Deutschland reicht Irlands Vorschlag zur Kürzung des EU-Haushaltsentwurfs nicht aus

BRUSSELS — Germany and its European allies have rejected Ireland's proposal to cut the draft for the European Union's next seven-year budget by about eight percent, deeming it insufficient.

The Irish presidency had proposed on Saturday to cut the European Commission's proposal for the Union's budget for the 2028-2034 period by €159 billion. The camp led by Germany, consisting of several EU countries, is demanding cuts of several hundred billion euros.

"We are still far from an agreement. The level of the new proposal does not form a basis for an agreement. The EU budget must be sustainable for those who bear the brunt of the financing," Merz wrote in a statement on Saturday. Germany alone, as the EU's largest and wealthiest economy, contributes about a quarter to the Union's common budget.

Berlin is pushing for a more frugal EU budget at the head of a group of six countries. The group includes Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, and Austria. Together, the six countries contribute 40 percent to the EU budget.

The European Commission's proposal for the next seven-year budget is just under €2 trillion.

Swedish Minister for European Affairs Jessica Rosencrantz described Ireland's proposal as a "completely unaffordable increase," as the total amount would still be higher than the current budget.

Austrian Minister for European Affairs Claudia Bauer stated that the new budget remains "miles away from an Austrian yes."

The budget will also be a topic at the summit of EU heads of state and government on Thursday and Friday in Brussels.

EU governments aim to reach an agreement by the end of the year — before elections in France, Italy, and Poland in 2027 threaten to jeopardize negotiations.

The EU is divided between frugal countries pushing for cuts and a rival camp of southern and eastern European states that oppose cuts to agricultural subsidies and regional economic development. These areas account for nearly half of the total budget.