Six European Union member states on Tuesday called for substantial cuts to the bloc's proposed long-term budget for 2028-2034, citing affordability concerns.
Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland and Sweden issued a joint statement demanding reductions of several hundred billion euros from the European Commission's draft budget. The proposal, which totals nearly €2 trillion ($2.33 trillion), would cover the EU's seven-year spending plan known as the Multiannual Financial Framework.
The six countries, all net contributors to the EU budget, argued for a 'balanced' reduction across all spending areas. Their demand follows a German proposal from June that specifically targeted a cut of about €400 billion, asserting that the current plans were fiscally unsustainable.
The joint statement was agreed during a meeting of leaders in Berlin. European Council President Antonio Costa has made securing a budget deal by the end of 2026 a priority, engaging with EU capitals to build consensus.
Under EU rules, the budget requires unanimous approval from all 27 member states, making negotiations particularly complex. The proposed reductions reflect broader fiscal constraints faced by national governments amid competing domestic spending priorities and economic uncertainties.
