European Parliament approves doubling of internal security funding in the next EU budget

The European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) adopted its position on the EU’s new Internal Security Fund for 2028-2034, with a planned budget of nearly 8 billion euro.

Funding against the real threats to security

As rapporteur for the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, Vigenin worked to ensure that European funds are directed towards the real threats to citizens’ security. These include organised crime, terrorism, cybercrime and human trafficking.

In the negotiations, the Bulgarian MEP made safeguards for fundamental rights and the protection of citizens’ personal data a central issue and insisted on greater transparency and democratic oversight of the use of European funds. “The fight against crime must be effective, but it cannot be an excuse for restricting citizens’ rights and freedoms,” Vigenin said, stressing that the European Parliament must have clear information on where the money goes, what it is used for and what results it achieves.

Environmental crime and artificial intelligence

At Vigenin’s insistence, the fight against environmental crime and the use of artificial intelligence for criminal purposes were explicitly included among the fund’s priorities. Illegal pollution, waste trafficking and other environmental crimes are often part of the activities of organised criminal networks and require a common European response. At the same time, artificial intelligence is opening up more and more new opportunities for criminals as well.

“For Bulgaria, this instrument is particularly important. Criminal networks do not respect national borders, and no country can deal with all modern threats on its own,” Vigenin said.

The report is due to be voted on in the plenary of the European Parliament by the end of the year.