Warsaw sets priorities in EU budget negotiations for 2028-2034

Above all, Warsaw wants to ensure that any cuts in the future EU budget do not affect the money allocated to Poland for agriculture and cohesion policy. At the same time, for the first time she clearly indicates where, in her opinion, savings can be found. In an interview with RMF FM, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Ignacy Niemczycki points to those parts of the EU budget in which expenditure is expected to grow the most and which primarily benefit the richest countries. In this way, Poland outlines the limits of its concessions in negotiations on the budget for 2028–2034.

There will be big cuts

At the beginning of October, Ireland, which currently holds the EU presidency, is to present a new EU budget proposal for 2028-2034 to the member states. Behind-the-scenes information already shows that the document will assume significant cuts compared to the European Commission's proposal, which amounted to approximately EUR 2 trillion. They may amount to as much as EUR 200 billion or more.

In addition, countries such as Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, i.e. countries that pay more into the common treasury than they receive from it, have recently said that they need to cut several hundred billion euros. Previously, Berlin even indicated an amount of approximately EUR 400 billion. The cuts could cover all parts of the budget, including cohesion and agriculture, which Poland wants to protect.

Warsaw is getting ready to fight

Warsaw is therefore preparing for a fierce fight over exactly where the cuts are to be made.

Niemczycki emphasizes that Warsaw's basic position has not changed. It is important for us that any cuts proposed by the Irish do not affect national envelopes, says Ignacy Niemczycki, Deputy Minister of European Affairs, in an interview with an RMF FM journalist. Warsaw therefore believes that it is difficult to justify why savings should first affect cohesion policy, which is particularly important for less developed countries.

Expenditures on competitiveness

At the same time, for the first time, Warsaw clearly indicates where savings can be found.

If necessary, savings can be sought primarily in those areas that are expected to grow the most in the European Commission's project, says Niemczycki.

This concerns spending on competitiveness, which largely benefits the most developed EU countries and funds for EU activities beyond its borders.

Poland does not question the need to increase spending on competitiveness. However, the problem is their scale. According to Polish calculations, after taking into account inflation, expenses in this area increase by approximately 123 percent.

This is a gigantic increase - we hear from Polish diplomats.

The final fair is in December

The real fight for the money will begin in October, with the final haggling taking place at an EU leaders' summit in December. Ireland wants to complete negotiations by the end of the year. Germany is pushing for a final by the end of the year mainly due to the French presidential elections next year and the far-right's announcements about reducing the French contribution to the EU budget.