EU's Irish presidency wants 8% cut to proposed 2028-2034 budget plan
The compromise protects farm and regional aid while shifting cuts to development, administration and competitiveness as EU governments prepare for talks.
- On Saturday, October 10, the Irish Presidency will release a new draft negotiating package for the EU's 2028-2034 budget, aiming to help nudge all 27 member states toward a final deal before year-end.
- Germany and other 'frugal' Nordic countries demand substantial cuts, while 17 Southern and Eastern European states signed a joint letter last week defending Common Agricultural Policy subsidies and cohesion spending.
- Parliament's rapporteur Siegfried Muresan warned in April 2026 that a smaller budget would weaken Europe, as Parliament called for approximately 10% increase to fund defense, cohesion, and agricultural priorities.
- Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne said the Irish Government will propose trimming the budget by between €100 billion and €200 billion, providing a 'realistic basis' for leaders' final negotiations.
- European leaders hope to finalize a deal during crunch summits between next week and year-end, though Chancellor Friedrich Merz claimed last week that having no new framework benefits Germany financially.
131 Articles
131 Articles
The Local - Dk
Proposed EU budget cut back in search for Christmas deal
Ireland, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, suggested Saturday slashing the bloc's next proposed budget by 140 billion euros ($155 billion), in a quest to bridge deep divisions and reach a deal by the end of the year.
With a new proposal, the Irish Presidency is trying to resolve the dispute over the EU's long-term budget, but the biggest spending blocks – money for farmers and poorer regions – are leaving it almost untouched.
Irsko predsjedništvo Vijeća EU-a objavilo je u subotu prijedlog višegodišnjeg proračuna koji je za osam posto manji, ali je zadžalo nacionalne alokacije u obliku u kojim ih je predložilo prethodno ciparsko predsjedništvo. “They trembled at the national level, alokacije u obliku [...] Objava Irska predlaže manji europski proračun, ali su nacionalne alokacije pošteđene pojavila se prvi puta na Novi list.
The Germans considered the eight percent cut in the seven-year budget draft starting in 2028 to be too small, and the EP considered it too large.
The Irish presidency of the EU on Saturday proposed an 8 percent cut to the European Commission's 2028-2034 budget, which would amount to 1.6 trillion euros. But more frugal member states say the cut is still not enough.
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