Source: European Central Bank (video statements)
Budgetary autonomy is typically associated with the power to issue debt, tax and control expenditure. However, in the original Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) plan, this form of EU autonomy was limited. Recent challenges have revived debates on EU-level borrowing and taxation.
This panel will examine existing funding tools like the multiannual financial framework (MFF) and the NextGenerationEU (NGEU), as well as defence-related mechanisms such as the European Peace Facility. It will also address the increasing linkage between EU funding and the enforcement of foundational values, as underscored by the Rule of Law Conditionality Regulation, and the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice.
Panellists:
• Paul Dermine, Professor, Université Libre de Bruxelles
• Alberto de Gregorio Merino, Director at the Legal Services, European Commission
• Cristina Fasone, Associate Professor, LUISS University
Chair: Bruno de Witte, Professor of European Union Law, Maastricht University
Watch other sessions from the 2025 ECB Legal Conference “Building Europe’s Autonomy: Law, Institutions, Cooperation”: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnVAEZuF9FZm3BYRQdFyj1vvCrJfZ-mrM
See the conference programme here: https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/conferences/html/20250901_7th_ECB_legal_conference.de.html