Germany seeks €400 billion reduction in EU 2028‑2034 budget proposal

Germany has entered EU negotiations demanding a €400 billion cut to the Union’s multi‑annual financial framework for 2028‑2034. The European Commission’s draft calls for a budget of almost €2 trillion, about 1.26 % of EU GNI, to fund agriculture, cohesion, defence, competitiveness, migration, resilience, crisis tools and aid to Ukraine. Berlin argues the plan is "unsustainable" and would raise its annual contribution above €50 billion, a level it says is politically untenable given domestic fiscal constraints, defence spending and a slowing economy. The German government proposes lowering the total to roughly €1.6 trillion, still higher than the current 2021‑2027 cycle of €1.3 trillion. The proposal must be approved unanimously by all 27 member states, and Germany’s stance signals strong pressure on Brussels as the EU also prepares to repay the debt incurred under the Next Generation EU programme.