COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying the document COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS A dynamic EU Budget for the priorities of the future
Date: 2025-07-16
Institutions: European Commission, Secretariat-General
Subjects: EU budget, EU expenditure, budgetary procedure, budgetary resources, commitment of expenditure, financial management, financing of the EU budget, multiannual financial framework

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 16.7.2025  SWD(2025) 571 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying the document COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS A dynamic EU Budget for the priorities of the future {COM(2025) 570 final} - {SWD(2025) 570 final}  
 
 
1.  INTRODUCTION 

This Staff Working Document (SWD) accompanies the Communication on a dynamic EU Budget for 
the priorities of the future and provides an overview of the results of the European Citizens’ Panel on 
“A new European budget fit for our ambitions”. 

The annex provides the final twenty-three recommendations put forward by the citizens in the context 
of this Panel. 

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2.  GLOSSARY 

Term or acronym 

Citizens’ panel 

instrument 

Meaning or working definition – the proposed 
definitions  are  for  the  sole  purpose  of  this 
document and its understanding 
Innovative  democratic 
that  puts 
citizens  at  the  centre  of  public  policymaking. 
Randomly  selected  citizens  from  all  27  EU 
Member  States  come  together  to  discuss  key 
forthcoming proposals at the European level and 
the  European 
make  recommendations 
Commission  will  take  into  consideration  when 
defining its political goals and concrete policies. 

that 

Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 

The technical name for the long-term EU budget 
that establishes the revenue and spending of the 
EU over a longer time horizon (usually 7 years). 

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3.  CITIZENS’ PANEL ON “A NEW EUROPEAN BUDGET FIT FOR OUR AMBITIONS” 

Following  up  on  the  final  recommendations  of  the  Conference  on  the  Future  of  Europe,  in  its 
Communication “Putting Vision into Concrete Action” (of 17 June 2022), the Commission committed 
to enabling citizens’ panels to deliberate and make recommendations ahead of certain key proposals. 

In the context of the European Commission’s preparation for its proposal for the next long-term budget 
of 16 July 2025 the European Commission took the initiative of organising a European Citizens’ Panel 
to  deliberate  on  ideas  for  the  next  EU  Budget  during  the  first  half  of  2025.  This  Panel  brought 
together 150 randomly selected citizens from all 27 EU Member States during three sessions, taking 
place  on  28-30  March,  25-27  April,  and  16-18  May,  to  answer  the  following  question:  “What 
priorities and actions funded by the EU bring the most added value to our common future?” 

There were two main dimensions to this question:  1. What priorities should the EU budget support?; 
2.  Which  actions  (e.g.  types  of  projects)  should  the  EU  budget  support  to  help  deliver  on  those 
priorities? 

3.1 The Panel 

To ensure a fair and representative approach, where every citizen of the EU should have an equal chance 
of being invited, 150 participants to the European Citizens’ Panel were randomly selected from across 
all 27 Member States by democratic lottery and a door-to-door approach was used. 

Supported by information material, experts’ input and discussions in plenaries and working groups, the 
citizens participating in this panel discussed ideas and principles to guide the proposal for the next long- 
term EU Budget. 

3.2 The Recommendations 

In their work to develop the recommendations and despite the complexity of the topic, citizens showed 
a high level of commitment to the discussion and engaged in constructive debates with their peers. For 
many citizens, this was the first experience of participatory democracy and the first time they engaged 
with the EU budget at large. Notwithstanding the diversity of the group, citizens concurred on a number 
of shared expectations and hopes for the future of the EU budget and, more generally, the EU. 

The 23 recommendations of this Panel – as listed in the annex – take a broad, future-oriented look at 
the EU budget and highlight the most urgent challenges that citizens believe the future EU budget should 
address.  Citizens  call  for  an  EU  that  is  fair  and inclusive,  sovereign  and  secure,  sustainable and 
prosperous and deeply connected to its people and an EU budget that helps prepare for the future 
priorities of the EU and that can be equipped to address unforeseen challenges that may arise. 

In  an  overarching  guiding  recommendation  on  prioritising  a  strong  future-ready  EU  Budget, 
citizens recommend that an adequately funded EU budget: 

•  Strengthens our shared values by promoting and reinforcing common principles and beliefs 

to unite the European community and safeguard the EU project. 

•  Ensures solidarity between Member States by fostering mutual support and cooperation to 

address common challenges and promote collective well-being. 

•  Reduces  inequalities  by  addressing  disparities  within  and  between  Member  States,  with 

special attention to more vulnerable groups. 

•  Considers  the  environmental  and  climate  impact  by  prioritising  sustainability  and  the 
protection of the ecosystems and their biodiversity, while taking into account the different needs 
of European regions. 

•  Strengthens  competitiveness  of  the  economy  across  Member  States  by  allowing  each 

Member State to allocate funds based on their specific needs. 

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•  Enables swift and flexible action by ensuring the EU can respond quickly to urgent challenges, 

unforeseen needs, as well as to opportunities, while maintaining long-term focus. 

•  Ensures  transparency  and  accountability  on  all  levels  by  providing  clear  information  on 
investment criteria, spending, and impact, to prevent corruption and misuse of EU funds. 
•  Promotes decentralisation with strong and transparent oversight  by tailoring policies to 

• 

regional needs while ensuring robust EU-level control to avoid abuse. 
Improves communication and citizen engagement by making EU actions more visible and 
understandable, actively involving citizens in decisions and reflecting their needs in the budget. 
The EU should also promote its projects and successes more openly. 

•  Ensure that the needs and interests of the European Union, its Member States and its citizens 
are met. Internal stability and prosperity should be considered while also extending support to 
non-EU countries. 

•  Guarantees feasibility, efficiency, and maximised impact by ensuring projects are realistic, 
cost-effective, and benefit as many citizens and Member States as possible, with clearly defined 
goals and measurable outcomes. 

Following this guiding recommendation, citizens provided a further 22 recommendations focusing on 
more specific policy areas where they see a clear added value for the EU budget to be deployed. 

4.  NEXT STEPS 

Many of the citizens’ recommendations have fed into the European Commission’s proposal for the next 
long-term EU budget, published on 16 July 2025. 

