These areas represent almost half of the total budget and are politically sensitive due to pressure from agricultural lobbies and the regions.
In a concession to the 17 Friends of Cohesion, Ireland left agricultural and regional budgets intact and focused cuts on other priorities such as competitiveness, defense and development aid.
“There was strong support for the first heading (agriculture and cohesion) from almost all member states, including some of the countries that would be considered net contributors” to the budget, Byrne told reporters.
Reactions to the Friends of Cohesion negobox were more conciliatory than those of their thrifty peers.
“It is an excellent starting point to have recovered the money for the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy), but we are still not satisfied,” declared Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida.
Polish Europe Minister Ignacy Niemczycki welcomed the fact that his country “continues to receive the largest allocation”, but noted that “the change in the overall size of the budget does not correspond to the EU’s ambitions”.
Economists are also disappointed that budget cuts disproportionately target innovative policies such as defense and competitiveness, which they favor.
“They are cutting off the future to protect the past,” declared a European diplomat from the thrifty camp.
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