Germany Threatens to Block Next EU Budget without Ukraine Funding Deal: Report
Merz said Germany will back the bloc’s next budget only if every member shares Ukraine costs, as the EU weighs joint borrowing for a 2027 shortfall.
- On Tuesday, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis rejected German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's threat to block the European Union budget, labeling his ultimatum as "blackmail" during a joint meeting in Bratislava.
- Merz warned he would block the 2028-2034 European Union budget unless all member states commit to additional financial support for Ukraine, aiming to close a projected €70 billion funding gap for 2027.
- Fico asserted Slovakia holds the "same right to veto" as Germany, while Merz countered that supporting Ukraine is "a shared European task, not a task for individual member states."
- Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar clashed with Merz in Berlin on Tuesday, and Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev stated Sofia cannot contribute to new loans due to its deficit.
- The funding gap will face scrutiny at an informal leaders' meeting in Dublin on November 13, followed by an extraordinary summit in Brussels on November 26-27 to finalize the budget.
234 Articles
234 Articles
Many European leaders were outraged after Friedrich Merz said he would block the EU's seven-year budget if no agreement was reached on financial aid for Ukraine. They called the announcement "typical blackmail" and predicted heated negotiations.
The EU and its Member States have already mobilised more than 235 billion euros for Ukraine. However, CDU Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants to impose further billion commitments and, if necessary, block the next EU budget. Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico cannot be intimidated by this. He speaks of blackmail and reminds Berlin that Slovakia also has a veto right.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that Berlin was ready to block EU budget negotiations if member states failed to reach a unanimous agreement on a long-term support plan for Ukraine. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico called Merz's warning blackmail.
Saudi Gazette
AlKhaleej TodayEU budget battle erupts as four countries defy Germany's Merz over Ukraine aid
BRATISLAVA — Slovakia's Russia-friendly prime minister Robert Fico accused the German chancellor of "blackmail" as four EU countries resisted his demand to link approval of the bloc's next long-term budget to fresh financial support for Ukraine. Friedrich Merz has signaled he will block the EU’s seven-year budget unless there is a deal on financial aid for Ukraine, setting the stage for stormy talks later this month.The German chancellor’s inter…
Slovak and Czech Prime Ministers strongly oppose German Chancellor's desire to make the EU budget conditional on Kiev's financing Prime Ministers
Bratislava refuses to participate in a new 70 billion euro loan for Kiev, while Prague denounces Berlin's pressures and defends the sovereignty of the Member States
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 41% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