The Guiding Recommendation, calling for a “strong future-ready EU Budget,” is embedded in the 
overall ambition and rationale of the new MFF. The Commission’s proposal is designed not only to 
meet Europe’s current challenges, from new geopolitical challenges, security, competitiveness to the 
green and digital transitions, but also to equip the Union with the strategic capacity and resilience to act 
in  the  face  of  future  crises  and  to  build  an  independent  Europe.  The  proposal’s  streamlined  and 
modernised structure will allow for faster deployment of funds and easier reallocation across budgetary 
instruments when needed, especially in times of crisis, which also addresses the Panel’s specific request 
for a more responsive and flexible EU budget. 

To help reduce regional disparities and ensure fair opportunities across all Member States, the new 
National and Regional Partnership Plans will provide tailored-made support to Member States and 
regions  according  to  their  regional  level  of  development.  These  plans  will  provide  for  needed 
investments and reforms  and promote vibrant rural communities, including in agriculture, fisheries, 
aquaculture  and  blue  economy  while  continuing  the  EU’s  long-standing  commitment  to  cohesion, 
social, agricultural  and  fisheries  policies. They will be developed and implemented in partnership 
with national and regional authorities, in full respect of subsidiarity. . 

On  the  economic  and  innovation  front,  the  proposal  responds  to  citizens’  emphasis  on 
competitiveness,  technology  and  sustainability.  The  new  European  Competitiveness  Fund  will 
answer to the  challenges  outlined by  the  Draghi and Letta  report  and bring  support to  scale-up  and 
strategic investment in areas such as clean tech, biotech, semiconductors, defence and space, ensuring 
Europe  can  lead  in  a  rapidly  evolving  world.  The  Fund  will  also  work  hand-in-hand  with  Horizon 
Europe, supporting a full innovation pipeline from research to market. In addition, the Single Market 
Programme  and  the  Connecting  Europe  Facility  will  strengthen  critical  infrastructure,  including 
sustainable transport, energy security, and dual-use mobility. 

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Citizens also called for stronger EU action on migration and inclusion. In response, targeted support 
for integration policies, including language learning, housing, education and social cohesion will be 
embedded in the new National and Regional Partnership Plans. 

Education and skills were high on the Panel’s agenda. The next MFF will place a renewed emphasis on 
the Erasmus+ programme, reskilling and upskilling in strategic sectors via the Competitiveness Fund 
which will be central to building a Union of Skills, tackling long-term skills gaps, boosting inclusion, 
and supporting lifelong learning, mobility, and capacity-building across the EU. 

For external policy, the revamped Global Europe Fund will strengthen the EU’s role as a global actor. 
It will align EU external action with strategic interests and values, reinforcing partnerships, supporting 
democracy and development, and addressing shared global challenges. 

The MFF proposal also reflects citizens’ priorities on environment and sustainability. The National 
and Regional Partnership Plans will include climate action, biodiversity protection, water resilience and 
sustainable land use as core objectives. The Competitiveness Fund will also support related research 
and innovation, and will support the deployment of most promising projects , such as cross-border clean 
energy projects and circular economy investments. 

Issues of defence, cybersecurity and digital sovereignty also feature strongly in the proposal, with 
reinforced  investment  in  joint  capabilities,  secure  infrastructure,  and  advanced  technologies.  Key 
elements  will  be  delivered  through  the  Competitiveness  Fund,  the  Connecting  Europe  Facility,  and 
specific strands of the National and Regional Partnership Plans. 

These are just a few examples of how the citizens’ voice has helped shape the EU’s future budget. The 
Commission has listened carefully to the concerns, aspirations and suggestions of the Citizens’ Panel. 
Many have been translated into concrete proposals for actions in the next MFF; others will continue to 
inspire future initiatives and legislative proposals. 

With the Commission proposal now on the table, the next step is for the European Parliament and 
the Council to engage in negotiations. The long-term budget must be adopted unanimously by the 27 
Member  States  in  the  Council,  after  obtaining  the  consent  of  the  European  Parliament.  Individual 
spending programmes for 2028–2034 will be co-decided by the Parliament and the Council. 

The citizens’ recommendations have brought fresh perspective to this process. As negotiations begin, 
their voice will remain an important reference point for shaping a budget that delivers — for the Union, 
for the Member States, and for the people. 

5 

 
 
Annex 1: Final recommendations of the European Citizens’ Panel on a new European budget fit 
for our ambitions 

Disclaimer: The views presented in this report are not the views of the European Commission but 
of the citizens who participated in the panel. It cannot in any circumstances be regarded as the 
official position of the Commission or its services. 

Introductory Statement 

‘Over three weekends, we, the European Citizens’ Panel on a new European budget fit for our ambitions, 
composed of 150 randomly selected citizens from the 27 EU Member States, discussed what priorities 
and actions funded by the EU bring the most added value to all of us. We have diverse backgrounds, yet 
we have shared expectations and hopes for the future of the EU. We imagine an EU that is fair and 
inclusive, sovereign and secure, sustainable and prosperous and deeply connected to its people. We 
recognise that there are challenges and trade-offs between different goals and priorities. To meet our 
ambitions in the long run while taking into consideration these challenges and trade-offs in the short 
run, we agree that our set of principles should guide choosing the right priorities for the next EU budget. 

For  us  it  is  essential,  that the  new  European  budget helps to  prepare  for  the  future  of  the  EU,  its 
Member States, and its citizens. Strategic planning and actions that ensure long-term sustainability 
and  resilience  are  crucial.  This  involves  investing  in  education,  innovation,  security,  defence, 
environment, infrastructure,  health care  and communication to  build  a  robust  foundation for future 
generations. For this an adequately funded EU budget should focus on: 

Strengthening our shared EU values enshrined in the treaties: Promoting and reinforcing common 
principles and beliefs to unite the European community and safeguard the EU project. 

Ensuring solidarity between Member States: Mutual support and cooperation in equitable and fair 
conditions among EU countries ensure that resources, knowledge, and assistance are shared to address 
common challenges and promote collective well-being in all areas of our societies. 

Reducing  inequalities:  Implementing  measures  that address  and  mitigate  disparities  within  the  EU 
creates a more equitable and inclusive environment for all – both Member States and citizens. Special 
attention should be on more vulnerable groups. 

Considering  the  environmental  and  climate  impact:  Prioritising  sustainability  and  protecting 
ecosystems  and  their  biodiversity  which  is  important  to  maintain  and  improve  our  quality  of  life. 
However,  environmental  and  climate  goals  need  to  be  aligned  with  other  values  and  goals  such  as 
affordability of life and competitiveness and take regional differences into account. 

