# Can Brussels Budget Like a Superpower?

> EU proposes 2 trillion euros budget to rival US and China.
- Title: Can Brussels Budget Like a Superpower? · Foreign Policy
- Summary: EU proposes 2 trillion euros budget to rival US and China. EU's new 2028-2034 budget aims to match US and China's economic power through defense, research…
- Keywords: budget, 2028-2034, defense, research, ukraine, russia, trump, federalism, cohesion, Brussels, Like, Superpower
- Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/10/12/eu-financial-framework-budget-russia-trump
- Author: Luke McGee
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: eu, budget, 2028-2034, defense, research, ukraine, russia, trump, federalism, cohesion
## EU budget cycle
The European Union falls into a wide-ranging squabble over money every seven years.
## Current EU budget
The latest budget cycle under discussion is 1.2 trillion euros in current prices.
## Proposed budget
The European Commission proposed 2 trillion euros for the 2028-2034 budget cycle.
## Competitiveness Fund
451 billion euros earmarked for the Competitiveness Fund including 175 billion for research, 131 billion for defense and space.
## Global influence
200 billion euros proposed for global interests including 100 billion for Ukraine.
## US comparison
US spends many multiples of EU's defense budget annually.
## Cohesion debate
EU faces internal debate over whether 2 trillion euros is too high for cohesion.
## Euroskeptic challenge
Euroskepticism threatens to block EU's budget coordination efforts.
## Russia threat
Russia poses unprecedented threat to EU security requiring unified response.
## Trump challenge
Trump's policies threaten EU's ability to act independently.
## Next steps
EU must balance cohesion with national interests to secure budget approval.
## Key takeaway

EU's new 2028-2034 budget aims to match US and China's economic power through defense, research, and global influence.