Von der Leyen warns against deep cuts to the EU budget

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the European Parliament on October 6, 2026, urging member states to avoid major cuts to the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The warning comes ahead of the October 15-16 summit in Brussels, where leaders are scheduled to discuss the negotiation package prepared by the Irish Presidency.

Linking the budget to current energy crises, von der Leyen emphasized that the next long-term plan must address critical European challenges, including defense and security, competitiveness, artificial intelligence, energy infrastructure, raw materials, research, innovation, and enlargement. She defended the Commission's proposal, which corresponds to 1.26% of the EU’s Gross National Income, acknowledging the fiscal constraints faced by individual member states while maintaining that significant reductions would jeopardize the Union's ability to respond to pressing needs.