Germany and five EU states push for deep cuts to bloc's budget
Germany leads a coalition of six EU countries demanding hundreds of billions in cuts to the bloc's 2028-2034 budget, clashing with the European Commission and 17 member states ahead of a summit on Thursday and Friday. Chancellor Friedrich Merz, backed by Austria, the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden, seeks to reduce spending on agriculture and poorer regions while boosting defense and AI funding. Italy's Giorgia Meloni heads the opposing "Friends of Cohesion" bloc, prioritizing traditional subsidies. Germany remains the EU's largest net contributor, paying €13.1 billion more than it received in 2024, though its contributions have declined due to economic slowdown. The Irish presidency's draft budget proposes €141 billion in cuts, but the frugal coalition wants deeper reductions.