As the bloc rushes to finalize a budget deal before upcoming elections in France, Spain, and Italy next year that could make reaching an agreement nearly impossible, the next four months are crucial for the EU’s stability, Costa’s legacy, and whether leaders like Merz and Stocker can demonstrate to their voters that Brussels is spending wisely.
The leaders gathering in Berlin want not only to reduce the budget by hundreds of billions of euros but also to redirect spending from areas like agriculture to defense and security. Additionally, they wish to enforce conditions preventing governments from receiving funds if they violate democratic standards.
The discussion likely will not yield specific numbers immediately but rather a unified approach for future negotiations, according to three people familiar with the preparations. Ireland, guiding the budget process during its six-month presidency of the EU Council, plans to propose new compromise numbers in October prior to a summit of EU leaders later that month.
“The general priorities of the [budget] proposal are worthy of support and in line with Finland’s objectives,” stated Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. “However, the overall level of the proposed framework is too high.”
Some nations, like Spain, feel the Commission should not decrease the proposed budget’s size and oppose shifting spending away from agriculture.
Getting closer?
Costa, having already visited Bratislava, Tallinn, Riga, and Vilnius, believes governments are not as divided as publicly stated, according to a senior EU official involved in the negotiations who, like others mentioned in this article, was granted anonymity due to the talks’ sensitivity.
While leaders are upholding domestic priorities, they all seem committed to reaching an agreement by year-end, the official noted.
Leave a Reply