Cypriot MEP Michalis Hadjipantela stressed the need to balance fiscal discipline with adequate funding for EU institutions, prioritising security, efficiency and responsible use of artificial intelligence, during a European Parliament debate on the EU’s 2027 budget in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
Parliament is expected to vote on its position on the 2027 budget on Wednesday, October 21. Hadjipantela, from the European People’s Party (EPP), is the rapporteur for the budget’s other sections, while Latvian MEP Nils Ušakovs of the Socialists and Democrats (S and D) is responsible for the European Commission section.
Hadjipantela said the budget was being prepared under growing financial pressure, as 2027 marks the final year of the current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
Focusing on Heading 7, which covers EU administrative expenditure, he stressed the need to ensure that European institutions have sufficient resources to fulfil their responsibilities effectively and independently.
“Fiscal discipline is non-negotiable,” he said, adding that European taxpayers expect responsible spending, efficiency and the elimination of unnecessary costs.
However, he warned against cuts that could undermine institutional operations or lead to higher costs in the future, saying the proposed approach was based on justified operational needs rather than reversing every cut proposed by the European Commission.
Hadjipantela also highlighted the potential of new technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, to modernise EU administration and improve efficiency. He stressed that AI must be used responsibly and in line with EU guidelines, while security and institutional resilience should remain key priorities.
Public health priorities
In a separate intervention as rapporteur for the Committee on Public Health (SANT) opinion on the 2027 budget, Hadjipantela called for public health to be treated as a strategic EU priority.
He proposed establishing a European agency for rare diseases to coordinate research, early diagnosis and treatment, ensuring equal access to care.
He also called for continuous support for people on the autism spectrum, from childhood through adulthood, and adequate funding for the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to strengthen medical evacuations and care for war victims.
Call for support ahead of budget vote
In his closing remarks, Hadjipantela said the proposed amendments and accompanying resolution reflected a balanced approach, combining fiscal responsibility with the resources needed for EU institutions to function effectively.
He urged MEPs to support the amendments concerning the budget’s other sections and the resolution, warning that additional changes could weaken the compromise reached ahead of negotiations with the Council.
Fellow rapporteur Nils Ušakovs thanked Hadjipantela and the shadow rapporteurs for their cooperation, saying they had managed to reach a common position despite differences.
He called for unity ahead of the vote to secure a strong negotiating mandate and ensure that the final budget under the current MFF provides a positive basis for the next financial framework.