Dispute over EU money: The "frugal" in the EU fight for savings
A mini EU summit has taken place at the Chancellery. Germany and other countries want to speak with one voice in difficult negotiations. The red pencil is to be used.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and five other European leaders have formed an alliance to oppose plans to significantly increase the EU's long-term budget. The group, which includes leaders from the Netherlands, Denmark, Austria, Finland, and Sweden, wants to cut the budget by several hundred billion euros from the European Commission's proposed 1.76 trillion euros.
Merz stated that the EU budget must remain "financiable" and that cuts will be necessary across all areas. The group aims to reach a compromise by the end of the year, ahead of France's presidential election.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
