EU financial planning: Merz sees the EU budget dispute as still far from agreement

The EU budget for the years 2028 to 2034 is causing conflict. It is said to amount to more than 1.5 trillion euros. Chancellor Merz is looking for support from other net contributors.

Dublin. Negotiations on the European budget continue to stall. “We are still very far from an agreement,” said Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday on the sidelines of the EU summit in Dublin. There were intensive discussions about this. “We are now entering the crucial phase of the negotiations.” The medium-term financial framework should apply for seven years from 2028.

Traditionally, the distribution of funds is highly controversial. Both CDU leader Merz and Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) have been criticizing the EU Commission's proposals for months as excessive. Both the amount of more than 1.5 trillion euros and the question of in which areas the EU states should spend the money are controversial.

Merz has recently sought the support of other net contributor states such as the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Austria in order to have a common position. In the period 2021 to 2027, the EU budget will be 1.2 trillion euros.

More: Merz wants to present a German proposal for a position in the ECB leadership next week