Six EU net contributors demand hundreds of billions in cuts to bloc's long-term budget
The six net contributors want balanced cuts across all spending areas and oppose new joint EU borrowing as talks enter a decisive phase.
- On Thursday, six EU member states—Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, and Sweden—jointly demanded cuts "in a balanced manner" to the European Commission's proposed long-term budget as negotiations enter a decisive stage.
- These nations expanded on an earlier German push from June for a reduction of about 400 billion euros, warning that current Multiannual Financial Framework plans were unaffordable.
- The proposed 2028-2034 budget of nearly 2 trillion euros requires unanimous approval from all 27 member states, giving each nation significant leverage in negotiations.
- Opposing new joint EU borrowing as "not the solution to our budgetary challenges," the six countries urged prioritizing spending on defense, competitiveness, migration, and sovereignty.
- European Council President Antonio Costa met leaders in Berlin to discuss the proposal and has prioritized reaching a final agreement among all member states by the end of 2026.
26 Articles
26 Articles
The EU is still fighting for its financial framework for the years 2028 to 2034. Friedrich Merz and Heads of Government of several net contributors are calling for significant budget cuts.
After discussions on the EU budget, Germany, together with five other EU countries, is calling for cuts in billions. The EU Commission's previous plans are "simplely priceless," said Chancellor Merz.
Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Finland, and Sweden state that the seven-year EU budget of 2 trillion euros must be scaled back 'by several hundred billion'. In doing so, they invoke 'the painful budget consolidation that many countries are undergoing'.
The EU countries struggle for the budget for 2028 to 2034. Chancellor Merz wants to pay »hundreds of millions of euros« less than proposed by the EU Commission. For this he forms alliances.
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