EU demands: Must save hundreds of billions

 

Wiktor Nummelin/TT

Published 10.07Updated 14.43

 

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the press conference after Thursday's meeting with Finland, Denmark, Austria, Sweden and the Netherlands in Berlin. Photo: Markus Schreiber/AP/TT

Hundreds of billions of euros must be removed from the EU Commission's proposal for a new long-term budget, demand Germany, Sweden and four other budget hawks.

But they still say yes to an increase - and want everything to be ready this year.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz received his colleagues from Austria, Denmark and Finland in Berlin on Thursday and brought Sweden and the Netherlands with them digitally. In a joint statement afterwards, they present their demands for the budget for 2028-34.

“The long-term budget will increase to address our strategic priorities, but it can only do so at a moderate pace. To reach an acceptable landing spot, the Commission’s proposal of almost 2 trillion euros needs to be reduced by several hundred billion,” the countries write.

The statement also supports concluding the negotiations this year.