Strengthening  the  competitiveness  of  the  economic  sector  of  the  EU  and  across  Member  States 
considering their diverse needs. A need-based approach enables each Member State to allocate funds 
according to their specific requirements without impeding others. For this, continuous investment in 
education is essential. 

While we believe that it is important to keep an eye on the long-term impact of the EU Budget, it is 
important to be able to act with urgency and flexibility. Swift and decisive actions are necessary to 
address  immediate  challenges,  unforeseen  needs  and  opportunities,  ensuring  that  the  EU  remains 
responsive and proactive. This dual approach ensures that systems and policies are resilient in the face 
of risks and challenges. Maintaining this balance will help uphold the EU's autonomy and independence 
while fostering a dynamic and forward-looking environment. 

For the future EU Budget we believe it is important to ensure transparency at all levels. Accountability 
about  investment  criteria,  spending,  and  their  impact  fosters  trust  and  prevents  misspending  and 

6 

 
 
 
corruption. Decentralisation and regionalisation can be helpful to tailor actions and policies to the 
specific needs of different areas. Maintaining a strong and transparent centralised oversight by the EU 
is necessary to prevent abuse and corruption.  Access to relevant information and visibility  must be 
ensured to the public. Broad and clear communication ensures that actions, decisions, and their impact 
are visible and understandable to all citizens and stakeholders while fostering trust. The EU should 
promote its projects and wins more openly. In addition, the EU should continue to actively engage with 
citizens to understand their perspectives and incorporating their input into decision-making processes 
ensuring that the budget reflects what truly matters to the people. It is important to ensure that the needs 
and interests of the European Union, its Member States and its citizens are met. Internal stability and 
prosperity  should  be  considered  while  also  extending  support  or  resources  to  non-EU  countries.  A 
stronger and more cohesive EU can better invest in the rest of the world. 

In addition to these principles, actions and projects funded by the EU budget should ensure: 

Feasibility.  Proposed  actions  or  projects  should  be  practical  and  achievable  within  a  reasonable 
timeframe  and  given  constraints,  making  plans  realistic  and  implementable.  Defined  targets  and 
milestones help measure if the criteria are met successfully within the budgetary lifecycle. 

Efficiency.  Achieving  desired  outcomes  with  efficient  use  of  resources,  time,  and  effort  maximises 
productivity and minimises waste of money. This includes considering the short- and long-term cost- 
benefit ratio and ensuring that money spent has a tangible impact. 

Maximised Impact. Implementing measures that benefit as many Member States as possible and have 
a  direct  and  positive  impact  on  the  daily  lives  of  citizens  ensures  widespread  positive  outcomes. 
Measures should be measurable and assessed. 

Taking these principles and criteria to our hearts, we, citizens of the 27 European Union Member States, 
recommend putting an emphasis on the following priorities to fulfil our common ambitions.’ 

Final Recommendations 

01 - Guiding Recommendation: Prioritising a strong future-ready EU Budget 

We, the European Citizens’ Panel on a new European budget fit for our ambitions, composed of 150 
randomly  selected  citizens,  from  the  27  EU  Member  States,  recommend  that  the  new  EU  budget 
prioritises the future of all European citizens by focusing on short and long-term sustainability, strategic 
action, and shared values. 

Over three weekends of discussions, we identified key principles to guide the next EU budget (described 
in  the  previous  introductory  statement).  The  budget  must  reflect  the  collective  ambitions  of  a  fair, 
inclusive, sovereign, secure, sustainable, and prosperous Europe that is deeply connected to its people. 
We call for a budget that is both future-oriented and responsive to immediate needs, while remaining 
transparent, efficient, and impactful. 

To achieve this, we recommend that an adequately funded EU budget: 

•  Strengthens our shared values by promoting and reinforcing common principles and beliefs 

to unite the European community and safeguard the EU project. 

•  Ensures solidarity between Member States by fostering mutual support and cooperation to 

address common challenges and promote collective well-being. 

•  Reduces  inequalities  by  addressing  disparities  within  and  between  Member  States,  with 

special attention to more vulnerable groups. 

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•  Considers  the  environmental  and  climate  impact  by  prioritising  sustainability  and  the 
protection of the ecosystems and their biodiversity, while taking into account the different needs 
of European regions. 

•  Strengthens  competitiveness  of  the  economic  sector  across  Member  States  by  allowing 

each Member State to allocate funds based on their specific needs. 

•  Enables swift and flexible action by ensuring the EU can respond quickly to urgent challenges, 

unforeseen needs, as well as to opportunities, while maintaining long-term focus. 

•  Ensures  transparency  and  accountability  on  all  levels  by  providing  clear  information  on 
investment criteria, spending, and impact, to prevent corruption and misuse of EU funds. 
•  Promotes decentralisation with strong and transparent oversight by tailoring policies to 

• 

regional needs while ensuring robust EU-level control to avoid abuse. 
Improves communication and citizen engagement by making EU actions more visible and 
understandable, actively involving citizens in decisions and reflecting their needs in the budget. 
The EU should also promote its projects and wins more openly. 

•  Ensuring  that  the  needs  and  interests  of  the  European  Union,  its  Member  States  and  its 
citizens are met. Internal stability and prosperity should be  considered while also extending 
support to non-EU countries. 

•  Guarantees feasibility, efficiency, and maximised impact by ensuring projects are realistic, 
cost-effective, and benefit as many citizens and Member States as possible, with clearly defined 
goals and measurable outcomes. 

02 – Ensuring environmental protection and economic success at the same time 

We recommend that the EU budget is used specifically to create conditions in which environmental 
protection and economic success are no longer mutually exclusive. The aim is to promote sustainable 
innovation and ensure that clean technologies, climate friendly mobility and environmentally friendly 
business models gradually gain importance and eventually become the economic norm – including for 
small and medium-sized enterprises, also for agriculture. 

Justification 

Environmental protection can only succeed in the long term if it is possible to protect the environment 
and remain economically successful at the same time. Conversely, the protection of natural resources is 
only possible in the long term if economic stability is also ensured. 

Through joint measures, the EU can strengthen the competitiveness of its Member States and create fair 
conditions for sustainable business across Europe. The EU budget can act as a lever to support and 
accelerate environmentally friendly reforms in the Member States. 

The  focus  should  be  on  the  clean  technology  sector  and  sustainable  business  models.  Small  and 
medium-sized  enterprises  in  particular  need  support  here.  People  on  low  incomes  must  not  be 
disadvantaged during the transition – the change must be socially just. The EU budget should be used 
specifically  to  promote  national  reforms,  i.e.  through  tax  incentives  or  targeted  investments.  The 
strengthening of intra-European, cross-border rail transport can only succeed if the European Union 
takes on a pioneering role here. 

