Reactions to the European Commission's new EU budget proposal
An agreement on the new EU budget requires backing from all 27 member countries and sign-off from the European Parliament.
"We can never accept that common EU funds go to countries that don't respect basic democratic principles and European values"
"We won't solve the EU's problems with a bigger budget and increased EU contributions, rather through using current resources in a smarter way and putting money where it is really needed."
"The proposed budget is too high. We should not always focus solely on how the EU can spend more, but rather on how existing funds can be spent better"
"This requires tough choices. The financial contribution of the Netherlands to the EU is already significant. We therefore want to see an improvement in our net payment position ... As far as the Netherlands is concerned, new instruments for joint debt are therefore not on the table."
"I welcome the ambition for the new multiannual financial framework presented today by the European Commission"
"I will be ... in Brussels on Friday to defend our priorities: the rearmament of the European continent, supporting our competitiveness and technological sovereignty, the income of our farmers, and the creation of our own resources."
"I welcome the presentation of the proposal on the EU long-term budget by the European Commission, a step which will allow the Council to start working. A budget is not just about numbers— it is the ultimate political decision, a choice about our future, and we need to approach this debate with an open mind and spirit of collective responsibility."
LEAD MEMBERS OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: SIEGFRIED MURESAN, CARLA TAVARES, SANDRA GOMEZ LOPEZ AND DANUSE NERUDOVA
"This draft budget does not leave sufficient funds for critical priorities including competitiveness, cohesion, agriculture, defence, climate adaptation and the investment necessary for a sustainable economy that works for all."
"Parliament stands ready to use all its powers to their full extent to ensure that the next long-term budget matches the Union's ambitions and challenges."
"The inclusion of a 35% climate mainstreaming in the new budget shows the Commission is still serious about supporting decarbonisation efforts across the continent... This is essential to make the 90% climate target by 2040 achievable. It is however a wasted opportunity not to strictly exclude fossil fuel funding from the budget."
"The restructuring of the budget puts at risk the EU's central role in fighting poverty, responding to global crises, and supporting those living in the Global South. The Commission is proposing to merge existing external action instruments into one called Global Europe. This move increases the risk that funding is diverted to serve short-term political gains, rather than used to tackle poverty and inequalities."
"Madame President, your budget and CAP proposal are nothing more or less than a provocation towards the agricultural world. Rethink your approach! There will be no rise in Europe's power without food rearmament!"
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
28 minutes ago
- BBC News
Forward thinking
The team most in need of goals is Manchester United.Last season, Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Alexander Isak of Newcastle combined to score far more in the Premier League (52) than United did as an entire squad (44).Considering they had splurged more than £200m last summer to just about zero effect, it is no surprise that new defenders are way down on their list of priorities this everyone else, they are looking ahead by investing £62.5m on Matheus Cunha and another £65m-plus on Bryan a great time to be an attacker in the Premier League, but there is also huge pressure that comes with those transfer fees, especially at up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter
The Independent
29 minutes ago
- The Independent
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Anti-corruption protests target Zelensky in Kyiv ahead of crucial peace talks
Anti-government protests have broken out in Kyiv as hundreds flocked to the streets to oppose a decision to curb the powers of two anti-corruption agencies. Ukraine has toughened restrictions on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. Amendments approved by Volodymyr Zelensky's party yesterday have rolled back the agencies' autonomy in favour of tighter executive control, a move the Ukrainian president says is needed to rid the organisations of 'Russian influence'. Angry protesters held signs reading 'F*** corruption' and 'Corruption = Death' while chanting 'Ukraine is not Russia'. Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv and a prominent political opponent of Mr Zelensky, was among the protesters. Marta Kos, the EU's enlargement commissioner, said the move was a 'serious step back' for Kyiv's membership hopes, while French European affairs minister Benjamin Haddad said it 'not too late' for Kyiv to reverse the decision. It comes as a third round of talks is set to take place in Istanbul, Turkey after previous summits in May and June failed to yield any results, except agreement on swapping prisoners of war. Russian forces launched 71 Shahed drones at Ukraine overnight, Kyiv's air force has said. A total of 26 drones struck their targets but the rest failed to reach their destination. Here is what the air force said in its morning report, according to Ukrainska Pravda: As of 09:00, air defence systems have shot down or jammed 27 Russian Shahed-type UAVs (and other