Germany Demands 400 Billion Euro Cut to EU Budget

The Government of Germany is demanding a 400 billion euro reduction in the European Commission's proposed 2 trillion euro budget for the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework. In an internal document, Berlin characterized the current proposal as unaffordable and argued that an agreement is impossible in its current form.

As the European Union's largest net contributor, Germany notes that even with the requested cuts, the budget would remain 27 percent larger than the 1.3 trillion euro 2021-2027 cycle. Such a result would increase Germany's annual contribution to over 50 billion euros.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged member states to reach a unanimous agreement within the current year. Merz stated this is necessary to ensure planning certainty and avoid potential complications arising from the 2027 elections scheduled in France, Poland, and Italy.