03  –  Encourage  as  many  people  as  possible  in  Europe  and  beyond  to  take  responsibility  for 
protecting nature and natural resources through environmental education and other measures 

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The  protection of nature  and  natural resources  will only succeed if  as  many countries  as  possible  – 
inside and outside Europe – seriously contribute. The EU should set a good example. The EU budget 
should  be  used  to  support  the  Member  States  in  making  the  transition  to  greater  sustainability  in  a 
socially  just  manner,  to  strengthen  the  environmental  awareness  of  the  population  and  to  demand 
compliance with comparable environmental standards in international partnerships. 

Justification 

Environmental  protection  and  nature  conservation  are  the  basis  for  health,  quality  of  life  and  the 
preservation of biodiversity. People need to be motivated to behave in an environmentally conscious 
manner – and for this they need the necessary knowledge, support, and offers that they can afford. 

In  many  cases,  environmental  protection  can  be  organised  more  effectively  if  it  is  coordinated  at 
European level. Knowledge, resources and experience can be better pooled together. Awareness-raising 
campaigns,  environmental  education,  common  standards  or  international  partnerships  then  have  a 
greater impact than if each country acts individually. The EU budget can be used specifically to facilitate 
or strengthen such transnational measures. 

Environmental education should be strengthened in all Member States – i.e., through teacher training 
and targeted campaigns. People with low incomes should be given special support in the transition to 
greater sustainability. International cooperation should be linked to environmental and social standards 
to avoid distortions of competition. 

04 - Reducing regional disparities through the expansion of essential infrastructure and services 

Ensure  that  every  region,  particularly  rural  and  underdeveloped  areas,  has  reliable  24/7  access  to 
essential  services  such  as  drinkable  water,  electricity,  healthcare,  education,  and  job  opportunities. 
These  basic  conditions  are  fundamental  for  a  decent  quality  of  life  and  must  be  secured  before 
addressing other development aspects. It is crucial to ensure equal access to both hard infrastructure 
(water, electricity, internet, transport) and soft infrastructure (healthcare, education, mobility) across all 
EU  regions,  with  a  focus  on  standardisation  and  harmonisation,  particularly  in  underdeveloped  or 
lagging areas. 

Justification 

Equal  access  to  basic  infrastructure  is  essential  for  improving  quality  of  life,  reducing  regional 
disparities,  and  ensuring  social  inclusion  across  the  EU.  It  directly  supports  the  goals  of  territorial 
cohesion and the well-being of all citizens. 

Harmonisation of basic services also reflects core EU values of equality and solidarity. Through shared 
standards and coordinated investment, the EU can help close development gaps and guarantee equal 
opportunities regardless of geographical location. 

Efforts must prioritise underdeveloped and rural areas, where infrastructure is often lacking. A balance 
must be struck between respecting national specificities and applying EU-wide standards. Risk of one- 
size-fits-all approaches should be managed carefully, and proximity to services should be ensured in 
both rural and urban contexts. 

05 – A Future in the countryside: Combating rural exodus through education, jobs, and housing 

We recommend preventing rural exodus of young people and skilled workers, qualified educational 
opportunities and access to jobs as well as affordable housing are needed. A lack of affordable housing 

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
is not just a rural problem, but also a challenge in cities. These would be relieved if more people stayed 
in the countryside. 

Justification 

The rural exodus is not a problem of individual  countries, but a European problem, which is why it 
should also be solved at European level. 

This recommendation supports reducing regional disparities and ensuring territorial cohesion—core EU 
values. Equal access to education helps people build meaningful careers without needing to migrate to 
urban  centres  or  other  countries.  Affordable  housing  prevents  exclusion  and  displacement  and  is 
necessary to support social stability. Education and housing are both vital to enabling balanced regional 
development and preventing rural decline. 

National  efforts  have  often  proven  insufficient  or  outdated.  EU  action  can  bring  faster  and  more 
harmonised solutions, such as coordinated rules to avoid rent speculation, including the introduction of 
rent  ceilings  or  standardised  rent  calculation  methods  inspired  by  best  practices  (e.g.  former  Italian 
legislation).  EU-level  programmes  can  also  support  cross-border  educational  exchanges  and  help 
replicate initiatives beyond major cities, ensuring all regions benefit. 

Implementation requires strong coordination between EU and national governments. Special attention 
should  be  given  to  underdeveloped  and rural  areas,  where  access  to  education  and  housing  is  often 
limited.  Member  States  must  commit  to  developing  and  expanding  educational  and  housing 
programmes  beyond  large  urban  centre.  Risks  include  resistance  to  rent  regulation  and  market 
liberalisation trends; therefore, clear frameworks and a merit-based, data-driven approach are needed 
to balance market flexibility with social protection. 

06 – Meaningful and sustainable inclusion of migrants and refugees for a stronger Europe 

We recommend that the EU Budget helps Member States invest more in migrant and refugee inclusion, 
with a robust mechanism to monitor these actions. Inclusion must build on mutual respect. This means 
that migrants and refugees receive access to language learning, socio-professional opportunities, and 
targeted  protection  and  psychological  support  for  vulnerable  groups.  Host  communities  should  be 
supported to provide information about their legal system, including human rights and legal rights of 
women  and  children,  promote  tolerance  and  intercultural  understanding  through  education  and 
community  initiatives  (e.g.,  sports  and  peer-learning  activities).  Additionally,  to  increase  awareness 
among host communities, they should implement anti-discrimination and intercultural understanding 
through  the  education  systems,  public  awareness  campaigns  and  social  media.  Beyond  legal  or 
emergency aid, the focus should be on long-term community resilience. Additional resources should 
support Member States facing greater challenges and embrace the solidarity principle. The EU must 
also  secure  its  external  borders  and  create  a  fair,  coordinated  system  for  reception  and  distribution, 
ensuring balanced responsibility and solidarity across the Union. 

