{"id":2112303,"date":"2026-08-25T08:27:51","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T05:27:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2112303"},"modified":"2026-08-25T08:27:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T05:27:51","slug":"eu-budget-costa-tests-leaders-ahead-of-crunch-money-talks-eyes-year-end-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2112303","title":{"rendered":"EU budget: Costa tests leaders ahead of crunch money talks, eyes year-end deal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/69\/42\/1200x675_cmsv2_999d56d5-0538-5795-a803-8fa8ab2e1dc0-9886942.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2920699-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2920699\" data-cid=\"9889665\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920699-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/95\/20\/189x106_cmsv2_f45a0896-cd09-5b31-96b4-4465f9fa24e7-9889520.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"An Air France plane takes off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Thursday 6 November 2025, in SeaTac, Washington state.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Health news<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    France: flight attendant&#8217;s breast cancer is recognised as occupational disease\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920635-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2920635\" data-cid=\"9889537\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920635-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/91\/74\/189x106_cmsv2_1bf7d854-5df5-5e66-ac00-5704ccf941eb-9889174.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"File photo showing a grey wolf at the Wildlife Science Center in Forest Lake, Minnesota. (AP Photo\/Dawn Villella, File)\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Wolf sightings rise in Italy after suspected attacks\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920216-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2920216\" data-cid=\"9887046\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920216-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/70\/46\/189x106_cmsv2_842e29ce-7a1d-5585-b548-94b51eaa432f-9887046.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The property takes its name from its former role as the porter house of the nearby Hotel des Postes et des T\u00e9l\u00e9graphes\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><span class=\"c-icon-gallery the-media-object__icon\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/images\/vector\/camera.svg\" width=\"21\" height=\"21\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Travel News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Boutique heritage hotel set to open in the heart of Ghent\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920706-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2920706\" data-cid=\"9889599\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920706-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/95\/99\/189x106_cmsv2_5e98c9b9-bb19-5bd6-b6af-fa5aabd3af28-9889599.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Damaged houses stand precariously near the banks of the Trishuli River after flash floods in the Nuwakot district, 26 August, 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Nepal<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Nepal floods kill eight at China border, cause casualties in Tibet\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920699-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2920699\" data-cid=\"9889665\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920699-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/95\/20\/189x106_cmsv2_f45a0896-cd09-5b31-96b4-4465f9fa24e7-9889520.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"An Air France plane takes off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Thursday 6 November 2025, in SeaTac, Washington state.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Health news<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    France: flight attendant&#8217;s breast cancer is recognised as occupational disease\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920635-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2920635\" data-cid=\"9889537\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920635-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/91\/74\/189x106_cmsv2_1bf7d854-5df5-5e66-ac00-5704ccf941eb-9889174.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"File photo showing a grey wolf at the Wildlife Science Center in Forest Lake, Minnesota. (AP Photo\/Dawn Villella, File)\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Wolf sightings rise in Italy after suspected attacks\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920216-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2920216\" data-cid=\"9887046\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920216-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/70\/46\/189x106_cmsv2_842e29ce-7a1d-5585-b548-94b51eaa432f-9887046.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The property takes its name from its former role as the porter house of the nearby Hotel des Postes et des T\u00e9l\u00e9graphes\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><span class=\"c-icon-gallery the-media-object__icon\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/images\/vector\/camera.svg\" width=\"21\" height=\"21\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Travel News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Boutique heritage hotel set to open in the heart of Ghent\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920706-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2920706\" data-cid=\"9889599\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920706-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/95\/99\/189x106_cmsv2_5e98c9b9-bb19-5bd6-b6af-fa5aabd3af28-9889599.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Damaged houses stand precariously near the banks of the Trishuli River after flash floods in the Nuwakot district, 26 August, 2026\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Nepal<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Nepal floods kill eight at China border, cause casualties in Tibet\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe News<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            EU budget: Costa tests leaders ahead of crunch money talks, eyes year-end deal<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-controller=\"video-player\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/69\/42\/1536x864_cmsv2_999d56d5-0538-5795-a803-8fa8ab2e1dc0-9886942.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Ant\u00f3nio Costa is embarking on a four-week tour across EU capitals.\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Ant\u00f3nio Costa is embarking on a four-week tour across EU capitals.