What are the sticking points for the EU's new budget?
Lucia Schulten, Deutsche Welle, 29.04.2026
Quotes
The adoption of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the European Union's long-term spending plan, is one of the most sensitive political issues in the bloc. The negotiations are currently entering a critical phase. The question is not only how much the EU will cost its member states from 2028 to 2035, but also what they will receive in return. [...].
Other member states, however, particularly net recipients that receive more funds than they contribute, believe that the budget is too low given the tasks at hand, Janis Emmanouilidis from the Brussels-based think tank European Policy Center told DW. According to a study by the Cologne-based German Economic Institute, net recipients in 2024 included Greece, Poland, Romania, Spain and Hungary.
Emmanouilidis also said that at the same time the largest net contributors to the EU, such as Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden, also had an interest in keeping their contributions as low as possible. [...]
Emmanouilidis told DW that during the negotiations, both small and large member states were primarily concerned about what their citizens would effectively receive from the EU budget while the question of how to jointly derive the greatest benefit from the budget played a lesser role. [...]
As analysts and politicians expect tough negotiation at EU member level, the bloc also faces internal pressure. Elections are due in several major states next year, including France, Italy and Poland. Emmanouilidis said that the prospect of a nationalist party winning in France in particular was putting pressure on member states to conclude the budget negotiations by the end of 2026. [...]
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