EU budget talks stall as leaders split over 2028-2034 spending

EU leaders began a two-day summit in Brussels on Thursday to negotiate the bloc's next seven-year budget (2028-2034), with sharp divisions between countries demanding a larger budget and those, including Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands, pushing for cuts. Dutch PM Rob Jetten called for a smaller, modernized budget, while Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda opposed reductions, demanding an "ambitious" plan. Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker said the Irish presidency's proposal is "no basis for an agreement" due to its high volume, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the EU Commission's plan "financially unsustainable." The "frugal" states (Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, Sweden) face the "Friends of Cohesion" group of 16 countries, including Italy, Spain, and Poland, which support a large budget. France seeks a bigger budget but opposes higher contributions, and an agreement by December is uncertain due to upcoming elections in France, Spain, and Poland.