Germany and five other EU countries are demanding deep reductions to Brussels’ proposed €2 trillion budget, arguing that money traditionally directed towards agriculture and regional development should instead help finance defence, competitiveness and innovation.
Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Austria and Finland reportedly outlined their position in a letter to Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, warning that the 2028–2034 budget must be fundamentally reshaped and that an agreement could be blocked unless substantial savings are made.
Agricultural subsidies and assistance for poorer regions have historically consumed a large share of EU expenditure, but the six governments want spending priorities redirected as Europe increases military investment.
Their position faces significant resistance, with 17 other member states, including Spain and Italy, calling instead for greater agricultural and regional funding. Because the seven-year budget requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU members, the disagreement sets up a major confrontation over whether traditional programmes should bear the cost of Europe’s expanding defence ambitions.
The dispute comes amid Germany’s push to strengthen its armed forces under Chancellor Friedrich Merz and broader European concerns about Russia, although Finnish President Alexander Stubb has said his country’s intelligence services see no imminent military threat from Moscow. Russia, meanwhile, continues to reject suggestions that it intends to attack NATO countries and argues that such warnings are being used to justify escalating European military expenditure.
Yeah its not going to work, is it? These globalist clowns are only in office by the skin of their teeth in many cases and wont be sticking around once people realize this is how badly their nations are being mismanaged.
Ze Germans want the collective “free west” of fake democracies to pay for their hugely expensive wunderwaffen program.
The voters might not like it, but they are not the “elite” so their opinion doesn’t matter.