Rift between states widens as pressure mounts to agree deal on EU budget

The rift between member states on the EU’s €1 trillion budget for the coming six years has widened as pressure mounted to agree a deal over the next 10 weeks.

Ireland is very firmly in the camp that believes the sum of money, most of which is then redistributed between the member states, should not be cut. But it is up against the net payers such as Germany, Britain and the Netherlands, who want to slice at least €100bn off the total.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said: “We want a budget fit for purpose. It must be adequate to support the provision of jobs, especially for our youth, and growth.”