EU leaders clash over budget as Greece seeks fiscal flexibility

European Union leaders are clashing over the next EU budget, with a summit starting today that risks ending without agreement. The core dispute centers on who pays and how much, with negotiations threatening to fail by year's end. Greece and Italy are requesting fiscal space to support citizens against inflation without penalty under EU rules. The European Commission proposed a €1.7 trillion budget, but wealthy northern countries reject even the Irish Presidency's 8% cuts. No one proposes cutting administrative waste in EU institutions. Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis will meet EU leaders this morning, while PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis claimed media interests are targeting him. He also proposed a broader body for selecting judicial leadership.