EU Member States Set for Clash Over Seven-Year Budget
European lawmakers have opened negotiations in Brussels on the European Union's seven-year budget. Member states are split over spending priorities, and upcoming elections in countries including France and Italy add pressure.
European Union lawmakers began negotiations in Brussels on 15 October 2026 over the bloc's seven-year budget. The talks are expected to be long and fierce, as member states are divided over what the money should be spent on first. The outcome matters for the whole bloc, since the budget sets funding directions for several years ahead.
Pressure from elections
The negotiations are further complicated by pending elections in several countries, including France and Italy. According to the source, these political processes are adding pressure to the talks in Brussels.
Other topics in the programme
The report appeared in a France 24 business programme. The same show also covered this week's tech stock sell-off, in which AI-related stocks lost a trillion dollars in value. In addition, Charles Guillemet, chief technology officer of Ledger, explained why artificial intelligence is changing the security landscape.

