Dan and Meloni Unite 'Friends of Cohesion' to Shape EU Budget Priorities

Romanian President Nicușor Dan and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni convened the 'Friends of Cohesion' group ahead of the European Council to align on EU budget negotiations. They announced a united front with four priorities: protecting cohesion and agricultural funds, ensuring fair contributions, and eliminating reductions in national contributions. This signals a coordinated push by net-recipient states to influence the next Multiannual Financial Framework, potentially intensifying budget negotiations with net contributors.