European Union budget talks have entered their final phase, with the Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen seeking a modern budget to finance priorities including competitiveness and defence.
The Irish Council Presidency presented a new “negotiation box” on Saturday. EU leaders are due to discuss the Irish draft at a European Council meeting on Thursday and Friday, with an agreement sought by the end of the year.
The Irish proposal envisages cuts of €141 billion from the Commission’s original €1,763 billion plan over seven years. Reductions are concentrated in the chapter for competitiveness and defence, down 13 per cent, and in the budget for EU foreign policy, down 17 per cent.
Funding for the Common Agricultural Policy and Cohesion Policy would remain intact under the draft. That protection reflects the position of the Friends of Cohesion, a group led by Italy that is pressing to safeguard money received by farmers and regions.
Other governments are seeking a far leaner settlement. The “frugal states” want “several hundred billion euros” in cuts, while Germany is leading a revolt over the EU’s spending plans.
Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council, is considering an extraordinary summit of EU heads of state and government for 26 and 27 November, focused on the 2028–2034 framework. The issue of new own resources remains unresolved.
The negotiations are also unfolding before a French presidential election in 2027. Emmanuel Macron cannot seek another consecutive term as French president, while major electoral contests in Italy and Poland will determine the direction of governments central to European decision-making.
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