# 17 EU nations push back on budget cuts

> A coalition led by Italy and Romania opposes Germany's call to slash agriculture and regional spending in the next seven-year EU budget.
- Title: 17 EU nations push back on budget cuts · POLITICO | Shortify
- Summary: A coalition led by Italy and Romania opposes Germany's call to slash agriculture and regional spending in the next seven-year EU budget. Seventeen EU…
- Keywords: eu budget, multiannual financial framework, agriculture spending, cohesion policy, italy, germany, romania, ireland, european council, politics, world, nations
- Source: POLITICO — https://politico.eu/article/17-countries-join-forces-to-oppose-eu-budget-cuts
- Published: 2026-10-02T14:39:01+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: eu budget, multiannual financial framework, agriculture spending, cohesion policy, italy, germany, romania, ireland, european council, politics, world
## Seventeen nations reject budget cuts
Seventeen EU governments have publicly warned against cuts to agriculture and regional payouts in the next seven-year budget, rebuking Germany's stance in negotiations.
## The signatories and their demand
Italy, Spain, Poland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia signed the letter demanding almost 900 billion euros in spending be preserved.
## Germany leads the opposing camp
A rival camp of six countries led by Germany renewed calls for cuts of several hundred billion euros across the board in a joint letter earlier this week.
## Italy and Romania coordinate response
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Romanian President Nicușor Dan coordinated the initiative and will host an informal meeting on October fifteen and sixteen at the next European Council.
## The stakes in the MFF fight
The Multiannual Financial Framework finances everything from farmers' subsidies to development aid. The European Commission proposed nearly two trillion euros for twenty twenty-eight to twenty thirty-four, shifting hundreds of billions from agriculture to defense and competitiveness.
## Deadline pressure and tax disputes
EU governments are rushing to secure a final agreement by the end of the year before national elections in France, Poland and Italy derail negotiations. The Commission proposed five new levies estimated to generate sixty-six billion euros per year, strongly supported by France but opposed by several governments.
## Key takeaway

Seventeen EU governments have publicly opposed cuts to agriculture and regional payouts in the next seven-year budget, setting up a clash with Germany and five allies who want hundreds of billions in cuts.