Six countries seek sharp cut to EU budget
The Netherlands, Germany and four other countries oppose the size of the proposed multiannual EU budget.
The Netherlands has joined Germany, Denmark, Finland, Austria and Sweden in calling for the next EU budget to be reduced by several hundred billion euros. At the same time, the countries want to free up more money for security, defence, competitiveness and migration policy.
The six countries are directing their criticism at the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028 to 2034. The European Commission has put forward a proposal worth nearly €2 trillion. According to the joint statement, that amount must be substantially reduced, and all major budget components must contribute to the reduction.
The signatories say the EU must make clear choices within the budget. They want existing funds to be shifted towards, among other things, defence, security, competitiveness, innovation and migration. They also reject new joint debt as a solution to the budgetary problems.
The Netherlands has long maintained that the European budget must be modernised and that the Dutch contribution must not rise further. The Dutch list of priorities includes competitiveness, defence and security, asylum and migration, and limiting the financial burden.
The call carries considerable political weight, but is not a formal veto or a final negotiating result. The multiannual budget must ultimately be approved by the member states and the European Parliament. Negotiations are still under way and could change the size, distribution and financing of the programmes.
The issue affects divergent interests. Countries and regions that receive substantial funding from agricultural, cohesion or research programmes will want to prevent existing funds from being cut. For the Netherlands and other net contributors, it is particularly important that the EU does more with a capped budget and that new priorities do not automatically lead to higher contributions.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The European Commission has put forward a proposal worth nearly €2 trillion for 2028–2034.
- Six countries want to reduce that amount by several hundred billion euros.
- The countries want to prioritise, among other things, security, defence, competitiveness and migration.
- The negotiations have not yet been completed.
Left
Arguments A smaller budget could put existing solidarity programmes, agricultural support, regional development and social investment under pressure. New European priorities should not be funded solely through cuts to existing programmes.
Values Solidarity, redistribution, public investment and protection of vulnerable regions.
Consequences The left fears that countries with the least negotiating power will bear the cost of the new priorities.
Centre
Arguments The EU must adapt its priorities to security and economic change, while also providing predictability for regions, farmers, researchers and businesses. A compromise is the obvious option: reprioritise, implement more efficiently and deploy additional resources only where necessary.
Values Stability, administrative feasibility and European cooperation.
Consequences The centre stresses that the final distribution may be more important than the total amount alone.
Right
Arguments A budget amounting to nearly €2 trillion is not automatically justified. The EU must stay within its means, spare national taxpayers and replace subsidies with investments that strengthen security, growth and competitiveness.
Values Budgetary discipline, national responsibility and economic efficiency.
Consequences The right fears higher contributions, new European debt and continuing transfers without a clear return.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The budget size, the six countries and their priorities can be found in official government sources. The text presents the consequences for recipients as possible interests, not as established outcomes.
- confirmed The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Austria and Sweden want to reduce the next EU budget by several hundred billion euros. — This is stated in the joint declaration of the six countries. source
- confirmed The European Commission’s proposal amounts to nearly €2 trillion. — This is mentioned in the joint declaration and explained by the German government. source
- confirmed The Netherlands wants to modernise the EU budget and limit its financial contribution. — Dutch government information on its position regarding the MFF 2028–2034. source
- confirmed The new budget must be approved by the member states and the European Parliament. — Decision-making on the EU budget follows the European budgetary procedure described. source
Editor's note
The six countries, the proposed amount of nearly €2 trillion and the call for a reduction have been confirmed in the joint statement. The word ultimatum is a political characterisation; no formal legal ultimatum has been recorded.Sources
- Statement of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, and Sweden on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 — Bundesregierung
- European Union budget — Government of the Netherlands
- EU long-term budget for 2021-2027 — Council of the European Union
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „eu-begroting duitsland”
- NU.nl — „eu-begroting duitsland”
- De Telegraaf — „eu-begroting duitsland”