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EU Budget Talks Stall as Irish Presidency Pushes a Year‑End Compromise

The outcome will determine whether a near-€2 trillion 2028–2034 plan moves forward given audit warnings about weak controls and vetoes from fiscally cautious states.

Overview

  • Irish ministers and EU budget officials are pressing for a Council position before year-end with a new compromise text to bridge gaps over the proposed nearly €2 trillion multiannual budget.
  • The European Court of Auditors said the Commission’s pre‑financing model risks repeating the corona-fund mistakes, flagged a 3.8 percent error rate for 2025, and warned EU debt could approach €1 trillion with large interest costs.
  • Several fiscally cautious capitals, notably the Netherlands and Germany, consider the Commission’s size estimate too high and have signalled they may block approval unless spending, controls or financing are changed.
  • The Irish presidency plans to table a draft compromise to address member-state concerns about new own resources and the timing of implementation for 2028, but any new revenue measures still require unanimous backing.
  • Separately, EU finance ministers reached a political deal on Friday to deepen the Capital Markets Union and shift some supervisory powers to ESMA, a step that advances financial integration even as the MFF talks remain unresolved.