<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Omar Havana\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Omar Havana\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspJorge Liboreiro\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1787646471\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-08-25 10:27:51 +02:00\">25\/08\/2026 &#8211; 10:27 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div 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height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Costa begins a four-week tour of EU capitals to gauge leaders\u2019 appetite to compromise on a deal for the bloc\u2019s common budget by year-end.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>Will the European Union&#8217;s 27 leaders overcome their red lines and unanimously agree a new common budget by the end of the year?<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Ant\u00f3nio Costa is keen to find out.<\/p>\n<p>The European Council president, who is set to steer the tempestuous negotiations on the 2028-2034 EU budget, has embarked on a four-week tour of the bloc to meet leaders in their home capitals and assess their willingness to compromise. Sweden will be excluded because of its upcoming general election.<\/p>\n<p>Costa\u2019s first meetings will be with Slovakia\u2019s Robert Fico and Estonia\u2019s Kristen Michal on Tuesday, followed by Latvia\u2019s Andris Kulbergs and Lithuania\u2019s Gitanas Naus\u0117da on Wednesday, and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babi\u0161 on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>His main aim is to form a \u201ccoherent picture\u201d of each national position and assess a possible path towards a final deal in December, a senior official said.<\/p>\n<p>Costa and his team believe that if talks spill into next year, the process could be derailed and the seven-year budget may not be operational by 1 January 2028.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s been quite comforting to see that this horizon has been well integrated by leaders and accepted by all as an imperative,\u201d the official said, noting that France, previously reluctant to endorse the December deadline, is now firmly on board.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need to hit the ground running in 2028.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On the table is the European Commission\u2019s nearly \u20ac2 trillion draft budget, the largest ever. It was later <strong>cut by 2%<\/strong> in a compromise proposal tabled by Cyprus.<\/p>\n<p>The Cypriot blueprint was promptly rejected by the self-styled \u201cmodernisers\u201d, also known as the \u201cfrugals\u201d. These countries, among the bloc\u2019s richest, are demanding sweeping spending cuts, particularly to agriculture and cohesion policies.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese cuts are essential, regardless of how far we get on new own resources,\u201d German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said last month, calling the draft \u201cnot acceptable\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Merz is set to host the &#8220;frugal&#8221; leaders on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>By contrast, the so-called <strong>\u201cFriends of Cohesion\u201d<\/strong>, a coalition of 17 countries, want to increase funding for agriculture and cohesion, which they describe as \u201cthe most visible EU policies for EU citizens\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The first five leaders Costa will meet on his tour belong to this group.<\/p>\n<h2>A puzzling equation<\/h2>\n<p>So far, member states have made progress only on the broad architecture proposed by the Commission, which envisages greater flexibility to respond more swiftly to crises.<\/p>\n<p>But the central questions \u2014 the size and funding of the budget \u2014 remain unresolved. <strong>Sweden<\/strong>, for example, has called for a radical 20% cut, something the \u201cFriends of Cohesion\u201d oppose. Spain, meanwhile, has floated <strong>billions in joint EU debt<\/strong>, anathema to the \u201cfrugals\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Another fault line is <strong>new own resources<\/strong>, or EU-wide taxes designed to raise additional revenue and complement national contributions. The European Commission has proposed five, while the European Parliament has added three more.<\/p>\n<p>Diplomats concede that a combination of new taxes is now inevitable, given the scale of the EU\u2019s ambitions, including costly investments in cutting-edge technology, defence and climate adaptation. How to support Ukraine after its \u20ac90 billion loan runs out next year is also part of the equation.<\/p>\n<p>Yet each capital has its own view of how large the overall budget should be and how many new own resources should be introduced.<\/p>\n<p>Red lines have become the norm, with presidents and prime ministers \u2014 particularly those facing elections \u2014 wary of a backlash from voters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLeaders have been defending their national positions very assertively but with a very strong commitment to negotiations,\u201d the senior official said. \u201cWe need to fill the gap between the positions and the commitment to have a deal by the end of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While all the competing demands have a \u201crationale\u201d, the official acknowledged that it is unrealistic to expect them all to be met simultaneously.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need a balanced outcome.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Costa\u2019s four-week tour will feed into the work of Ireland\u2019s EU Council presidency, which is set to present a revised proposal, or \u201cnego-box\u201d, in October. Leaders will debate the proposal face to face at a summit later that month.<\/p>\n<p>Brussels is preparing for an extraordinary meeting in late November that could pave the way for a final deal at the make-or-break summit in December.<\/p>\n<p>Agreeing a new EU budget requires unanimity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  EU budget: Sweden, part of the &#8216;frugal&#8217; camp, is about to turn even more hawkish<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Hungry for cash: where will the EU find the money?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Spain pitches  \u20ac850bn per year in common EU borrowing<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  EU Budget<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  European Union<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Ant\u00f3nio Costa<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2920483-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920483\" data-cid=\"9888429\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920483-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/84\/29\/320x180_cmsv2_5e425917-ead3-5200-a196-9cc70cb16c14-9888429.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Migrants board an Italian Coast Guard vessel as part of a transfer operation from the asylum processing centres at the port of Shengjin, Albania.