Portugal

Costa warns against cuts in the European Union budget

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 21/09/2026, 11:05:12 UTC.

Briefings

António Costa warns that EU budget cuts face strong opposition from national governments, particularly regarding defense, competitiveness, and agriculture. He argues that while reducing administrative costs is possible, it does not solve the core deficit problem. Costa proposes new EU taxes on tobacco products (like e-cigarettes) to generate revenue without burdening national budgets, aiming for an informal agreement by end-2026. Key figures include the European Council President, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Spanish Minister Carlos Cuerpo, who opposes Costa's fiscal plan. The EU budget for 2028-2034 is projected at €2 billion, with Portugal's share rising from €33.5 billion to €35 billion under current proposals.

Key points

• António Costa warns that cutting specific EU budget lines, such as defense or agriculture, faces strong opposition from national governments.
• The European Council President suggests new EU taxes on tobacco products could generate revenue without burdening national budgets.

Context and limitations

Coverage is limited to September 2026 context regarding the EU budget negotiation cycle. Data reflects pre-2026 projections and unconfirmed fiscal plans. Specific dates for national elections and exact tax implementation timelines remain uncertain.

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