotiating position on the regulation establishing the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), one of the key instruments of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034. The new fund aims to strengthen the competitiveness of European industry, reduce strategic dependencies and support investment in strategic technologies and industries through a single financing framework capable of leveraging both public and private investment. The Council’s position introduces, among other elements, a stronger role for Member States in the governance of the Fund, enhanced synergies with programmes such as Horizon Europe and InvestEU, and dedicated measures to facilitate SMEs’ access to funding and advisory services. The negotiating mandate will now enable interinstitutional negotiations with the European Parliament, while the financial aspects of the Fund will be agreed as part of the overall negotiations on the next MFF.