EU governments soften year-end target for budget agreement
France and Italy oppose committing to a 2026 deal, while António Costa wants negotiations concluded at the December summit.
EU governments have scaled back their commitment to conclude negotiations on the bloc’s next seven-year budget before 2026 ends, draft summit conclusions indicate. European Council President António Costa wants an agreement at the December summit, ahead of elections in France, Italy and Poland in 2027.
France and Italy were among the countries seeking removal of an explicit year-end deadline, according to two EU diplomats briefed on the talks. Governments fear that a fixed timetable would weaken their bargaining position. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in parliament that Italy would accept a deal only if it served the country’s interests, rather than simply to satisfy a deadline.
The revised draft instead urges a timely outcome. It says concluding talks before the year ends would enable funding to flow when the new budget begins in 2028. That formulation repeats the wording adopted in June. Spain’s snap election on 29 November is another concern for the timetable.
Leaders meeting in Brussels will give their first response to an Irish budget proposal envisaging cuts of €159 billion. Their summit agenda also includes energy prices, enlargement, Ukraine and migration.
