Total commitment and payment appropriations

The first annual budget prepared under the 2021-2027 MFF and for the Union of 27 Member States, i.e. without the UK, was set at €164.25 billion in commitments (1.17 % of EU-27 GNI) and at €166.06 billion in payments (1.19 % EU-27 GNI). In absolute numbers, by comparison with the 2020 budget this represents a decrease of 5.5 % in commitments and an increase of 1.2 % in payments (Figure 7). The changes reflect the transitional nature of the 2021 budget. While the decrease in commitments is, at least partly, a consequence of the reduced size of the EU, the increase in payments can be attributed to the accelerating implementation of many spending programmes launched under the 2014-2020 MFF, including pandemic-related measures introduced in 2020. The margin below the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework ceilings available for unexpected needs in 2021 amounts to €778.8 million in commitment appropriations and €2.0 billion in payment appropriations (for detailed figures, see Annex 3).