Macron pushes for EU budget deal before French elections

French President Emmanuel Macron demanded a deal on the European Union's multi-year budget by year's end, citing upcoming domestic elections, and EU President António Costa signaled new momentum by scheduling rapid negotiations. Macron argued an agreement after December would create "democratic difficulties" for his position before France's presidential elections, though other leaders disputed this timeline. Diplomats viewed his stance as a veiled threat, noting far-right candidate Marine Le Pen leads polls and has proposed cutting France's EU contributions. Costa plans a new proposal within weeks to replace the rejected Irish compromise, with an extra summit in late November and another on December 17. Frugal nations like the Netherlands want a smaller budget, while others seek to maintain current spending levels.