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On 25 May in Brussels, Lithuania, together with 15 other countries, signed a Joint Declaration on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 by the Friends of Cohesion.

The declaration stresses that the future EU budget must be sufficiently ambitious, balanced, and capable of financing both long-term EU commitments and new strategic priorities.

The declaration emphasizes that Cohesion Policy, Common Agricultural Policy, and Common Fisheries Policy remain key EU policies that contribute to economic, social, and territorial cohesion, regional development, food security, economic growth, and citizens' trust in the EU.

"The future EU budget must respond to the new geopolitical reality, but at the same time, we cannot weaken the policies that have created real convergence and added value for our citizens, regions, and member states for many years. Cohesion Policy, Common Agricultural Policy and other treaty-based EU policies are not spending but investing in a stronger, more resilient, competitive and united Europe", said the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigitas Mitkus.

Lithuania stresses the need to ensure sufficient funding for treaty-based EU policies in the negotiations on the EU's 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, especially at a time when the EU is facing increasing challenges from security, competitiveness, energy, and migration to economic resilience.

At the same time, the declaration expresses support for a stronger EU competitiveness. The Friends of Cohesion Group stresses that new EU initiatives, including the European Competitiveness Fund, must ensure that all member states can participate effectively.

"We will only be able to strengthen Europe's competitiveness if we tap into the potential of all member states in this process. Therefore, new EU instruments must be accessible not only to the most experienced ones, but also to regions, small and medium-sized enterprises, and research and innovation centres across the EU," said Vice-Minister Mitkus.

The declaration also expresses openness to discussions on new EU own resources, which could ease pressure on member states' national budgets. At the same time, it is stressed that possible decisions on them must be fair, simple, genuine, and not give rise to regressive effects.

The Joint Declaration of the Friends of Cohesion was signed ahead of the upcoming negotiations for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034 and the European Council discussions scheduled for 18 and 19 June. Lithuania will continue to seek to contribute constructively to reaching an agreement on the future Multiannual Financial Framework as soon as possible.