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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Lorne Cook

EU leaders push back on a major budget proposal, putting a deal by end of the year in doubt

Belgium Europe Summit - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

European Union leaders voiced strong opposition on Thursday to a new proposal for the bloc’s long-term budget, raising serious doubt about whether the key spending package will be agreed by the end of year.

“This is far too big, far too expensive,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told reporters at an EU summit focused, in part, on trying to narrow down agreement on the seven-year budget, known as the multiannual financial framework.

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