EU budget: Ireland pitches €141bn cuts to appease the ‘frugals’
Ireland proposes cutting the next EU budget by 8%, with global cooperation and competitiveness taking the deepest cuts, while agriculture and cohesion funding is reduced by only 3%. It also includes a €55bn-a-year package of own resources. EU leaders will discuss the plan on 15-16 October.
Ireland's EU presidency has put forward a proposal to slash the bloc's next long-term budget by €141 billion as part of talks with budget-conscious countries led by Germany. The "negotiating box" focuses the cuts on programmes for economic competitiveness and global cooperation, while protecting key policies like agriculture and cohesion.
The Irish proposal seeks a 8% decrease in overall spending compared to the Commission's plan, but still falls short of the 30% reduction under the current framework. Global Europe, which finances overseas projects, would see a 17% cut. The Irish presidency also introduces a new package of own resources, including raising the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) levy and altering the Emissions Trading System contribution for certain member states.
Despite aiming for a political agreement before national elections, some frugal countries remain dissatisfied with the proposal's overall volume.
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