Justification 

Migration has the potential to enrich European societies socially, culturally, and economically. It should 
be met with preparedness, guided by a clear vision, and supported by a strategic, shared, inclusive, and 
sustained  approach  to  inclusion.  Yet  many  migrants  and  refugees  face  systemic  barriers:  language 
difficulties, blocked access to jobs, the scars of trauma and violence,  discrimination, and the risk of 
exploitation, challenges that are particularly acute for women, girls, and children. These realities not 
only  violate  human  rights  and  obstruct  their  full  participation  in  society  but  also  deprive  European 
societies of the energy, skills, and perspectives that migrants bring. At the same time, prejudice and fear 
of  the  “foreign”  continue  to  drive  exclusion  across  the  EU,  denying  migrants  their  full  rights  and 

10 

 
 
 
 
reducing the host societies’ ability to benefit from their potential. Additionally, the unequal distribution 
of the responsibility for hosting and including refugees among Member States threatens cohesion and 
solidarity, increases tensions and limits the effectiveness of EU-wide responses. 

Visionary and united EU action can make migration a catalyst for a stronger and more resilient Europe. 
One that lives up to its values and where everyone can contribute, belong, and thrive. 

The EU plays a key role in ensuring a coordinated, inclusive, and rights-based approach to migration 
and asylum policy. It can harmonise policies across Member States, reduce disparities in responsibility- 
sharing,  and  provide  targeted  funding  to  most  affected  regions.  The  EU  can  support  inclusion 
programmes for civil society, local authorities, and businesses that help foster social cohesion, mobility, 
reduce inequalities, and enable migrants to contribute fully to their host communities. By acting at the 
EU  level,  Member  States  can  share  expertise,  reduce  inefficiencies,  and  increase  solidarity,  while 
building  a  more  resilient  and  socially  cohesive  Europe.  Investment  in  inclusion  also  enhances  the 
Union’s social and economic sustainability, ensuring that all residents, including migrants and asylum 
seekers can actively contribute to Europe’s future. 

As conditions of success, we believe that the EU should ensure that migrants understand and respect 
the host country’s culture and core values, especially human rights, legal rights of women and children 
and gender equality. This must also include information campaigns to educate men who are often the 
cause  of  abuse.  They  also  should  ensure  fair  distribution  of  responsibilities  across  Member  States, 
proportional to the size of each Member State, with additional support to countries receiving a higher 
number  of  migrants  and  recognise  the  right  to  work  for  legally  residing  refugees  and  facilitate  the 
recognition  of  qualifications  from  countries  of  origin.  The  EU  should  also  embed  intercultural 
understanding and anti-discrimination in education systems, public communication and social media 
education  and  establish  monitoring  mechanisms  to  track  the  effectiveness  and  fairness  of  inclusion 
policies  and  budget allocations.  Finally,  the  EU  should  pay  special  attention to  the  most vulnerable 
people in migration, such as women and children who suffer specific violence and abuse and ensure 
greater flexibility to access and distribution of the fund responding to the emergencies and constant 
crises. 

07 – Budget support for equal access to healthcare, medicine production, and cross-border care 
in the EU 

We  recommend  that  the  EU  budget  supports  investments  in  healthcare,  digitalisation  of  medical 
systems,  significant  funding  for  research  initiatives,  projects  increasing  medicine  transparency  and 
affordability,  and  strategic  autonomy  in  pharmaceutical  production.  This  includes  financing  cross- 
border healthcare cooperation through a common European health card and supporting telemedicine 
with extended service hours. 

Justification 

This is important because significant disparities in healthcare access and high medicine prices create 
barriers  for  EU  citizens.  Supporting  EU  medicine  production  increases  strategic  autonomy  and  can 
potentially lower medicine costs. A coordinated approach to cross-border healthcare enables citizens to 
access  specialist  care  regardless  of  their  location  and  strengthens  the  EU's  resilience  during  health 
crises. 

Cross-border cooperation in healthcare and joint medicine procurement requires EU-level coordination. 
EU funds can support pilot projects and research that individual countries would struggle to finance 
alone. 

11 

 
 
 
 
To be successful, we think that the following actors should be impacted in the first place: regions with 
weaker  healthcare  infrastructure,  pharmaceutical  manufacturing  capacity  within  the  EU,  healthcare 
information systems. 

The EU should aim at finding balance between supporting EU pharmaceutical production and ensuring 
competitive pricing; and coordination with existing healthcare competences of member states. There is 
a need to ensure that pharmaceutical companies receiving EU funding maintain fair pricing practices. 
Finally,  more  coordination  between  EU  research  programmes  on  innovative  medical  devices  and 
treatments that may reduce long-term costs is necessary. 

08 – Supporting mental health for all age groups through integrated EU budget actions 

We recommend that the EU budget finances comprehensive mental health programs targeting all age 
groups and including research, prevention initiatives, treatment support, and awareness campaigns to 
reduce  stigma.  Particular  attention  should  be  paid  to  go  beyond  existing  programs,  improving  data 
collection systems, and supporting knowledge exchange between healthcare professionals. 

Justification 

Mental health challenges affect citizens of all ages across Europe, from children and youth to working 
adults and the elderly. Rising rates of mental health issues, including suicide, demand both targeted 
interventions for specific groups (such as youth and the elderly) and improvements to overall mental 
healthcare  systems.  Early intervention  and  destigmatisation  can  significantly improve  outcomes  and 
reduce long-term costs. 

EU-level  coordination  enables  better  understanding  of  cross-border  mental  health  trends  through 
standardised  data  collection  and  reporting.  Pan-European  campaigns  can  more  effectively  combat 
stigma,  while  knowledge  exchange  through  specialist  committees  and  networks  accelerates 
implementation of effective solutions and therapies across Member States. 

09 - A strong and secure EU against digital threats 

We recommend that the EU Budget focuses on increasing European capacities in cybersecurity, to better 
defend the Union against digital threats. 

Justification 

As digitalisation continues to accelerate across Europe, every citizen, business and organisation faces 
increasing exposure to cyberattacks. Every aspect of our daily lives – from how we make payments to 
our transportation systems – is vulnerable to these digital threats. These attacks target our personal data 
and can potentially disrupt critical services that we all depend upon daily. By improving cybersecurity 
through targeted EU budget allocations, we can better protect the functioning of our states and their 
critical infrastructure, as well as our economy. This investment would ensure that the personal data of 
ordinary citizens, as well as sensitive information held by businesses and public organisations, receives 
proper protection against increasingly sophisticated threats. 

These digital challenges concern all Member States equally, yet they all lack sufficient expertise and 
technology  to  counter  them  effectively  on  their  own.  Thus,  there  is  a  clear  need  for  exchange  and 
coordination among EU Member States, in order to pool resources and expertise at the European level 
and thus develop more effective defences that benefit everyone. 

