In the new multiannual budget of the European Union for 2028–2034, Latvia will receive less guaranteed funding than in the current financial period. This was stated by the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Robert Zile, in an interview with the LETA agency. "In every cycle of the multiannual budget, there have been so-called 'miserly' countries and 'friends of cohesion policy.' A compromise has always been found," Zile noted, emphasizing that the current disagreements among EU countries are not unusual. According to him, one of the main features of the new budget model will be the consolidation of various funding directions into a single national package. Countries will be able to determine for themselves how much funding to allocate to agriculture, cohesion policy, defense, and other priorities. "Local governments and farmers will clash head-on," Zile noted, warning that with a limited amount of funds, different sectors will have to compete with each other. He expressed particular concern about the merging of funding for cohesion policy and agriculture. If part of this funding is redirected to defense projects, Latvian farmers will find themselves at a disadvantage compared to their colleagues from other EU countries. Zile also pointed to the Competitiveness Fund being created, from which the defense industry and high-tech projects will be financed. The funds of the fund are expected to be distributed on a competitive basis. In the politician's opinion, there is a risk that a significant portion of this funding will go to the largest EU countries, such as France, Germany, and the Netherlands, where powerful scientific and industrial centers already exist. As a result, the Baltic states and Poland may receive significantly less support, despite high needs for strengthening defense capabilities. Commenting on the negotiations regarding the new budget, Zile noted that the European Parliament advocates for an increase in its volume by about 10% compared to the European Commission's proposal — to €2.01 trillion. He warned that if member states cannot agree on a common position by the end of this year, the adoption of the budget may be delayed until the end of 2027, as the negotiations will coincide with elections in several major EU countries. According to Zile, it is crucial for Latvia to actively participate in the negotiations now to achieve the most favorable conditions for the distribution of European funding in the next budget cycle.