World · Europe · 7 hrs ago
Germany and five allies reject Ireland’s proposed EU budget cut as too small
Ireland has proposed cutting the European Commission’s draft budget for 2028 to 2034 by €159 billion.
The plan is close to €2 trillion, and the proposed cut would still leave it larger than the current budget.
Germany and five allies—Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland and Austria—say the reduction is too small and want cuts of several hundred billion euros.
The six countries together contribute about 40 percent of the EU budget, while Germany is its largest contributor.
EU countries are divided over spending on areas such as farm subsidies and regional development, which account for nearly half of the proposed budget.
Leaders will discuss the plan at a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.
EU governments aim to agree on the budget by the end of the year, before elections in France, Italy and Poland in 2027 could complicate talks.
Germany and five allied EU countries rejected Ireland’s proposal to cut the next EU budget by €159 billion, saying the reduction was too small.
Ireland’s proposal would reduce the European Commission’s proposed 2028–2034 budget of nearly €2 trillion.
The six countries, led by Germany, are calling for cuts of several hundred billion euros.
Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said Ireland’s proposal was not a basis for an agreement.
EU leaders are due to discuss the budget at a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.
- Who
- Germany and five allied EU countries rejected the proposal. Ireland’s EU Council presidency put it forward.
- What
- Ireland proposed cutting the Commission’s next seven-year EU budget by €159 billion. The six countries say the cut is too small.
- When
- Ireland proposed the cut on Saturday. The story was published on October 10 and 11, 2026.
- Where
- The proposal concerns the EU budget. EU leaders are due to discuss it in Brussels.
- Why
- The six countries want a more modest budget and say Ireland’s proposed cut is not enough.
Budget-cutting countries
Countries opposing cuts
Budget size
Budget-cutting countries
Germany and five allies say Ireland’s proposed €159 billion cut is too small and seek cuts of several hundred billion euros.
Countries opposing cuts
Countries opposing cuts resist reductions to agricultural subsidies and regional economic support.
Budget priorities
Budget-cutting countries
The six countries call for a more restrained EU budget.
Countries opposing cuts
The opposing camp argues against cuts to agriculture and cohesion spending, which together account for nearly half of the budget, according to Politico Europe.
We are still a long way from an agreement. The size of the new proposal does not provide a basis for an agreement. The EU budget must be affordable for those who bear the main burden of financing it.
completely unaffordable increase
miles away from an Austrian yes
The European Commission proposed a budget of nearly €2 trillion for the next seven years.
Six net-paying countries met in Berlin and called for €400 billion to be cut from the Commission’s proposal, according to WirtschaftsWoche.
Ireland’s Council presidency proposed cutting €159 billion from the Commission’s draft budget.
EU leaders are due to discuss the budget at a summit in Brussels.
- Proposed budget period
- 2028–2034
- Commission proposal
- Nearly €2 trillion
- Ireland’s proposed cut
- €159 billion
- Cut sought by six countries
- Several hundred billion euros; WirtschaftsWoche reports €400 billion
- Countries in the group
- Germany, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland and Austria
- Next discussion
- EU summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday
Sources
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