Merz calls for significant cuts to the EU budget: "No member state can afford this"

Ahead of the EU summit, which is being held today and tomorrow in Brussels, Merz said that the bloc’s common budget must be significantly reduced compared with the European Commission’s proposals, as no EU member state can afford to pay contributions to the European Union at this level.

“The current proposal is 50 percent higher than what we are financing under the current multiannual financial framework. That is why we are facing very, very difficult negotiations. I also do not expect us to reach an agreement this weekend. Nevertheless, it is important that we discuss once again the priorities we want to establish. In my view, these priorities are competitiveness and defence.

“We are making progress in these areas, although not as much as I actually expected at the beginning of the year,” he said.

He also added that reducing bureaucracy in Europe and the European Union’s finances are closely interconnected. If the EU fails to significantly reduce excessive bureaucracy across Europe, then there is relatively little point in discussing money.

“Once again, Europe must remain capable of taking action and preserving its sovereignty, and that is a task which, in my view, we are currently not fulfilling sufficiently,” Merz concluded.