European Added Value narrows discussions on EU budget

Calls for reform of the EU Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF), the EU’s 7-year budget, are abound. One of the guiding concepts in the budgetary reform discussions is European Added Value (EAV). Current reform discussions appear to be in a deadlock with frantic attempts to agree on the EAV of the MFF.

This policy brief argues that EAV, a contested concept, tends to narrow discussions on reform of the EU budget rather than breaking the deadlock. Instead of focusing on the outcome of the MFF and its EAV, the discussions should focus on the process of decision-making through the introduction of several key tests that could determine whether EU money is better spent.