12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Crucially,  people's  data  security  should  be  enhanced  without  constraining their  personal liberties  or 
privacy. 

10 - A more independent EU in the field of defence 

We  recommend  that  the  European  Union  allocates  budget  funding  to  strengthen  defence  capacities 
across Member States and promote military harmonisation within the EU. 

Justification 

Enhancing our defence independence is essential because it allows the EU to protect its citizens without 
being overly reliant on external powers (e.g. the US) who may be unable or unwilling to assist. 

Addressing defence needs at the EU level offers significant added value: By aligning military equipment 
and munitions across Member States, we can reduce overall costs while increasing the interoperability 
of our national armies. 

11 – Ensure that all young people have the opportunity to enter the labour market under fair and 
decent working conditions 

We recommend that the EU actively supports access to quality and secure employment for all young 
people. Regardless of their level of education – whether from schools or universities – young people 
across the EU should be supported in finding their place in the labour market. To do so, they need access 
to  information  about  in-demand  sectors,  networking  opportunities,  professional  experience,  and 
practical pathways to employment. 

Justification 

Unemployment is  a  major issue  both at the  individual  and  national  level.  For  individuals, it  creates 
significant  disadvantages  and  can  lead  to  psychological  distress.  At  national  level,  unemployed 
individuals  do  not  contribute  to  the  economy  and  often  require  financial  support  from  the  state. 
Facilitating access to quality employment for young people will also contribute to the development of 
the EU and the well-being of its citizens. The EU should complement and support the efforts of Member 
States through coordinated action. To make sure that young people can access the labour market they 
need support in securing internships, increased awareness of existing programmes and platforms, as 
well as more knowledge of available opportunities. 

12 – Support the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups 

We  recommend  that the  EU  invests  in  the development  of  a  more resilient  and  equitable  economic 
structure across the EU that enables small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups to thrive 
alongside multinationals. 

Justification 

We think that, historically, the EU's single market has primarily benefited large corporations, which 
have acquired more and more power. We should support SMEs that better fulfil the needs of citizens. 
Many small businesses have disappeared, replaced by larger companies. 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Addressing  this  issue  at  the  EU  level  enables  a  broader,  unified  vision  and  helps  prevent  harmful 
competition between Member States. Expanding the internal market contributes to job creation, reduces 
unemployment, and enhances product quality. 

13 – Strengthen the food system by making large food companies more sustainable and support 
small producers 

We  recommend that  the  EU  uses its  budget to  help building  a  stronger  and more independent food 
system.  This  means  two  things:  first,  making  big  food  companies  use  more  sustainable  methods. 
Second, giving more support to small farmers who really need it. Both are important, if we want to 
increase food security and have better, safer food and more jobs in local areas. 

Justification 

Strengthening these pillars will increase food independence. However, the growth in food production 
must ensure that the food produced is of high quality and sustainable. By making large companies more 
sustainable, the EU can reach the necessary scale for transformation. The EU should focus on supporting 
small farmers and ensure continuity among generations, as there is a bigger need here. By supporting 
small farmers, the EU will create more jobs and be more resilient for future shocks. Local production 
should be promoted even if these local products might entail higher costs, as they are often of higher 
quality. This includes not only the nutrition of the food itself that is consumed but that the production 
is sustainable and meets high environmental standards. 

The EU can make a big difference by bringing countries together, sharing good ideas, and using its 
budget to help farmers big and small. When the EU acts, it can make sure rules are fair and that no 
country is left behind. This helps to make sure that more food is produced in the EU and that our food 
is safe and of high quality everywhere in Europe. 

To make this work, we need to find the right balance. The EU must help both small farmers and big 
companies increase productivity and move toward greener farming. But we also have to make sure food 
does not become too expensive, especially for families with lower incomes. It is important that not only 
well-off citizens get access to better but higher cost products. This can be mitigated by reaching scaling 
effects or financing food programmes. 

There is a tension between competitiveness of the agricultural sector and stepping up sustainability. The 
EU budget should take this tension into consideration and could diffuse it by investing in more research 
and targeted subsidy programs. 

There  could  be  conflicting  goals  if  the  EU  wants  to  increase  food  sovereignty  and  also  promote 
renewable energy. These goals need to be taken into consideration when making an investment decision. 
Fertile land should preferably be used for food production. 

If the EU imports food from other countries, it needs to ensure that the products meet the same standards 
as for the farmers within the EU. 

14 – Empower people in using digital technologies, including AI 

We recommend that the EU budget focuses on making acquiring digital skills accessible for all citizens. 
The goal is to provide autonomy, confidence, and security to all EU citizen in an increasingly digitalised 
world. 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Justification 

It is essential to bridge the digital gap across the European Union. It needs a strong and coordinated 
action at the EU level for ensure that the society stays inclusive, across EU, aligned with solidarity and 
cohesion principles. 

The  development  and  deployment  of  digital  technologies  should  be  done  in  a  way  that  preserves 
people’s personal integrity (data protection, without undermining our intellectual capacities and free 
will),  and  customised  in  a  way  that  protects  younger  users,  as  excessive  exposure  to  digital 
environments can negatively impact children's cognitive development. 

15 – Sovereignty of the EU in digital technologies 

We  recommend  that  the  EU  budget  supports  and  develops  digital  innovations  to  strengthen  digital 
sovereignty of the EU (software, hardware and recycling). 

Justification 

We need to ensure a greater technology independence, resilience and security in an economy that is 
increasingly based on the digital sphere. This strategic issue requires more cooperation, coordination 
and solidarity between countries to combine the strengths of Member States and to ensure that they all 
progress equally fast in their digital development. 

We  should  address  the  environmental  impact  and  the  ethical  issues  for  a  sustainable  and  conscious 
development of digital technologies, especially Artificial Intelligence. We should strengthen research 
in a coordinated way across the EU to be more effective. 

16 – Promote inclusive, high-quality education for all through targeted EU support 

We recommend that the EU prioritises inclusive, high-quality education in its next budget by expanding 
funding  and  enhancing  coordination  and  mobility  across  Member  States.  This  includes  broadening 
access to existing programs which focus on educational mobility, supporting all educational levels (from 
preschool  to  lifelong  learning),  and  ensuring  educational  inclusion  for  students  from  disadvantaged 
backgrounds and students with disability and learning difficulties who can be included, with support, 
in typical education systems. EU action should complement national educational systems and focus on 
the  capacity  building  and  support  of  educators,  as  well  as  in  areas  where  cross-border  cooperation, 
inclusion, and mobility bring added value. 

