In brief
Serafin's visit to Sofia—including meetings with Prime Minister Rumen Radev, Finance Minister Galab Donev, and the National Association of Municipalities—centered on finalising the 2028‑2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). He highlighted the need for additional defence spending, while Donev urged cohesion and CAP preservation without extra national budget strain. The outcomes of the discussions remain uncertain.
During a two‑day stay in Sofia on 29 and 30 October 2026, European Commissioner for Budget, Anti‑Fraud and Public Administration Piotr Serafin met Bulgarian officials to discuss the shape and financing of the 2028‑2034 MFF. The visits were part of a wider European Commission tour of Member States aimed at gathering input for the next EU budget.
On Thursday, Serafin first spoke with Prime Minister Rumen Radev and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Galab Donev, and later with Deputy Prime Minister Atanas Pekanov, who oversees EU‑funded programmes in Bulgaria. Their talks covered the need for a robust revenue strategy that preserves EU cohesion, the Common Agricultural Policy and food security while avoiding added burdens on national budgets. Donev stressed that the EU should not scale back its ambitions and emphasised cohesion and CAP as essential for convergence, growth, and competitiveness.
Galab Donev said:
"The growing number and scale of the challenges we face require an adequate and timely response, but this must not come at the expense of policies enshrined in the EU treaties."
During the same day, Serafin opened the conference titled "The Next Multiannual Financial Framework: Priorities and Principles," coordinated by the Commission Representation in Bulgaria, the Polish Embassy, and the Sofia office of the European Council on Foreign Relations. The forum set a platform for policy priorities, including an increase in defence investment that Serafin said was essential for maintaining peace and security along EU borders.
Serafin also told the audience that "We face an uncertain future, which is why I hope a consensus on the Multiannual Financial Framework can be reached by the end of the year."
On Friday, Serafin met with members of the National Association of the Municipalities to exchange perspectives on the regional aspects of the National and Regional Partnership plans in the next MFF. He then toured the National STEM Centre in Sofia Tech Park and the laboratory and mission‑control facilities of EnduroSat, a satellite manufacturer that benefits from EU funding under the European Innovation Council. He was accompanied on both visits by Deputy Prime Minister Pekanov.
In a separate meeting with Galab Donev, the two officials discussed the MFF’s revenue side, emphasizing the importance of avoiding new national budget burdens while ensuring a healthy fiscal balance. Serafin urged the EU to reach an overall agreement on the MFF as soon as possible, saying he hoped a consensus could be reached by year‑end. Donev expressed confidence that Bulgaria would continue to push for an ambitious yet fair and balanced EU budget.
Both sources note a common theme across the discussions: the urgent need to simplify complex funding procedures, reduce overlapping regulations, and improve transparency in EU administration. These concerns shape the current negotiations on the next seven‑year budget, although the exact allocations—particularly for defence—remain unresolved.
Uncertainties
The discussions have not yet produced a binding agreement on the 2028‑2034 MFF. Key questions remain about the final revenue mix, the promised level of defence spending, and the timeline for reaching consensus across Member States. The outcomes of Serafin’s talks will therefore still be open to further negotiation.
