EU

Analysis: Eyes on Ireland and other ‘frugal’ states as EU budget battle kicks off

Johannes Hahn said the EU’s next budget - which will not come into force until 2027 - will need to be bigger than €1 trillion

Ireland will have a central role in getting the 2027-33 budget over the line, as the country will assume the EU’s six-monthly presidency in July 2026. Picture: Getty

It may be well over two years away, but kite flying for the EU’s new seven-year budget has already begun.

As MEPs cleared out for the elections, European Commission budget chief Johannes Hahn effectively fired the starting gun on budget talks, calling on governments — particularly Germany, Finland, Austria, Ireland and other so-called “frugal” countries that pay more into the budget than they get out and are reluctant to cough up further — to think ...