Stocker attends EU net contributors meeting in Berlin

Christian Stocker, the Chancellor of Austria, is in Berlin on Thursday to participate in a meeting of the EU net contributors. This meeting has been convened at the invitation of his German counterpart Friedrich Merz and aims to prepare for negotiations on the new EU budget framework for the years 2028 to 2034.

In addition to Stocker, several other senior government officials are participating in the meeting. The Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Rob Jetten, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, and Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo are also present. The discussions are centered around the financial conditions and the upcoming negotiation process.

The group of net contributors has announced that the negotiations on the multiannual financial framework should not be rushed to a conclusion by 2026 at any cost. This position was expressed on Thursday afternoon at the Federal Chancellery in Berlin by the heads of government of Germany, Austria, Denmark, and Finland.

Furthermore, Germany and the other participants are calling for significant cuts to the EU budget. Chancellor Merz stated that the current plans of the EU Commission are viewed as "simply unaffordable." The members of the group agree that a balanced budget must be pursued.

The talks are expected to provide an important foundation for the forthcoming negotiations. Pressure on the EU Commission to revise the financial guidelines could increase as the net contributors push for an agreement that aligns with their financial interests.