Every year again

Protracted budget talks risk delay to Horizon Europe

Over the past few weeks, many German politicians may well have hummed the old Christmas carol Alle Jahre Wieder (every year again). But it’s not because the days are shortening and gingerbread has finally hit the shops—the culprit is the EU budget negotiation process, chaired by Germany this year. 

Every year again, the negotiations drag. This is because, every year again, the Council of the EU—the more powerful of the two EU negotiation bodies—wants to spend less money than the European Commission has proposed, while the European Parliament—less powerful but more vocal—wants to spend more.