Politics · France · 3 hrs ago
Le Pen says she would cut France’s EU payments if elected
Marine Le Pen says she would cut France’s payments to the EU if she becomes president.
She is a far-right candidate and is described as the frontrunner ahead of France’s elections, due in April and May next year.
She says she wants €140 billion in savings, including a reduction in France’s contribution to the EU budget; another account says she aims to cut payments by €11 billion in her first year and by tens of billions more later.
The plan could trigger a standoff with Brussels, and would require agreement from the other 26 EU member states, according to one account.
EU leaders are negotiating the bloc’s next long-term budget, with a deal sought before 2027.
France says the EU needs more money to address growing challenges, while its own government is seeking spending cuts as public debt rises.
The dispute could complicate agreement on the EU budget as negotiations continue.
Marine Le Pen says she would sharply reduce France’s payments to the European Union if elected president.
She says she would cut the contribution by €11 billion in her first year and seek further reductions in later years.
Le Pen expects a difficult confrontation with Brussels over the plan.
She also criticized efforts to agree on the EU’s next long-term budget before France’s presidential election.
The proposal comes as EU members are divided over the European Commission’s nearly €2-trillion budget proposal.
- Who
- Marine Le Pen, a French far-right presidential candidate.
- What
- She says she would cut France’s EU payments by €11 billion in her first year in office, with further reductions later.
- When
- She discussed the plan in an interview published on October 14, 2026.
- Where
- France and the European Union; she said she expected a standoff with Brussels.
- Why
- She says the EU has too large a role in France’s economy and wants to make savings.
Marine Le Pen
French government and EU budget supporters
EU payments
Marine Le Pen
Le Pen says France should sharply reduce its contribution to the EU budget.
French government and EU budget supporters
France’s government argues the EU needs more money to address growing challenges.
Budget process
Marine Le Pen
Le Pen calls the push to agree on the next EU budget before France’s election deeply objectionable.
French government and EU budget supporters
The European Commission is seeking an agreement on the bloc’s next long-term budget before 2027.
Le Pen said she wanted €140 billion in cost savings, including cuts to France’s EU contribution.
Le Pen’s interview with the Financial Times was published, setting out her plans to reduce France’s EU payments.
Le Pen went to Brussels to warn against agreeing on the EU’s next seven-year budget before the French election.
France’s presidential election is due to take place.
- First-year reduction
- €11 billion
- Further cuts
- Tens of billions of euros in later years, according to BFM Business
- Savings target
- €140 billion
- EU budget proposal
- Nearly €2 trillion
- French presidential election
- Due in April and May 2027
2 sources
What people are saying
We know there will be a tough debate, even a trial of strength
deeply objectionable
substantial
with a Le Pen budget, it would be all pipe dreams and free handouts.