EU Budget: German Bundesrat President finds government's demands difficult

Bundesrat President Andreas Bovenschulte has voiced concerns regarding the German government's strong push for deep cuts to the upcoming long-term EU budget. While acknowledging the government's primary role in foreign policy, Bovenschulte stated that the proposal is "difficult" from the perspective of Germany's federal states (Länder).

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From the perspective of the federal states, this is a difficult proposal.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently advocated for a significantly smaller EU budget for the period of 2028-2034 compared to the European Commission's proposal. Reports suggest an internal German government paper outlines a figure around 400 billion euros, though this is not yet an official government position. Bovenschulte indicated that this proposal requires further discussion.

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I think we must discuss this and talk about it.

The EU budget is a highly sensitive political issue, with negotiations currently underway for the 2028-2034 period. The European Commission has proposed a budget of approximately 1.76 trillion euros (adjusted for inflation), intended for various initiatives including defense, agriculture, structural development, and the Erasmus exchange program. Germany, as the EU's largest economy, contributes the largest share to this budget, primarily funded by member states' gross national income.

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We must not see the improvement of competitiveness and cohesion as opposites.

Bovenschulte challenged the notion of viewing competitiveness and cohesion as opposing forces. He asserted that a strong social fabric is essential for European competitiveness, warning that a divided Europe cannot be competitive. He expressed strong criticism of proposals that would allocate insufficient funds to cohesion policy, emphasizing its importance for maintaining European unity and stability.

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Without this, Europe will fall apart - and then there will be no competitive European Union.