Frugal countries pile on pressure to shrink EU budget
Six "frugal" EU leaders have stepped up pressure on the Irish presidency to slash the next long-term budget by "several hundred billion euros" in its new compromise text.
Six countries contributing the least to the EU budget have written to the Irish presidency, demanding a smaller budget for the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The letter, addressed to Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, was signed by Germany, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, and Sweden. Present negotiations are entering a critical stage, with a deal sought by the end of the year.
The letter emphasizes the need for a realistic budget that can be financed by countries carrying the main financial burden. The Cypriot presidency proposed a 2% cut to the European Commission's proposed MFF for 2028-2034, but the six frugal countries found it insufficient. They want to shift funding from traditional policies to modern priorities like security, defence, innovation, and combating irregular migration.
The six countries also criticized the Commission's plan to increase staffing at EU institutions during a period of budget cuts in many public administrations.
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