Six EU countries led by Germany threatened to block the new EU…
Six EU countries led by Germany threatened to block the new EU budget unless spending is cut by hundreds of billions of euros, demanding a fundamental reform to redirect funds toward defense and innovation while reducing support for agriculture and less developed regions.
Consensus
- Six EU countries—Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, and Finland—issued a joint demand to reduce the EU's 2028–2034 budget by hundreds of billions of euros.
- The countries threatened to block the budget if spending is not reduced.
- The request calls for a fundamental reform of the EU budget to redirect funds toward defense and innovation.
- The countries aim to reduce funding for agriculture and less developed regions, which traditionally receive about two-thirds of EU budget spending.
- The EU budget requires unanimous approval from all 27 member states for adoption.
- Ireland, currently holding the EU Council presidency, has been tasked with preparing a compromise proposal by mid-October.
- The countries represent about 40% of the EU's budget revenues.
- The EU Commission had proposed a budget of nearly 2 trillion euros for 2028–2034.
- The deadline for finalizing the budget is the end of the year.
- The issue reflects broader disagreements within the EU over spending priorities, particularly on defense and industrial support amid competition with China and the US.
Points of divergence
- France proposes introducing pan-European taxes to finance increased spending on farmers. — novaya_eu
- Germany and its allies consider borrowing funds for additional spending unacceptable. — novaya_eu
- A group of 17 countries, including Spain and Italy, demand the budget exceed 2 trillion euros and increase spending on farmers and poor regions. — novaya_eu
- A diplomat from one of the signatory countries stated that agreement will not be reached this year if spending is not reduced. — interfax
- The European Commission proposed increasing defense spending to 131 billion euros, calling it a minimum threshold. — vedomosti
- The joint statement from the six countries was published by the German government on August 27. — vedomosti
- A diplomatic telegram from Germany reported that negotiations have reached a deadlock and no room for compromise currently exists. — vesti
- The six countries' refusal to approve the budget contradicts the June summit agreement to reach a deal by year-end. — interfax
Coverage (9 sources)
- Six EU countries led by Germany threaten Brussels that EU new budget project will be rejected if spending is not reduced... — ТАСС (Telegram)
- Six countries demanded EU budget cuts of 'hundreds of billions' of euros and increased defense spending — FT — Новая газета Европа
- Six countries demanded cutting EU's seven-year budget by 'hundreds of billions of euros' — FT — ЭХО / Новости
- Germany has issued an ultimatum on the EU's long-term budget — Интерфакс
- FT: Germany and five other countries threatened to block EU budget — Коммерсантъ
- FT: six EU countries threatened to block union budget — Ведомости
- A number of EU countries have opposed a new long-term budget project from Brussels — Вести
- Politico reports on budget talks for EU 2028-2035 that have reached a deadlock — Интерфакс
- Media reported on a deadlock in negotiations over a new long-term EU budget — Вести
Key entities
- EU
- Germany
- FT
- Netherlands
- European Union
- Sweden
- Austria
- Denmark
- Finland
- Brussels
- Moscow
- Financial Times
- European Commission
- Politico
- Friedrich Merz