https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/merz-unites-eu-budget-cutters-as-costa-gropes-for-dealContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/merz-unites-eu-budget-cutters-as-costa-gropes-for-dealhttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/merz-unites-eu-budget-cutters-as-costa-gropes-for-deal#u50456Fri, 28 Aug 2026 05:40:36 +0000German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and five other EU net contributors are demanding cuts of hundreds of billions to the European Union's long-term budget. This coalition opposes plans for a massive budget increase, with Germany specifically calling for reductions in the "hundred billion" range. Simultaneously, European Council President Antonio Costa is conducting a round of visits to EU capitals to discuss priorities, including Ukraine support, and has called for the budget to strengthen the bloc's Eastern flank. Ursula von der Leyen maintains that the budget must fund Europ