Le Pen vows to downsize EU as she brings contribution cut fight to Brussels

BRUSSELS — Far-right leader Marine Le Pen vowed to transform the European Commission into a "secretariat" serving the interests of its member states as part of her strategy to shrink the European Union, should she emerge victorious in France's upcoming presidential election. "In the past decade, France has adopted a European vision that directly contradicts my own agenda," Le Pen declared at a press conference in Brussels, following a meeting with fellow far-right leaders from across Europe.

"They sought a powerful Europe; we received a powerless one. They envisioned European sovereignty; we experienced the erosion of national sovereignty."

Le Pen's remarks come as EU nations convene in Brussels for crucial talks on the bloc's seven-year budget, with negotiations expected to falter due to a rift between frugal nations aligned with Germany, which advocate further budget reductions, and countries like France, which favor increased spending. Council President António Costa had aimed to finalize the budget before the 2027 presidential elections in France, Italy, and Poland, which could jeopardize the ongoing discussions.

Le Pen, the frontrunner in the race to succeed term-limited President Emmanuel Macron, announced last week her intention to unilaterally reduce France's annual contribution to the EU budget by €11.1 billion starting next year. While Le Pen argues that this measure is crucial for addressing France's dire financial situation, which includes a planned €140 billion in savings by 2032, her detractors argue that such an action could ignite a contentious dispute with Brussels, potentially culminating in France's exit from the union.