Merz expects 'very, very difficult' EU budget talks

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expects "very, very difficult" negotiations on the EU's next long-term budget, seeing no breakthrough in sight during talks with EU leaders in Brussels. He does not anticipate a deal in the coming days. The goal is to reach a compromise by year-end on the multi-trillion-euro budget for 2028-2034, but positions remain far apart with two and a half months left. Merz warned the December summit could stretch beyond its usual one or two days, suggesting leaders pack extra shirts. The current proposal cuts the European Commission's original plan by roughly 159 billion euros to about 1.826 trillion euros, which Merz rejects as unacceptable, demanding cuts of several hundred billion more. Germany, as the EU's largest economy, contributes the most to the budget and receives less than it pays in.