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europe&#8217;s obsession with return hubs may not live up to the hype<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2920695-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920695\" data-cid=\"9889516\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920695-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/95\/16\/320x180_cmsv2_ac3dc4c0-f977-5575-87ed-7a4a708043bd-9889516.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"WhatsApp and Signal are increasingly targets for hacking and phishing.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    State actors &#8216;tried to hack EU officials&#8217; messaging apps&#8217;<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2920295-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920295\" data-cid=\"9889255\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920295-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/73\/65\/320x180_cmsv2_ff827d0c-235e-55c5-9a75-a3a1b44f4247-9887365.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A serviceman of the 413th separate Ukrainian unmanned systems regiment &quot;Raid&quot; prepares an FP-1 long-range UAV for a strike on Russia, Ukraine, 16 August 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Putin signs decree allowing state seizure of drone-hit businesses<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2920655-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920655\" data-cid=\"9889294\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920655-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/92\/94\/320x180_cmsv2_b0678745-c94d-536b-a439-05d8260d2c05-9889294.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Sweden&apos;s tactical police unit was on the scene.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Second arrest over deadly sword attack at Swedish school<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2920630-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920630\" data-cid=\"9889109\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920630-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/91\/09\/320x180_cmsv2_f6a22ab6-e441-5268-be33-809332ec40cb-9889109.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE. People gather in the Nvidia booth at the Mobile World Congress mobile phone trade show in Barcelona, Spain, Feb. 2014\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Nvidia earnings preview: The report the entire market is waiting on<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-2\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-most-viewed\">\n<h2 class=\"c-most-viewed__title qa-section-title\">Most read<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__list\">\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2920528-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920528\" data-cid=\"9888725\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    French man detained in Italy after three Akeron missiles found in van<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2920328-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920328\" data-cid=\"9887542\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Conservatives, liberals call to freeze EU cash for Romania over mayor<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2920346-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920346\" data-cid=\"9888068\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Drones and ships running blind as GPS malfunctions across Poland<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2920497-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920497\" data-cid=\"9888498\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    306 people infected with salmonella in Belgium in egg-linked outbreak<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">5<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2920473-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920473\" data-cid=\"9888358\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    CIA director Ratcliffe makes secret trip to Moscow, US reports claim<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-3\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920483-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920483\" data-cid=\"9888429\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920483-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/84\/29\/320x180_cmsv2_5e425917-ead3-5200-a196-9cc70cb16c14-9888429.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Migrants board an Italian Coast Guard vessel as part of a transfer operation from the asylum processing centres at the port of Shengjin, Albania.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europe&#8217;s obsession with return hubs may not live up to the hype<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920695-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920695\" data-cid=\"9889516\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920695-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/95\/16\/320x180_cmsv2_ac3dc4c0-f977-5575-87ed-7a4a708043bd-9889516.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"WhatsApp and Signal are increasingly targets for hacking and phishing.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    State actors &#8216;tried to hack EU officials&#8217; messaging apps&#8217;<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920295-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920295\" data-cid=\"9889255\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920295-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/73\/65\/320x180_cmsv2_ff827d0c-235e-55c5-9a75-a3a1b44f4247-9887365.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A serviceman of the 413th separate Ukrainian unmanned systems regiment &quot;Raid&quot; prepares an FP-1 long-range UAV for a strike on Russia, Ukraine, 16 August 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Putin signs decree allowing state seizure of drone-hit businesses<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920655-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920655\" data-cid=\"9889294\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920655-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/92\/94\/320x180_cmsv2_b0678745-c94d-536b-a439-05d8260d2c05-9889294.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Sweden&apos;s tactical police unit was on the scene.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Second arrest over deadly sword attack at Swedish school<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920630-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920630\" data-cid=\"9889109\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2920630-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/91\/09\/320x180_cmsv2_f6a22ab6-e441-5268-be33-809332ec40cb-9889109.