António Costa appointed chief negotiator for EU multi-annual budget after Irish proposal backlash

The European Council President António Costa has been named the principal negotiator for the EU's multi-annual financial framework for 2028-2034, sources told Lusa. This follows the Irish Presidency’s proposal to trim the budget by 8% relative to the Commission’s initial draft, prompting criticism from both southern and northern member states. Costa’s task is to reconcile the positions of cohesion-oriented countries such as Portugal, which have denounced the cuts, with those of fiscally conservative members headed by Germany, which view the reductions as insufficient.

Over the past month he has held a series of meetings with EU capitals to gauge national stances and identify key points of disagreement. A revised compromise text is expected ahead of the October, November and December council meetings, though the exact timing remains uncertain. The process will also involve technical support from the European Commission, which maintains a cooperative relationship with the Council.