Von der Leyen pushes back against budget cuts ahead of EU summit

The Commission’s blueprint, set at 1.26 percent of the EU’s gross national income, faces stiff resistance from a group of fiscally conservative nations led by Germany. Chancellor Friedrich Merz argued this week that maintaining the current framework without expansion serves as the most advantageous path for his country, fueling a deepening rift between net contributors and those reliant on structural funding.

Opposition to the cuts remains fierce among 17 member states from Southern and Eastern Europe. These nations have united to defend vital funding streams, specifically common agricultural subsidies and cohesion policy investments intended for the bloc's poorest regions. Romanian MEP Siegfried Muresan, who co-leads the parliament’s negotiating team, warned that proposed reductions would weaken Europe’s institutional integrity. While Muresan acknowledged the reluctance of governments to increase national contributions, he insisted a compromise remains within reach before the 15 October summit.