Politics · Other · 1 hr ago
EU leaders face deadlock over the bloc’s next long-term budget
EU countries are deeply divided over the next long-term budget.
The dispute is about both the budget’s overall size and where its money should go.
The negotiations are expected to be difficult as EU leaders meet in Brussels.
The Netherlands and Germany, which pay more into the EU budget than they receive, want to limit a proposed increase of several hundred billion euros.
Countries that receive more from the budget do not want to make savings, according to one account of the dispute.
The funding decisions matter because they will determine how EU money is shared among member states.
Budget distribution is a main issue at the Brussels summit, but no agreement or next step is specified.
EU leaders began a two-day summit in Brussels on Thursday amid deadlocked negotiations over the bloc’s long-term budget for 2028-2034.
The proposed budget is about €1.826 trillion, after a draft from Ireland’s Council presidency reduced the European Commission’s original proposal by about €159 billion.
Germany and other net contributors, including the Netherlands, Sweden and Austria, are seeking cuts of several hundred billion euros.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz rejected the Irish proposal as unacceptable, while Germany also objected to how the proposed cuts were distributed.
Leaders are seeking an agreement by Christmas or, according to another report, by the end of 2026, but a breakthrough remains uncertain.
- Who
- EU leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, are negotiating the bloc’s next long-term budget.
- What
- Talks over the size and allocation of the 2028-2034 EU budget are deadlocked.
- When
- The summit began on Thursday, October 15, 2026, and is scheduled to last two days.
- Where
- Brussels.
- Why
- EU countries disagree over the budget’s overall size and how spending cuts should be distributed.
Net contributors, including Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Austria
Countries seeking to preserve or increase spending, including net recipients
Budget size
Net contributors, including Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Austria
Germany and other net contributors are calling for cuts of several hundred billion euros.
Countries seeking to preserve or increase spending, including net recipients
Net recipients oppose savings, according to De Telegraaf.
Allocation
Net contributors, including Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Austria
Germany objects to the proposed distribution of cuts, which would reduce funds for competitiveness, research, defence, and foreign and development policy.
Countries seeking to preserve or increase spending, including net recipients
The sources do not give a detailed account of net recipients’ preferred allocation.
De Telegraaf reported that the Netherlands and Germany were demanding limits on the budget’s increase while net recipients opposed cuts.
EU leaders began a two-day summit in Brussels with the long-term budget among the main topics.
EU leaders are seeking a deal on the 2028-2034 budget, according to France 24.
An agreement on the next long-term budget is expected, according to cash.ch, though it says the deadline is uncertain.
- Budget period
- 2028-2034
- Proposed total
- About €1.826 trillion
- Reduction from Commission proposal
- About €159 billion
- Countries seeking deeper cuts
- Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Austria
- Summit location
- Brussels
6 sources
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