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"FILE. People gather in the Nvidia booth at the Mobile World Congress mobile phone trade show in Barcelona, Spain, Feb. 2014\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Nvidia earnings preview: The report the entire market is waiting on<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920528-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920528\" data-cid=\"9888725\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    French man detained in Italy after three Akeron missiles found in van<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920328-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920328\" data-cid=\"9887542\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Conservatives, liberals call to freeze EU cash for Romania over mayor<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920346-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920346\" data-cid=\"9888068\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Drones and ships running blind as GPS malfunctions across Poland<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920497-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920497\" data-cid=\"9888498\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    306 people infected with salmonella in Belgium in egg-linked outbreak<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2920473-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2920473\" data-cid=\"9888358\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    CIA director Ratcliffe makes secret trip to Moscow, US reports claim<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Will the European Union&#8217;s 27 leaders overcome their red lines and unanimously agree a new common budget by the end of the year?Ant\u00f3nio Costa is keen to find out.The European Council president, who is set to steer the tempestuous negotiations on the 2028-2034 EU budget, has embarked on a four-week tour of the bloc to meet leaders in their home capitals and assess their willingness to compromise. Sweden will be excluded because of its upcoming general election.Costa\u2019s first meetings will be with Slovakia\u2019s Robert Fico and Estonia\u2019s Kristen Michal on Tuesday, followed by Latvia\u2019s Andris Kulbergs and Lithuania\u2019s Gitanas Naus\u0117da on Wednesday, and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babi\u0161 on Thursday.His main aim is to form a \u201ccoherent picture\u201d of each national position and assess a possible path towards a final deal in December, a senior official said.Costa and his team believe that if talks spill into next year, the process could be derailed and the seven-year budget may not be operational by 1 January 2028.\u201cIt\u2019s been quite comforting to see that this horizon has been well integrated by leaders and accepted by all as an imperative,\u201d the official said, noting that France, previously reluctant to endorse the December deadline, is now firmly on board.\u201cWe need to hit the ground running in 2028.\u201dOn the table is the European Commission\u2019s nearly \u20ac2 trillion draft budget, the largest ever. It was later cut by 2% in a compromise proposal tabled by Cyprus.The Cypriot blueprint was promptly rejected by the self-styled \u201cmodernisers\u201d, also known as the \u201cfrugals\u201d. These countries, among the bloc\u2019s richest, are demanding sweeping spending cuts, particularly to agriculture and cohesion policies.\u201cThese cuts are essential, regardless of how far we get on new own resources,\u201d German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said last month, calling the draft \u201cnot acceptable\u201d.Merz is set to host the &#8220;frugal&#8221; leaders on Thursday.By contrast, the so-called \u201cFriends of Cohesion\u201d, a coalition of 17 countries, want to increase funding for agriculture and cohesion, which they describe as \u201cthe most visible EU policies for EU citizens\u201d.The first five leaders Costa will meet on his tour belong to this group.A puzzling equationSo far, member states have made progress only on the broad architecture proposed by the Commission, which envisages greater flexibility to respond more swiftly to crises.But the central questions \u2014 the size and funding of the budget \u2014 remain unresolved. Sweden, for example, has called for a radical 20% cut, something the \u201cFriends of Cohesion\u201d oppose. Spain, meanwhile, has floated billions in joint EU debt, anathema to the \u201cfrugals\u201d.Another fault line is new own resources, or EU-wide taxes designed to raise additional revenue and complement national contributions. The European Commission has proposed five, while the European Parliament has added three more.Diplomats concede that a combination of new taxes is now inevitable, given the scale of the EU\u2019s ambitions, including costly investments in cutting-edge technology, defence and climate adaptation. How to support Ukraine after its \u20ac90 billion loan runs out next year is also part of the equation.Yet each capital has its own view of how large the overall budget should be and how many new own resources should be introduced.Red lines have become the norm, with presidents and prime ministers \u2014 particularly those facing elections \u2014 wary of a backlash from voters.\u201cLeaders have been defending their national positions very assertively but with a very strong commitment to negotiations,\u201d the senior official said. \u201cWe need to fill the gap between the positions and the commitment to have a deal by the end of the year.\u201dWhile all the competing demands have a \u201crationale\u201d, the official acknowledged that it is unrealistic to expect them all to be met simultaneously.\u201cWe need a balanced outcome.\u201dCosta\u2019s four-week tour will feed into the work of Ireland\u2019s EU Council presidency, which is set to present a revised proposal, or \u201cnego-box\u201d, in October. Leaders will debate the proposal face to face at a summit later that month.Brussels is preparing for an extraordinary meeting in late November that could pave the way for a final deal at the make-or-break summit in December.Agreeing a new EU budget requires unanimity.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/08\/25\/eu-budget-costa-tests-leaders-ahead-of-crunch-money-talks-eyes-year-end-deal&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/88\/69\/42\/1200x675_cmsv2_999d56d5-0538-5795-a803-8fa8ab2e1dc0-9886942.jpg&#8221;] Health news France: flight attendant&#8217;s breast cancer is recognised as occupational disease Europe News Wolf sightings rise in Italy after suspected attacks Travel News Boutique heritage hotel set to open in the heart of Ghent Nepal Nepal floods kill eight at China border, cause casualties in Tibet Health news France: flight attendant&#8217;s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2112303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2112303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2112303"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2112303\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2112303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2112303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2112303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}