Our ocean and coastal communities currently face multiple challenges, from the loss of marine biodiversity, climate change and pollution to competition for access to resources and limited support for a just transition at sea. For these reasons, the next European Union (EU) Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) should not be another box-ticking exercise aimed at maintaining the status quo, but should deliver real policy choices to invest in the changes needed. This policy briefing outlines the priorities that EU decision-makers should focus on to support the simplification of the EU budget implementation.