Ireland proposes 8% cut to EU Commission's budget plan
Ireland's EU presidency has suggested reducing the Commission's multi-year budget proposal by about eight percent.
In a negotiation document published on Saturday, the Irish EU presidency called for an eight-percent reduction to the European Commission's long-term budget proposal covering 2028-2034. The Commission had initially outlined a budget of just under €2,000 billion in current prices; Ireland's revised number is €1,825 billion. Thomas Byrne described the plan as balanced, preserving major investment areas while keeping essential programmes funded.
He argued the cut would ease the burden on net-contributing states such as Germany and Denmark, which would otherwise face double-digit-billion euro contributions. The proposal aligns Ireland with other countries seeking a smaller EU budget, though Germany has asked for cuts amounting to several hundred billion euros. Byrne believes the compromise could pave the way for an agreement among EU members before the year-end deadline.
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Why it matters
The cut could lower contributions from wealthier EU members and shape the bloc's spending priorities.
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