types) in the north, east and centre of the country. Another 18 UAVs disappeared from radar or were suppressed by electronic warfare. A total of 26 UAV impacts were recorded in 14 locations and debris from downed drones fell in five locations. Drones were launched from Russia's Kursk, Millerovo and Primorsko-Akhtarsk regions, and targeted Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Kharkiv and Cherkasy regions, the air force added. Alex Croft23 July 2025 09:15 In pictures: Russia carries out 'July Storm' Navy test Alex Croft23 July 2025 08:43 France calls on Ukraine to reverse decision on anti-corruption agencies We've just heard from Benjamin Haddad, France's European Affairs minister, who said it is not too late for Ukraine to reverse its decision to roll back the autonomy of two anti-corruption agencies at the centre of the country's reform drive. Amendments passed yesterday grant the general prosecutor, appointed by the president, strict control over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, several lawmakers said. The decision by Ukraine's executive has prompted protests in Kyiv and other cities across the country "It is not too late to go back on this," Haddad told France Inter radio. "We will be extremely vigilant on the subject." Alex Croft23 July 2025 08:17 Russia begins major 'July Storm' navy drill with 15,00 troops Russia has began huge navy drills with more than 150 vessels and 15,000 troops in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, the defence ministry said. The 'July Storm' exercise will test the readiness of Russia's fleet for non-standard operations, including the use of long-range weapons and other advanced technologies, the ministry said. "At sea, the crews of the ships will practice deployment to combat areas, conducting anti-submarine operations, defending areas of deployment and economic activity,' it added. The will also practice "repelling attacks by air attack weapons, unmanned boats and enemy drones, ensuring the safety of navigation, striking enemy targets and naval groups'. More than 120 aircraft will take part and 10 coastal missile systems, the ministry said. Navy chief, Admiral Alexander Moiseev, will lead the exercise. Russia has the world's third most powerful navy after China and the United States, according to most public rankings, though the navy has suffered a series of high-profile losses in the Ukraine war. Alex Croft23 July 2025 07:47 Ukraine's military loses first French Mirage fighter jet in crash A Mirage 2000 fighter jet supplied to Ukraine from France crashed yesterday after experiencing equipment failure during an assignment, with the pilot ejecting safely, Ukraine's military said. It was the first loss of a Mirage jet since Ukraine's military started receiving them earlier this year. "Equipment failure occurred, which the pilot reported to the flight controller," a military statement said on Telegram. "The pilot then acted competently, as is expected in crisis situations, and successfully ejected. A rescue crew found the pilot in a stable condition. There were no casualties on the ground." Ukrainian news reports said the incident occurred in the northwestern Volyn region. Ukraine's military announced the arrival of the first batch of Mirage aircraft in February. Arpan Rai23 July 2025 07:15 Zelensky offers to meet Putin as Russia casts doubt on peace talks Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has renewed his call to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin face to face as Russia cast doubt on fresh peace talks being held this week. Mr Zelensky said Ukraine was working to 'prepare a leaders' meeting aimed at truly bringing this war to an end', as the Kremlin said it did not expect any breakthroughs from fresh negotiations being held in Istanbul on Wednesday. 'Our position is fully transparent. Ukraine never wanted this war, and it is Russia that must end the war that it started,' the Ukrainian president said. In May, Mr Zelensky challenged the Russian leader to meet him, saying he would be waiting in Turkey for him 'personally'. But on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia was unlikely to agree to a peace deal and would continue 'pursuing our interests'. Arpan Rai23 July 2025 06:59 Ukraine military intelligence chief posts cryptic message after law on anti-corruption agencies passed Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov shared a cryptic message warning against infighting on his Telegram after Ukraine cleared a new law threatening the autonomy of the country's anti-corruption bodies. "Ukrainian history has taught us — a nation loses if it is torn apart by internal contradictions," Mr Budanov wrote in a post on his Telegram channel. "We have one common trouble, one enemy. Therefore, internal contradictions should be resolved through open dialogue to achieve a single common goal — to defend our country. I am confident that Ukraine will be saved by a strong military and institutions," Mr Budanov said. Arpan Rai23 July 2025 06:57 Russia says 33 Ukrainian drones destroyed overnight Russia's air defence systems destroyed 33 Ukrainian drones overnight in six regions, the Russian defence ministry said on its Telegram channel this morning. Most of these drones were downed near the border region between Ukraine and Russia, the ministry said. Arpan Rai23 July 2025 06:29 Ukraine allies looking for solutions in EU on Patriots, German minister says Ukraine's allies are looking to see whether some member states in the European Union could supply Ukraine with five Patriot missile defence systems, of which