In brief
At a press conference in Berlin on November 10, 2026, Chancellor Merz urged the EU to fully integrate its Ukraine policy into the bloc’s next long‑term budget, emphasising collective responsibility for aid. He noted that at least four members differ in view, and that this stage of budget negotiations is critical. Hungarian PM Magyar echoed caution, stressing that consensus will be hard to achieve and that Hungary wants to preserve funding for agriculture and cohesion while making changes to member‑state contributions.
In Berlin on November 10, 2026, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and visiting Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar held a joint press conference where Merz urged the European Union to fully incorporate its Ukraine policy into the bloc’s upcoming long‑term budget.
Merz explained that future financial aid for Ukraine should be debated as part of the EU’s budget talks rather than handled individually by member states. He said this shared responsibility is essential for European security and that the next budget negotiations are now at a critical stage.
He added that at least four EU members hold differing views on the matter, a situation that could stall progress if not addressed. Merz warned that without broad agreement, the EU could risk reducing its financial support for Ukraine.
Prime Minister Magyar echoed the need for careful budget discussions, noting that reaching a common budget among the 27 member states is not easy. He said Hungary believes traditional areas such as agriculture and cohesion policies should not see cuts, and that adjustments to member‑state contributions are also required.
Magyar emphasized that Hungary would remain a constructive partner in budget negotiations, but would not compromise on its national interests. He also pointed out that the current budget proposal still requires changes to meet all members’ concerns.
Both leaders acknowledged that embedding Ukraine support into the EU budget would help clarify responsibilities and make assistance more predictable. They urged that the policy be treated as a collective obligation rather than a bilateral one to maintain stability across the bloc.
As EU leaders move forward with the next long‑term budget discussions, the debate over Ukraine aid and member‑state contributions will likely shape the final proposal that must gain unanimous approval among all 27 members.
