Berlin: The German government has rejected the European Commission's proposed long-term £2 trillion ($2.33 trillion) EU budget for the period 2028-2034. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's spokesman Stefan Kornelius stated that the increase in the EU budget is unacceptable at a time when member states are making significant efforts to stabilize their own national budgets.
According to Qatar News Agency, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen defended the proposed budget, emphasizing that it addresses the challenges Europe is facing and aims to strengthen the EU's strategic autonomy.
The proposed budget is approximately £700 billion more than the current approved budget for the 2021-2027 period. The Commission's proposal seeks to reform the EU budget by placing greater emphasis on defense and competitiveness, while also introducing new revenue sources and adjusting funding criteria.