Political debate on €2 trillion budget in EU starts...

The political debate over EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s proposed €2 trillion budget has officially begun, with European affairs ministers meeting in Brussels to express early concerns. The proposal, which von der Leyen calls the EU’s “most ambitious” ever, requires unanimous approval from all 27 member states. Critics from fiscally conservative nations like Finland, Austria, and Denmark argue the budget is too large, while others, including Spain and Poland, say it falls short of addressing critical challenges like cohesion, agriculture, and Europe’s green, digital, and social transitions.

Friday, 18 July, 2025