Evolution of the multi‑annual financial framework of the European Union

The paper looks at the EU’s multi - annual financial programming with particular emphasis on the current multi-annual financial framework (MFF) for 2007–2013. The paper begins by describing the main categories of revenue and expenditure of the EU budget during the period 1988–2011. Next, the origin of the EU’s medium‑term planning is briefly presented, as well as the first three (i.e. 1988–1992, 1993–1999 and 2000–2006) financial frameworks. The final section assesses the 2007–2013 framework. On the basis of this analysis, the author concludes that over the years major changes have occurred in both the income sources and spending priorities for the EU budget