# EU budget cut by 159 billion euros in Irish proposal

> Ireland's presidency proposes slashing the bloc's seven-year budget to bridge a divide between countries demanding cuts and those opposing them.
- Title: EU budget cut by 159 billion euros in Irish proposal
- Summary: Ireland's presidency proposes slashing the bloc's seven-year budget to bridge a divide between countries demanding cuts and those opposing them. Ireland…
- Keywords: eu budget, irish presidency, council of the eu, germany, friends of cohesion, thomas byrne, european parliament, eu summit, politics, world, budget, cut
- Source: POLITICO — https://politico.eu/article/eu-budget-slashed-by-e159b-in-new-irish-proposal
- Published: 2026-10-10T08:22:16+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: eu budget, irish presidency, council of the eu, germany, friends of cohesion, thomas byrne, european parliament, eu summit, politics, world
## Ireland cuts EU budget by 159 billion
The Irish presidency proposed slashing one hundred fifty-nine billion euros from the Commission's original budget proposal for twenty twenty-eight to twenty thirty-four.
## Eight percent cut to appease Germany
Ireland proposed cutting around eight percent from the bloc's total budget to satisfy a German-led camp demanding major reductions to the nearly two trillion euro proposal.
## Farm subsidies and regions protected
In a concession to the Friends of Cohesion, Ireland shielded farmers' subsidies and regional payouts, which account for half the total budget, from any cuts.
## Cuts hit foreign aid and competitiveness
Foreign aid was cut by thirty-eight billion euros, competitiveness by seventy-five billion euros, and administrative costs by ten billion euros. Ireland also scrapped the EU Facility cushion.
## Ireland defends balanced compromise
Thomas Byrne, Ireland's Minister of State for European Affairs, said the proposal protected traditional policies while looking to the future and balancing all twenty-seven countries.

> We protected the traditional policies of the Union, which are very important for the European Union and the single market. But we also very much look to the future.
## Frugal states call it a disappointment
An EU diplomat said the Irish proposal is not close to a landing zone and fails to prepare the EU for the twenty-first century by favouring twentieth century policies.

> The Irish proposal is a disappointment and not even close to a landing zone.
## Parliament threatens to reject budget
The European People's Party budget negotiator Siegfried Mureșan said Parliament will not consent to the Irish proposal, calling it a weaker budget with little progress.

> Parliament is not bluffing: the budget proposed by the Irish Presidency will not receive our consent.
## Key takeaway

Ireland proposed cutting the EU's 2028-2034 budget by one hundred fifty-nine billion euros, shielding farm subsidies while cutting foreign aid and competitiveness spending to appease budget hawks.