Germany is willing to finance two, Germany's defence minister Boris Pistorius said this morning. Mr Pistorius said Germany would have been willing to give two of its own systems to Ukraine but needed reassurance that it could replace them within six to eight months. "We are now looking for solutions that will allow us to identify Patriot systems in member states in Europe," he said. "So, it's not hopeless, but the prerequisite is that countries that have them are prepared to hand them over now so that others can pay for them and they can go to Ukraine," he added. Arpan Rai23 July 2025 06:14 Zelensky issues remarks after parliament votes on anti-corruption bodies In his nightly video address, issued well after midnight, Volodymyr Zelensky said he had spoken to National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine chief Semen Kryvonos and other top prosecutors. Anti-corruption bodies, he said, would continue to function "but without any Russian influence. It all must be cleansed.' "There must be more justice. Of course, NABU and SAPO [Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office] will continue their work," he said. "It's also important that the prosecutor general be committed to ensuring real accountability for those who break the law. This is what Ukraine truly needs." Mr Kryvonos had urged the Ukrainian president not to sign the fast-tracked bill, which he called an attempt to "destroy" Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure. Arpan Rai
The Sun
30 minutes ago
- The Sun
Massive protests sweep Kyiv over corruption reform in biggest challenge to Zelensky since Putin's invasion of Ukraine
MAJOR protests have started to sweep across Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a controversial corruption bill. Critics fear the new law may weaken the country's anti-corruption bodies by stripping the two main organisations in the embattled nation of their independence. 9 9 9 9 Zelensky addressed the criticism he has faced in recent days but assured his fellow country men and women that both agencies would still "work" as usual. He warned that the bill needed to be passed in order to clear the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) of "Russian influence". The offices of the two agencies were raided by Ukraine's security services on Monday after infiltration allegations from Moscow emerged. All corruption cases in Ukraine will now placed under the control of the prosecutor general, Ruslan Kravchenko. Zelensky says this will allow criminal proceedings, sometimes worth in the billions, to be investigated quicker. He claims that the current anti-corruption infrastructure often allows for important cases to be left "lying dormant" for years. The President added that the prosecutor general would ensure "the inevitability of punishment" for those who broke the law. But many civilians strongly disagreed with his beliefs saying the bill now gives Zelensky ultimate power over independent bodies. After the bill passed, thousands of people came together in the capitla of Kyiv to take part in the biggest anti-government protest since the start of Russia's barbaric invasion in February 2022. Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a war veteran, is said to have first rallied Kyiv residents on Tuesday. Why Putin's $1 TRILLION military surge is just 'smoke and mirrors' - and even the tyrant knows it He urged people to gather at the square near the Ivan Franko Theatre due to it being "the closest viable spot to the President's Office". He announced plans on social media as he said: "Time is not on our side. "We must take to the streets tonight and urge Zelensky to prevent a return to the dark days of Yanukovych. See you this evening!" Lviv, Dnipro and Odesa also saw demonstrations overnight. The protests remained peaceful throughout despite an increased police presence across Ukraine. Many took homemade placards with messages directed towards the government. One read: "We chose Europe, not autocracy." Another said: "My father did not die for this." 9 9 9 Kyiv mayor and former world heavyweight champion, Vitali Klitschko, was among the protesters. He has clashed with Zelensky on dozens of occasions since becoming mayor as he told reporters on the ground: 'Sapo and Nabu must remain independent institutions." The issue is due to continue to rage on for some time after the Ukrainian parliament voted for the law on July 22. It was swiftly approved by the speaker shortly afterwards. The heads of NABU and SAPO quickly implored President Zelensky to go back on the decree. The issue of anti-corruption independence in Ukraine has also branched out across Europe in the past 24 hours. Several G7 ambassadors voiced their concerns over the bill. The European Union also warned against Ukraine's making any hasty judgements. What are Zelensky's controversial reforms? PRESIDENT Volodymyr Zelensky has signed into law a new bill surrounding the independence of Ukraine's two key anti-corruption institutions. The bill was passed with the support of 263 lawmakers, with 13 voting against it and 13 abstaining. The new law now brings the independent National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office under the lead of the prosecutor general of Ukraine, Ruslan Kravchenko. Ruslan is now able to transfer cases from the agencies and reassign prosecutors. Zelensky believes the change will speed up the process of finalising cases as well as stamp out any alleged Russian influence. But the head of NABU says the bill will "destroy" Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure. 9 9
