Speech by President von der Leyen at the Annual EU Budget Conference 2025

Brussels, 20 May 2025

“Check against delivery”

Minister Cuerpo,

Commissioner Serafin,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to this conference. Our budget has transformed lives by reviving flooded lands, saving millions of jobs during the pandemic, and supporting innovative vaccines. We have tested the limits of our budget and found creative ways to address emergencies. Clearly, the world has changed since 2020, and our budget must evolve to meet new challenges.

We need flexibility in our budget so it can respond quickly to unforeseen events like natural disasters. Additionally, our budget must be simpler and more accessible for businesses and public authorities. The new European Competitiveness Fund will enable this with standardized products and a single access point.

Finally, we must find new sources of financing to support our priorities and NextGenerationEU loans. This requires creative solutions and collaboration at all levels.

Thank you for being here. Long live Europe.