German presidency calls for compromise on EU budget

Budget deadlock still stands in way of finalising plans for EU R&D programme

The German presidency of the Council of the EU has called for compromise over the 2021-27 EU budget, as a veto by Hungary and Poland threatens a timely start to spending and could hold up agreement on the rules for the Horizon Europe R&D programme.

National governments in the Council agreed funding allocations for the 2021-27 EU budget with the European Parliament on 10 November, but the Council was prevented from giving the agreement its required unanimous backing on 16 November, when Hungarian and Polish ambassadors refused to support it.