Germany news: Merz revolts over EU budget, report says
Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his counterparts from five countries have threatened to withhold approval to the EU budget proposal unless it's cut by billions of euros. Follow DW.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his counterparts from five other countries have expressed their intent to reject a proposed European Union budget proposal unless it is reduced by billions of euros. The disagreement emerged as Merz and political leaders from the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, and Finland signed a letter to the Financial Times, stating their wish to see the budget cut.
The proposed seven-year budget, set at nearly €2 trillion ($2.33 trillion), needs to be approved by all EU countries by the end of 2026. Merz earlier this month argued that excessive debt poses a threat to the EU's sovereignty and capacity to act, calling for a focus on competitiveness and defense in the budget.
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