Gathered in Brussels on the night of Thursday 14 to Friday 15 December, the heads of state or government of the European Union countries were unable to reach a consensus on a financial extension as part of a mid-term revision of the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The issue will be discussed again at an extraordinary summit in January.
“Twenty-six leaders have agreed on all aspects of the negotiation box. Sweden must consult its Parliament, which is in line with the usual procedure in this country”, assured the President of the European Council, Charles Michel.
The Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, subsequently confirmed that he had obtained the confidence of the Parliament.
Several European diplomats have said that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is determined to see support for Ukraine withdrawn from the MFF. “A veto for extra money for Ukraine; a veto for the MFF”, he commented on the X network (formerly Twitter).
The positions of the Member States have come closer together over the last two weeks (see EUROPE 13313/2), but the package including €50 billion in aid to Ukraine (including €17 billion in subsidies) kept negotiations going late into the night. The portfolio earmarked for migration management would amount to €9.6 billion.
The impetus given by the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council, followed by that of the President of the European Council - laying the foundations for a frugal revision of the European budget - has, according to sources close to the matter, been able to “stabilise” the debate.
The 10th and final ‘negotiating box’ presented, according to information reported shortly before midnight, redeployments of €10.6 billion and a total of €21 billion in new money, three times less than the European Commission’s initial proposal in June (see EUROPE 13205/1).
“On the basis of all the talks, I think we will be able to break the deadlock next year”, said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
See the 'negotiating box' of European Council president: https://aeur.eu/f/a5p (Original version in French by Bernard Denuit with the editorial staff)