Bid to reach deal on EU budget stalled

Attempts to reach a deal on the EU’s €1tn seven-year budget were postponed largely at the behest of German chancellor Angela Merkel.

Getting agreement on the budget will now fall under the Irish presidency early in the new year, with Taoiseach Enda Kenny saying he was feeling “upbeat and confident” of a successful conclusion.

Ireland’s main interest is in maintaining the level of spending on agriculture and for poorer regions. Farmers from the IFA and the ICMSA were in Brussels to support the Government’s efforts and warning that current proposals would cut €500m off the original €12bn for Irish farmers.