Justification 

Education  is  fundamental  to  economic  resilience,  democratic  values,  and  social  cohesion.  Tackling 
inequality in  education  helps  address major  EU  challenges  such  as  brain  drain, demographic  shifts, 
youth unemployment, and regional disparities. 

The EU is uniquely positioned to address cross-border educational mobility, regional disparities, and 
inclusion  gaps  that  national  systems  alone  struggle  to  solve.  It  can  support  harmonized  quality 
standards, fund transnational programs, and provide additional resources to less-developed regions. The 
EU  also  fosters  shared  values  (e.g.,  equality,  anti-discrimination)  through  collaborative  education 
programs. 

We believe certain conditions of success are necessary to consider. EU programs should complement 
national efforts, especially in underserved regions and sectors. Funding must prioritize inclusivity (e.g., 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
disadvantaged  groups,  rural  students,  learners  with  disabilities).  Finally,  transparent  criteria  and 
cooperation with national ministries will help ensure uptake and impact. 

17 - Foster a common European identity through education and awareness 

We recommend that the EU prioritises educational initiatives that promote a shared European culture, 
an  appreciation  of  the  cultural  diversity  at  the  core  of  our  shared  EU  identity  and  raise  citizens’ 
awareness of the EU institutions and their roles. This includes information campaigns delivered through 
different  communication  channels,  the  development  of  educational  material  on  the  EU  for  use  in 
schools,  the  provision  of  free  language  learning  programmes,  as  well  as  promoting  interactive  and 
experiential programmes that connect citizens to European values and institutions. 

Justification 

A stronger and more unified Europe depends on citizens who understand and feel connected to European 
institutions  and  values,  and  who  understand  the  strength  in  EU's  cultural  diversity.  However,  many 
people are unaware of the EU’s role in their lives and of the cultural richness of other Member States. 
Enhancing cultural understanding is important to foster solidarity, encourage democratic engagement, 
and build resilience against misinformation or fragmentation. 

The  EU  can  coordinate  and  fund  cross-border  cultural  and  educational  initiatives  that  individual 
Member  State  couldn’t  implement  alone.  By  providing  a  consistent,  high-quality  EU-related  for 
inclusion  in  educational  curricula,  the  EU  can  foster  programmes  that  build  shared  identity  and 
engagement in the understanding of intercultural diversity. 

For such programmes to be effective, they must be inclusive, age-appropriate, and accessible across all 
Member States. In collaboration with national education authorities, national curricula can be enriched 
with freely available educational material provided by the EU. Moreover, interactive tools should be 
engaging and modern, appealing to younger audiences. European Schools and exchange programmes 
should emphasise unity in diversity and democratic participation. 

18 – Smart Europe: 'click and get it done' 

We  recommend  that  the  EU  budget  is  used  to  support  the  simplification,  harmonization  and 
digitalisation  of  administrative  procedures  across  Member  States.  The  protection  of  personal  and 
sensitive data must be a core element of all digitalization processes. 

Justification 

Simplified and  harmonized  administrative  procedures  across  the  EU make  citizens’  lives  easier and 
foster  smoother  cooperation  among  Member  States.  These  reforms  also  create  a  more  favourable 
environment for investment, contributing to technological progress, competitiveness and EU growth. 

While most administrative reforms are implemented at national level, the EU budget can play a key 
supporting role by funding the necessary tools—such as digital infrastructure, platforms and training— 
that facilitate national-level reforms. 

This measure should be a service for all, targeted not only at citizens but also for enterprises, society 
and other bodies beyond public administration: accessibility of this service is a key feature for all users. 

Possible risks to consider include the inaccessibility of data if digital services are not functioning, which 
could lead to service disruptions. Additionally, the digitization of personal data may result in the abuse 

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
of sensitive information. Another concern is the risk of hacking of important documents such as ID 
cards, bank cards, and other sensitive materials. 

19 – Understand. Trust. Participate - Building stronger connections between citizens and EU for 
a better tomorrow 

We recommend that the EU budget focuses on fostering stronger connections between citizens and EU 
institutions  by  improving  transparency,  accessibility  to  reliable  information,  accountability, 
communication and citizens’ engagement. It should also support educational and outreach initiatives 
that help citizens better understand the EU and its functioning. 

Justification 

It  is  important  to  invest  in  closer  and  more  transparent  EU  institutions  to  help  build  trust  between 
citizens and institutions and strengthen the unity of the EU. 

The EU budget can support the adaptation and improvement of existing information and engagement 
platforms to better meet citizens’ needs for accessible information. It can also back educational and 
outreach initiatives that increase understanding and engagement across Member States. 

The target audience for these actions should include both individuals and businesses and other entities, 
with a special focus on young people and students. 

A key risk to address is the spread of misinformation at all levels. 

20 – Develop renewable energy to secure our energy sovereignty 

We recommend that the European Union prioritizes a comprehensive and gradual transition towards 
renewable energy sources (e.g., solar, wind, water, hydrogen, geothermal) as much as possible, while 
simultaneously investing in research and development in next-generation technologies, notably to move 
from nuclear to fusion energy in the long term. The energy transition must ensure that renewable energy 
remains affordable and accessible to both residential consumers, public institutions and industries alike. 
The  strategy  should  include  robust  infrastructure  development,  consumer  incentives,  and  research 
funding to position the EU as a global leader in the field of sustainable energy production, storage, 
consumption and recycling. 

Justification 

The energy transition towards renewable is a strategic priority which supports 1) the competitiveness 
of  European  industry  and  job  creations,  2)  our  independence  from  external  suppliers,  and  notably 
Russia, thus ensuring our energy security and 3) the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. 

21 – Strategic strength: Europe's industrial response to global disruption 

We recommend that the EU supports investments in innovative and sustainable technological solutions 
and raw materials. These are essential for our digital and green transformation (e.g., semiconductors, 
batteries,  rare  earths,  solar  panels,  hydrogen  technologies)  and  to  safeguard  the  resilience  and 
independence of European industry. 

