General Affairs Council: negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework and simplification of EU legislation
SLOVENIA, September 22 - With regard to the Multiannual Financial Framework, State Secretary Tamara Weingerl Požar highlighted Slovenia's commitment to maintaining the national envelope within the scope of the negotiating box presented by the Cyprus Presidency in June. "This remains a key priority for Slovenia in the ongoing negotiations, as the level of funding for our crucial policies, such as cohesion and the Common Agricultural Policy, depends on this scope." Slovenia also advocates funding for competitiveness that will benefit all Member States and include safeguards against excessive concentration of funds in a small number of countries, as well as funding for research under the Horizon Europe programme and key infrastructure projects under the Connecting Europe Facility. The proposals for financing the future EU budget will also be crucial to reaching an agreement. The State Secretary emphasised that new sources of revenue must meet two requirements. First, they must genuinely generate additional revenue rather than simply reallocate funds from national budgets. Second, the proposals must not disadvantage less developed Member States.
For Slovenia, progress on the simplification agenda is crucial to strengthening the competitiveness of the economy and improving the functioning of the EU single market. Slovenia supports efforts to make legislation as clear, simple and unburdensome as possible, thereby providing legal clarity for businesses and citizens alike. Slovenia has endorsed a non-paper co-signed by Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Portugal and Slovakia, calling for the systematic simplification of legislation and the reduction of unnecessary burdens, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises, while maintaining high European standards.
In the context of preparations for the European Council meeting on 15 and 16 October, the State Secretary highlighted the importance of discussions on the next Multiannual Financial Framework, competitiveness, migration, continued support for Ukraine and EU enlargement alongside internal reforms. She emphasised the need to keep competitiveness as a key item on the leaders’ agenda, including a strategic and coordinated EU response to macroeconomic imbalances, as well as ensuring a secure energy supply. The EU must continue to provide Ukraine with firm and united support. The European Council should also devote sufficient time to discussions on EU enlargement. The Union must fulfil its commitments and allow candidate countries to make progress once they have met the necessary criteria. She emphasised that the Western Balkans must remain a priority on the enlargement agenda and that the European Council should provide political guidance on the Union's preparations for enlargement. Regarding migration, leaders will discuss ways to strengthen the protection of Europe’s external borders and develop a credible migration policy, including the effective return of persons who do not have the right to reside in the EU. The European Commission presented the Council with key guidelines based on a letter of intent regarding the EU’s legislative priorities for the coming year and the strategic challenges facing the EU.
As part of the annual rule of law dialogue, ministers and state secretaries held a horizontal discussion based on the Commission’s 2026 rule of law report, published in July. The Council also exchanged views on the rule of law situation in four candidate countries – Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania and Serbia – with representatives from these countries. Slovenia supports their involvement in the dialogue, as it contributes to fostering a culture of the rule of law in these countries alongside the enlargement process.
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