Merz's hard line threatens to backfire at EU budget summit

EU leaders failed to agree on the bloc's next seven-year budget at a Brussels summit, setting a special meeting for November 26 and a year-end deadline for a deal. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, backed by five other net payer states, is pushing for cuts of several hundred billion euros to the European Commission's proposed €1.8 trillion budget, while 17 member states oppose reductions, particularly for agricultural and regional funds. Delays risk colliding with 2027 elections, notably France's presidential vote where far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, who wants to slash French contributions to €5 billion annually, could block a unanimous agreement and disrupt Ukraine aid funding.