EU presidency tables new proposal for smaller budget
Ireland tries to secure agreement on the EU budget with a €140 billion cut.
There is news on this story (Saturday, 10 October 2026, 13:45): Netherlands rejects Irish proposal for EU budget
Follow-up to: Netherlands seeks major cut to EU budget Friday, 9 October 2026, 08:43
Ireland, which holds the presidency of the European Union, has tabled a new proposal for the multiannual budget. The draft removes €140 billion from the European Commission’s earlier proposal, in an effort to move negotiations between the member states forward.
The proposal concerns the EU budget for 2028 to 2034. Ireland, which is chairing the Council of the European Union this six-month term, presented the draft to the member states on Saturday. According to news agency AFP, the reduction is intended as a compromise in a debate focused mainly on the size of the budget and the distribution of the money.
In July 2025, the European Commission proposed a budget of almost €2 trillion. That plan was intended to provide room for regional development, research, education, defence, digitalisation and the green transition, among other things. At the same time, the Commission wanted to make the budget more flexible, so that money could be shifted between priorities more quickly.
The first public reports contain little information about the precise distribution of the €140 billion. It is therefore not yet possible to determine which programmes would be hardest hit. Nor is it clear whether the reduction would mainly come from new spending, or whether existing funds would actually become smaller.
According to AFP, Germany is leading the group of countries that considers the earlier size too large. Countries seeking more money for defence, research and joint European investment fear that a lower ceiling would make the EU less effective. The Irish proposal gives the Dutch position in favour of a smaller budget a more concrete framework in the negotiations.
The proposal is not a decision. The member states must first reach agreement in the Council. The European Parliament must then give its consent. The multiannual financial framework ultimately requires unanimity among the member states, meaning that every government can exercise a veto.
The forthcoming negotiations are therefore not only about billions, but also about what the EU should finance collectively. A smaller budget can limit national contributions, but makes it more difficult to fund new European responsibilities. A larger budget can provide greater collective capacity, but requires higher contributions from net contributors or new European revenue.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Ireland has tabled a draft proposal with €140 billion less.
- The Commission previously proposed almost €2 trillion for the 2028–2034 period.
- The proposal has not yet been adopted.
- The multiannual framework requires agreement among the member states and the consent of the European Parliament.
Left
Arguments The EU is taking on more and more shared responsibilities, such as climate policy, social cohesion, research and security. A smaller budget could particularly affect regions and groups that depend on European funds.
Values Solidarity, public investment and reducing regional disparities.
Consequences Less money could lead to lower investment in research, education and cohesion, and increase inequality between member states.
Centre
Arguments A compromise is needed: the EU must be able to fund new priorities, but member states must retain sight of the costs. Clear conditions, oversight and a fair distribution matter more than simply having a high or low total amount.
Values Sound governance, European cooperation and affordability.
Consequences A moderate cut with clear priorities could preserve support, but would require painful choices between programmes.
Right
Arguments The EU should limit itself to tasks that member states cannot carry out alone. A smaller budget would force Brussels to work more efficiently and prevent national taxpayers from paying ever more.
Values National control, budgetary discipline and subsidiarity.
Consequences Lower contributions could create room at national level, but joint European projects and crisis instruments could become smaller.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The article’s core is based on a recent AFP report and official EU information about the existing budget proposal and decision-making. Unknown details about the distribution of the cut are explicitly marked as uncertain.
- confirmed On Saturday, Ireland proposed a €140 billion reduction to the next EU budget. — Reported by AFP on 10 October 2026. source
- confirmed The European Commission proposed a multiannual budget of almost €2 trillion for the 2028–2034 period. — Official Commission proposal. source
- confirmed The multiannual financial framework requires unanimity in the Council and the consent of the European Parliament. — EU information on the decision-making procedure. source
- confirmed According to AFP, Germany is leading the countries calling for a smaller budget. — Described as such in the AFP report. source
Editor's note
The €140 billion cut and the status of the proposal as a negotiating document have been confirmed. The distribution of the cut among programmes and the final Dutch position are not yet known.Sources
- Proposed next EU budget slashed by 140 bn euros: official — AFP via NAMPA
- An ambitious budget for a stronger Europe 2028-2034 — Europese Commissie
- European Parliament debate on the 2028-2034 MFF — Europees Parlement
The story so far
- Friday, 9 October 2026, 08:43 Netherlands seeks major cut to EU budget
- Friday, 9 October 2026, 12:47 Six net contributors threaten to block EU budget
- Saturday, 10 October 2026, 12:45 EU presidency tables new proposal for smaller budget (this article)
- Saturday, 10 October 2026, 13:45 Netherlands rejects Irish proposal for EU budget