Orpo travels to Berlin for EU budget talks

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo is travelling to Berlin at the invitation of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss preparations for the European Union’s 2028 to 2034 financial framework, Yle reports.

The informal meeting will also include the prime ministers of the Netherlands and Denmark and the Austrian chancellor. All the participants represent net contributor countries that have sought to limit the growth of EU spending.

The European Commission published its proposal for the next financial framework in July. It would provide total funding of 1.893 trillion euros for the period, equivalent to about 1.35 percent of the EU’s gross national income.

Orpo said in a government statement that the proposal’s priorities were supportable and aligned with Finland’s objectives, but he said the framework’s overall level was too high.

Member states are currently negotiating the EU’s future financial framework. Approval requires unanimity among EU countries and a majority vote in the European Parliament.