The EU’s annual budget passes through agreement and formal adoption
The 2026 budget shows how Parliament and the Council settle the next year’s spending.
The Council and European Parliament reached agreement on the EU's 2026 budget in November 2025. Their negotiations formed part of the annual process that follows the Commission's draft.
Budget documents distinguish commitments from payments. A commitment authorizes spending on an activity, while payment appropriations cover what is expected to be paid in the budget year. Both figures matter when programmes run for several years and the money is paid out in stages.