Today, during a meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON), PiS MEP Marlena Maląg presented a draft opinion on the report concerning the European Union’s general budget for 2026.
Marlena Maląg noted that 2026 will be a very difficult year for the European economy, which has been stagnating for some time and needs an investment stimulus. At the same time, she added, geopolitical circumstances suggest that private investment is more likely to shrink than to grow, and there is no prospect for greater public investment because EU member states lack fiscal space.
As she pointed out, the scope for stimulating the economy through the budget will also be relatively limited. “First, there is a lack of mechanisms for quickly reallocating funds. Efforts in this direction—primarily the mid-term review of Cohesion Policy—are appropriate but insufficient,” the Polish politician believes. Furthermore, she added, there is simply not enough money, and there is no way to quickly bolster the budget; nor does the multiannual financial framework allow for major reallocations.
According to the PiS politician, the development of the defense industry offers an opportunity to stimulate the economy. “We have no other choice anyway: Europe has a knife to its throat and must finally ‘kick-start’ this sector of the economy,” Maląg emphasized. The ECON rapporteur, speaking about the proposal for 150 billion in loans to member states for defense, stressed that it is very important for the spending of these off-budget funds to be supported by financing. “We need coherence and complementarity here—especially since the funds are limited,” she noted.
Marlena Maląg emphasized that the most important issue is to prevent the weakening of cohesion policy and to ensure its robust funding. “We do not want to shift the focus from convergence to competitiveness. Cohesion is the foundation of the single market. Without cohesion, there will be no competitiveness!” she emphasized.
Regarding the European Semester, Marlena Maląg calls for the budget to be compatible with the fiscal paths of member states. “Restoring public finances is crucial today for creating the fiscal space needed to stimulate the economy,” the MEP said.
On the topic of public investment, the ECON rapporteur argues that public funds serve merely as a “flywheel” for private investment. “We shouldn’t count on the budget to be too powerful a driving force—and above all, we shouldn’t squander its resources in the name of ideology,” said the MEP, pointing out that a sober assessment is needed, especially regarding “green” investments, many of which lack economic viability and are unable to attract private investors.
Turning to migration policy, the MEP emphasized that this is not only a political issue but, above all, an economic one—migration should serve the economy. The opinion highlights the need to fund a migration policy that will ensure a supply of labor for the EU economy—rather than placing an additional burden on the social spending sector.
The document also draws attention to the fact that 2026 is the final year of the RFF’s operation. “Perhaps it is time to take a sober look at the RRF, as well as at the consequences of joint borrowing. The costs are turning out to be higher than anticipated, the economic effects are uncertain, and the efficiency of spending leaves much to be desired,” she noted.
The rapporteur also addressed the issue of funding green lobbying organizations from the EU budget. “As we strive to rebuild competitiveness, we cannot support groups that hinder that competitiveness and contribute to rising energy costs,” — said Maląg, noting that the recent blackout in Spain demonstrated the consequences of a hasty and ill-considered transition to “green” energy sources.
“If the EU is to be competitive, it is high time to do away with green superstitions and ideological stereotypes: Wind turbines cannot replace nuclear power. Without a level-headed approach to energy issues, we will not be able to build a competitive economy,” she emphasized.
