The Battle for the European Budget: How Funds for Latgale, Farmers, and Home Renovation are Secured 0 6

Posts and Responsibility

Nils Ushakov has become the general rapporteur for the EU budget for 2027 this year. He is the first Member of the European Parliament from Latvia and the entire Baltic region to be entrusted with the work on the most important financial document in Europe.

In the previous term, Ushakov already served as the general rapporteur, but at that time it was the budget of the European Parliament. This year, his area of responsibility covers significantly more — the budget of the entire European Union.

Ushakov is also a member of the special working group of his Socialist and Democratic faction on the new multiannual EU budget. Among other things, he is responsible for areas such as civil protection, internal security, transport, energy, and digital infrastructure projects.

The fact that a politician from Latvia holds such responsible positions can certainly be a source of pride. But more importantly — will Ushakov be able to use this position to help Latvia?

Budget Principles

"I have two key tasks ahead of me. The first is a socially just budget overall, for all residents of Europe. The second is the interests and well-being of Central and Eastern Europe, particularly the countries on the eastern border of the European Union, including, of course, Latvia," says Nils Ushakov.

Currently, the very first and important stage of the budget process is underway — the development of principles. Deputies from different factions are negotiating strategic priorities. According to the procedure, principles are adopted in the spring, and then figures are finalized in the autumn.

New Approach

In the draft principles prepared by Ushakov, special attention is given for the first time to border municipalities. This concerns five countries — Latvia with Latgale, Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, and Poland.

The document states: border municipalities and their residents are facing serious economic and social problems due to the war. Therefore, Ushakov proposes to create a special financial support program specifically for border municipalities, for entrepreneurs here, and for ordinary people.

Also, for the first time, the draft explicitly states: farmers from Central and Eastern Europe need fair treatment. It is about the fact that farmers in our countries still receive subsidies that are 20% less than their Western counterparts.

"Border municipalities need money and compensation, not beautiful slogans. And farmers in Central and Eastern Europe must finally receive fair treatment and forget about the inequality that has lasted for years," says Nils Ushakov.

Homes and Medical Professionals

Overall, the principles of the EU budget for 2027 can be described as socially oriented and aimed at the needs of ordinary people. Housing is referred to as a "fundamental right," rather than a way to profit for speculators. This is another innovation — for the first time, there is a call to spend EU money to make housing affordable. In medicine, it is proposed to change priorities: to invest not only in the renovation of facilities but also in the medical professionals themselves.

Multiannual Priorities

In the European Parliament, work is simultaneously underway on the first interim report on the new multiannual budget. Nils Ushakov, along with colleagues from Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Finland, has prepared two amendments. They fully replicate what Ushakov included in the draft principles for the 2027 budget — assistance to border municipalities and fair treatment of farmers from Central and Eastern Europe.

"I am using the work on the 2027 budget also as a bridge to the new multiannual EU budget. And to achieve success, it is very important to unite forces — with other deputies, regardless of political affiliation or geographical origin. We are fighting together," says Nils Ushakov.

European Housing Program and Insulation

Nils Ushakov has managed to make important amendments to the position on the European housing program at the level of the Socialist and Democratic faction. In the new multiannual budget for 2028–2034, funds should be planned not only for the construction of new affordable housing but also for the renovation of housing built during the Soviet era. "This is especially important for Latvia, which still significantly lags behind in terms of renovation. Without support from the EU, the situation will only get worse," says Nils Ushakov.

Western Border and Eastern Border

When the United Kingdom left the EU, Brussels created a special fund. Its volume was about 5 billion euros. The logic was simple: Britain's exit is an external shock that hit French fishermen, Belgian ports, and Dutch businesses. The EU allocated billions to compensate for business losses and help regions adapt.

"The situation in Latgale is currently no less complicated than that of French fishermen. If the EU found billions for municipalities on the western border of the EU, it is obliged to create a similar instrument for municipalities on the eastern border of the EU," believes Nils Ushakov.

Fighting for Farmers

In December last year, Nils Ushakov, together with the Vice-President of the European Parliament Victor Negrescu (Romania) and colleague Krzysztof Smiszek (Poland), organized an event in Brussels in support of farmers from Central and Eastern Europe. In one hall, they gathered Members of the European Parliament, representatives of farmers' organizations from Latvia, Latvia's Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze, and representatives from the ministries of agriculture of Poland and Romania. "We are not asking for justice for our farmers sometime later. We demand equal playing conditions in the new multiannual budget!" says Nils Ushakov.

Prepared with the support of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament.

About MEP Nils Ushakov and direct contact with him: www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/meps/usakovs-nils