Von der Leyen Warns: Without New EU Revenues, Budget Cuts Could Reach 40%!

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addresses questions on the next EU long-term budget, the MFF, during the press conference in Cork with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Von der Leyen says negotiations have not yet reached the stage of a negotiation box with figures, making it too early to judge individual numbers. But she stresses that the EU needs, on average, around €66 billion per year in new own resources to finance the next budget. She says the Commission has proposed five new own resources, while the European Parliament has proposed three additional options. Von der Leyen warns that without new own resources, there are only three choices: increase national contributions from Member States, cut spending, or find another way to close the gap. She says cutting the budget to compensate for €66 billion per year would mean reducing the proposal by around 40%. She also addresses the EU Entry/Exit System, stressing that it does not change the legal rules for entering or leaving the European Union, but creates more transparency in how those rules are applied. Her message is clear: Europe’s next budget needs new revenues, and the Irish Presidency will play a crucial role in moving the debate forward. #VonDerLeyen #MFF #EUbudget #OwnResources #IrishPresidency #Ireland #Cork