Northern EU States Reject €32.8 Billion Budget Cut as €2 Trillion Plan Stays Too High
Updated
Updated · POLITICO Europe · Jun 11
Northern EU States Reject €32.8 Billion Budget Cut as €2 Trillion Plan Stays Too High
2 articles · Updated · POLITICO Europe · Jun 11
Summary
Germany, the Netherlands and other wealthy northern EU countries opposed a Cypriot compromise that trims the 2028-2034 EU budget proposal by just 2%, or €32.8 billion.
Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen called the draft “unaffordable” and “unbalanced,” saying the overall €2 trillion spending level remains too high as fiscal space tightens across Europe.
The negotiating text — a Council presidency “negobox” — was meant to narrow differences before leaders debate the bloc’s next seven-year budget.
The pushback underscores a wider split over who should finance expanded EU spending, with cuts already hitting areas including humanitarian aid, competitiveness, agriculture and fisheries.