German Chancellor Hopes for European Budget Agreement Before Year-End
The German Chancellor expressed hope for reaching an agreement on the EU budget before the end of the year, despite negotiation difficulties.
Translated by Qiyas from كونا — Original source
Brussels, October 15 (KUNA) -- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed hope on Thursday that an agreement on the European Union’s long-term budget could be reached before the end of the current year, while warning that significant divergences remain among member states as intensive negotiations begin on the bloc’s budget for the 2028–2034 period. Speaking to journalists upon his arrival at the European Council headquarters in Brussels, Merz said the talks would be “extremely difficult,” adding that he hoped an agreement could still be reached this year despite ongoing disagreements among member states. He further noted that European leaders should be prepared to “bring a few extra shirts” for the summit scheduled for December, alluding to the likelihood of protracted and challenging negotiations. Merz’s comments come amid disputes among member states over the size of the upcoming budget, spending priorities, and funding sources, as the Irish presidency of the Council of the European Union seeks to bridge differences on the proposed plan. (End) A.R.N. / T.A.B.