Justification 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The European industry is heavily dependent on imports from third countries, especially China, the USA, 
and South Korea (e.g. raw materials, semiconductors). This dependency poses a risk of supply chain 
disruptions, loss of competitiveness, and vulnerability in crisis situations (e.g., pandemics, geopolitical 
tensions). In addition, many of the manufactured goods we are importing do not meet EU environmental 
and  social  standards,  despite  mechanisms  included  in  trade  agreements  with  third  parties  (e.g.  cars, 
textiles, medicines). Investing at EU level in critical technological and material goods can increase the 
resilience  of  the  European  industry  to  global  shocks  and  our  competitiveness  in  the  global  market, 
shorten supply chains and reduce CO2 emissions, contribute to job creation in high-tech sectors. 

22 – Strengthening EU diplomatic alignment via shared values 

We recommend a more robust budget support to EU diplomacy, to strengthen alignment in external 
diplomatic positions, based on a regularly updated set of EU core values and norms. 

Justification 

European values form, despite their diversity, or in part because of it, an important cultural body that 
defines us and that should not be lost. They are also an important tool in our dealings with third parties 
– be it refugees, business partners, other sovereign states, groups and institutions and so on  – while 
respecting  the  sovereignty  and  cultural  differences  between  all  parties  involved  when  dealing  with 
external partners. This common foundation also works as an anchor for a position that all Member States 
can defend, including on such matters like migration and asylum, development aid to third countries, 
diplomatic  relations  with  partners  and  third  countries.  This  common  position  in  turn  considerably 
strengthens the stance of the EU in the world. In particular, a stronger position in matters of development 
aid may help to defuse, prevent or mitigate conflicts, for example by reducing migration pressure or 
avoiding militaristic action. 

The evaluation and improvement of an EU charter of norms and values, the design of a common position 
and its coordinated implementation can only be achieved at European level. 

Decisions  cannot  be  dominated  by  a  country  or  a  group  of  countries.  They  have  to  be  balanced, 
otherwise there is a very high risk of weakening the common position of the EU during negotiations 
and other actions by non-aligned Member-States. 

Ensuring the proper distribution and functioning of the European embassies in non-European countries 
(in addition to those of the member states) allows for specialized points of contact with the policies and 
procedures of the EU. Not having these actively weakens the reach of all measures that the EU promotes 
outside, in particular as they do not have the same mandates as the MS’s embassies. 

The difficulty in identifying who speaks for the EU weakens the EU’s position in negotiations. Ensuring 
that the diplomatic voice of Europe has more visibility and clearer identification, regardless of it being 
a person or a group of people, would address this risk. 

23 – A holistic diplomatic EU plan 

We  recommend  that  the  EU  budget  supports  and  invests  in  areas  like  democracy,  internal  security, 
defence  as  a  deterrent  method,  independence  from  external  actors,  economic  power,  technological 
development and cultural influence to strengthen diplomacy. 

Justification 

18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
The position of the EU in the world and its diplomatic power is very much connected to "soft factors", 
and these are essential in maintaining a position that is unique and valuable. By investing in the quality 
of its democracy, its quality of life, peace inside its borders, innovation and culture, and the synergies 
between them, while at the same time maintaining a defence capability that acts as a deterrent measure, 
we  ensure  the  best  possible  diplomatic  position  in  negotiations  and  all  other  dealings  with  external 
actors. 

Without  coordination  and  concerted  effort  at  the  EU  level,  it  is  not  possible  to  address  unbalanced 
conditions and very discrepant levels in such matters inside the EU. Based on the concept of stronger 
inside, stronger on the outside. 

The full text of the citizens’ recommendations can be consulted in the final report. 

19 

 
 
Annex 2: Assessment and rating of the recommendations 

On the last day of the Panel, participating citizens were asked to provide their assessment of each of the 
22 recommendations (the 23rd guiding recommendation was adopted with the Introductory Statement 
in a separate vote). Here is an overview of the results of this vote, with recommendations sorted based 
on pairwise comparison. 

RANK  Title of recommendation 

Success rate in pairwise 
comparisons 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

Budget    support    for    equal    access    to 
healthcare,  medicine  production,  and 
cross- border care in the EU 
Ensure  that  all  young  people  have  the 
opportunity  to  enter  the  labour  market 
under fair and decent working conditions 
Reducing regional disparities through the 
expansion  of  essential  infrastructure  and 
services 
Promote inclusive high-quality education 
for all through targeted EU support 

72% 

61% 

61% 

59% 

Develop renewable  energy  to  secure  our 
energy sovereignty 

57% 

A  more  independent  EU  in  the  field  of 
defence 

57% 

Strengthen  the  food  system  by  making 
large  food  companies  more  sustainable 
and support small producers 
Supporting  mental  health  for  all  age 
groups  through  integrated  EU  budget 
actions 
Ensuring  environmental  protection  and 
economic success at the same time 

Strategic  strength:  Europe’s  industrial 
response to global disruption 

Support  the  development  of  small  and 
medium-sized enterprises and start-ups 

Encourage as many people as possible in 
Europe and beyond to take responsibility 
for protecting nature and natural resources 
through    environmental    education    and 
other measures. 

55% 

55% 

55% 

54% 

52% 

52% 

support 
of 
Level 
(average note from 1 to 
6) 
and 
Approval  rate  (share 
votes 4-6 
5,29 

93,8% 
5,17 

89,3% 
5,02 

88,6% 
4,98 

89,9% 
5,05 

90% 
4,72 

80,2% 
5,15 

91,5% 
4,97 

87,9% 
4,96 

90,2% 
5,15 

90,8% 
5,22 

95,4% 
4,89 

90,9% 

20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
13 

14 

15 

A  Future  in  the  Countryside:  combating 
rural exodus through education, jobs, and 
housing 

49% 

A  strong  and  secure  EU  against  digital 
threats 

47% 

Sovereignty  of 
technologies 

the  EU 

in  digital 

46% 

16 

Smart Europe: click and get it done 

42% 

17 

18 

19 

20 

21 

Meaningful  and  sustainable  inclusion  of 
migrants  and  refugees  for  a  stronger 
Europe 
Foster  a  common  European  identity 
through education and awareness 

Understand. Trust.  Participate  -  Building 
stronger connections between citizens and 
EU for a better tomorrow. 
Strengthening  EU  diplomatic  alignment 
via shared values 

41% 

40% 

40% 

38% 

Empower 
technologies, including AI 

people 

in 

using 

digital 

34% 

22 

A holistic diplomatic EU plan 

30% 

4,87 

88,5% 

4,97 

84,7% 
4,86 

86,2% 
4,78 

81,4% 
4,44 

75,8% 
4,90 

86,8% 
4,83 

87,5% 
4,55 

80% 
4,56 

83,8% 
4,78 

83,1% 

21