Irish proposal cuts EU budget by €159 billion
Ireland, which currently chairs EU governments' talks, has put forward a budget proposal €159 billion smaller than the European Commission's. Member states had already braced for a cut of €100–200 billion.
The Irish presidency, which currently chairs negotiations among EU member states, has put forward a new EU budget proposal that cuts the total by €159 billion. The reduction is measured against the proposal from the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, which came to nearly €2 trillion. The document marks the start of tough negotiations ahead of a summit of EU leaders next week.
What capitals expected
EU countries had already prepared for a considerably smaller budget, with estimates ranging from €100 billion to €200 billion. In late September it was reported that the Irish presidency was expected to cut deeply into the Commission's figure, as national capitals remained deeply divided over spending.
The Commission's position
On 6 October, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned against budget cuts. She dismissed Germany's calls for big savings, arguing that they would undermine priorities shared across the EU.
What happens next
The Irish proposal will serve as the starting point for talks between member states. These will continue at the leaders' summit next week. The source does not say whether the proposal will be adopted as submitted, and the specific areas of disagreement are not detailed.
