Jordan Bardella vows to halve France's contribution to the EU budget

French National Rally leader Jordan Bardella told POLITICO that his party will seek to cut France’s contribution to the European Union’s long‑term budget by 50 %. He framed the demand as a way to rebalance the EU’s finances, likening it to rebates obtained by wealthier member states such as Germany and the Netherlands. While insisting that France does not intend to leave the Union, Bardella said the EU’s budget‑negotiation process must be reopened so that any future French government can have a say.

Bardella also stressed that the National Rally’s stance on NATO remains unchanged and that the party wants to preserve France’s security commitments on Europe’s eastern flank. In a separate Italian‑language interview, he criticised former U.S. president Donald Trump as “erratic and unstable,” arguing that Europe should pursue an independent foreign policy. The comments come ahead of a July 7 hearing on the appeal of Marine Le Pen’s embezzlement conviction, which could affect the party’s presidential candidacy.

The statements underline the far‑right’s push to reshape EU fiscal rules while remaining inside the bloc.