The European Union should consider adopting a three- or four-year budget instead of attempting to plan its financing needs seven years in advance, President Nikos Christodoulides said in an interview with Politico on the sidelines of the first day of the EU leaders' summit in Brussels.
"We are discussing the budget for 2034 and we are now in 2026," the president said, arguing that a three- or four-year framework could be more acceptable to some member states. "Why not open the political discussion?" he asked.
"We do not know what the situation will be in 2030, 2031," he added, referring to successive crises. "Look at what happened with COVID, with the war in Ukraine. It is not feasible today to declare all of your priorities."
The EU's approximately €2 trillion seven-year budget must be approved unanimously by all 27 member states, with two established camps at odds. The so-called "frugal" countries, including Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, are seeking a smaller budget, while the Friends of Cohesion, an informal group of 17 states, oppose major cuts to traditional policies, agriculture and regional funds. EU law allows for a budget lasting "at least five years", although every multiannual framework since 1993 has covered seven years.
Budget cuts expected
Christodoulides also estimated that the final budget would be reduced by around one-tenth compared with the European Commission's proposal.
"I think we may end up at 10% or 11%. A double-digit figure," he said.
Last week, the Irish Presidency proposed an 8% reduction compared with the Commission's proposal.
Agreement this year seen as less likely
On the timetable for negotiations, the president suggested that the chances of reaching a political agreement by the end of the year have diminished.
"Everyone understood that a political agreement had to be completed by the end of the year. Now, with the situation in Spain, with the elections there," such an outcome is becoming less likely, he said.
EU official expresses reservations
According to Politico, an EU official familiar with the negotiations described the idea of a shorter budget timeframe as "strange".
Source: CNA
