The European Court of Auditors (ECA) has released its Annual Report on the EU budget for 2024, which confirms that the Union’s accounts once again received a clean bill of health, for the eighteenth year in a row. The report highlights how the EU’s money has been used to respond to the Union’s most pressing priorities: supporting Ukraine, delivering humanitarian aid, driving the green and digital transitions, and ensuring accountability in financial management. Below follows a breakdown of the most important elements in the report. 

Ukraine. Since the start of Russia’s war of aggression, the EU budget has provided unprecedented support to Ukraine. By the end of 2024, a total of €130.2 billion had been mobilised to deliver financial, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic assistance to the country and its people. This comprehensive response underscores the EU’s long-term commitment to stability and reconstruction in Ukraine.

Humanitarian aid. In 2024, the EU delivered €2.5 billion in humanitarian aid to people affected by crises around the world. Of this, €237 million was allocated to support civilians in Gaza. These funds addressed urgent needs in food security, health, and emergency shelter, reaffirming the EU’s role as a leading humanitarian actor on the global stage.

Climate transition. In 2024, 34% of the total EU budget, equivalent to €662 billion, was dedicated to climate-related measures, exceeding the target of 30% for the 2021–2027 programming period. These investments helped prevent approximately 98 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions, contributing to the Union’s climate neutrality goals.

Recovery and Resilience. More than 2.2 million patients with rare diseases received diagnosis and treatment through 24 European Reference Networks in 2024, demonstrating the power of European cooperation in healthcare. At the same time, the NextGenerationEU recovery plan remained a driving force behind Europe’s post-pandemic transformation, with the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) supporting key investments and reforms across Member States to strengthen economies and boost long-term resilience.

Financial integrity. The error rate, a technical measure of spending not fully compliant with rules, fell from 5.6% in 2023 to 3.6% in 2024, a significant improvement. To safeguard EU taxpayers’ money, the Commission and Member States applied preventive and corrective measures worth €2.66 billion in 2024.

The 2024 EU budget demonstrated resilience and flexibility in responding to crises while maintaining strong control mechanisms. Looking ahead, the 2028–2034 MFF proposal, adopted in July 2025, aims to introduce simpler and more harmonised audit rules, reducing administrative burdens while maintaining strict oversight. 

B2EU will keep closely following developments in EU budget policy and funding priorities. Follow our website and LinkedIn to stay up to date with the latest news.