Brussels, July 18, 2025 – European Union ministers gathered today in Brussels for the General Affairs Council meeting to address two significant agenda items that could shape the bloc’s future: the Commission’s first proposals for the EU’s post-2027 long-term budget and Spain’s persistent campaign to elevate Catalan, Basque, and Galician to official EU languages.
Budget Deliberations for the Post-2027 Era
The centerpiece of today’s discussions was the European Commission’s presentation of its inaugural package of proposals for the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) beyond 2027. MEPs in the Budgets Committee will discuss with Commissioner Piotr Serafin the proposal for the post 2027 EU long-term budget, i.e. the multi-annual financial framework (MFF) beyond 2027 and own resources, right after its adoption by the Commission.
The timing of this presentation is crucial, as the current MFF runs through 2027, and negotiations for the next seven-year budget cycle are expected to be complex. Post-2027 budget must reflect current geopolitical, economic, and environmental realities and be flexible, according to the European Parliament’s previously stated priorities.
Ministers responsible for European affairs will engage in policy debates following the Commission’s presentation, marking the beginning of what is expected to be a lengthy negotiation process involving all 27 member states. The discussions come at a time when the EU faces multiple challenges requiring substantial financial resources, from defense and security to climate transition and digital transformation.
Spain’s Language Campaign Faces Continued Resistance
The second major item on today’s agenda addressed Spain’s ongoing request to modify Regulation No 1/1958, which governs the EU’s language regime, to include Catalan, Basque, and Galician as official languages. This represents a renewed push by Madrid after Spain has failed to obtain the necessary unanimity to elevate Catalan, Galician and Basque into official languages of the European Union, as several member states raised concerns over the administrative and legal implications of such an unprecedented move.
The Spanish government’s campaign stems from domestic political commitments, particularly agreements with Catalan independence parties that have been crucial for Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s coalition government. The request was notified to the Council presidency on 17 August 2023, in a letter by Spain’s Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, demonstrating the government’s sustained diplomatic effort on this issue.
Challenges and Implications
The language proposal faces significant hurdles, as any modification to EU language regulations requires unanimous approval from all member states. Spain has revived a push for Basque, Catalan and Galician to be made official EU languages, despite a less-than-enthusiastic response from fellow European countries fearing a domino effect.
The resistance from other EU members reflects concerns about setting a precedent that could lead to similar requests from other regions with distinct languages, potentially complicating EU operations and significantly increasing administrative costs. The European Union currently operates with 24 official languages, and adding three more would require extensive translation services and institutional adaptations.
Looking Forward
Today’s General Affairs Council meeting represents a crucial moment for both initiatives. While the post-2027 budget discussions mark the beginning of a complex but necessary process, the Spanish language proposal continues to face the challenge of achieving the unanimous consensus required for approval.
The outcomes of these discussions will likely influence broader questions about the EU’s future direction, including its financial capacity to address emerging challenges and its approach to linguistic diversity within the union. As ministers deliberate on these issues, the decisions made today could have lasting implications for the EU’s institutional framework and its relationship with regional identities across member states.
The meeting underscores the ongoing tension between national sovereignty, regional autonomy, and European integration that continues to shape the EU’s evolution in the 21st century.
We acknowledge The European Times for the information.
