Press conference following discussions on the EU budget
Federal Chancellor Merz has held discussions on the next EU multiannual budget with heads of government from Finland, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden and Denmark. The group, it is reported, intends to advocate for a realistic approach in negotiations.
- Transcript of press conference
- Thursday, 27 August 2026
The aim is an EU budget with a sense of proportion, said Federal Chancellor Merz at the joint press conference.
Photo: Federal Government / Guido Bergmann
Following discussions on the forthcoming EU budget over a shared lunch, Federal Chancellor Merz, Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen, Finnish Prime Minister Orpo and Austrian Chancellor Stocker reaffirmed their joint position in a press conference. The heads of government of the Netherlands and Sweden took part in the discussions via video conference.
The group is reported to have a shared interest in “advocating for realism and reforms in these negotiations”. According to Federal Chancellor Merz, the next Multiannual Financial Framework will determine how the European Union’s common budget is to be spent well into the next decade, and the group of major contributors, he said, hopes to conclude the negotiations in Brussels before the end of this year if possible.
The most important points in brief:
- Priorities: The next EU budget must be able to meet the challenges of the 21st century, it was said in the press conference. “We need a modern Multiannual Financial Framework that reflects our political priorities”, urged Federal Chancellor Merz, with the main focus being the competitiveness of the EU and its industry, as Europe will only be able to hold its own in the world through its own economic strength.
- Feasibility of financing: “The EU budget must remain financially viable”, said Federal Chancellor Merz. The current proposals, which would see increases of up to 60 percent, were said to be unaffordable in times of budgetary consolidation. The group was therefore united in its call for cuts amounting to several hundred billion euros across all areas.
- A sense of proportion: The Member States present would be providing 40 percent of the total EU budget and 70 percent of bilateral aid from the EU to Ukraine, the Chancellor emphasised. He said they wanted a budget “that is in keeping with our expectations of a strong and sovereign Europe”, and he added that this budget would grow, but this could only be achieved with a sense of proportion, realism and a willingness to reform.
Read the transcript of the press conference here (in German only):