European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has unveiled a bold €2 trillion (about $2.3 trillion) EU budget proposal that includes new taxes on large corporations, tobacco, and electronic waste—setting the stage for intense political battles over the bloc’s financial and strategic priorities.
The plan aims to reshape Europe’s financial future, increasing defence spending fivefold, tripling border and migration funding, and doubling research investments—35% of which would go to climate and biodiversity efforts.
“It is a €2 trillion budget for a new era ... that confronts Europe’s challenges, that strengthens our independence,” she told reporters at a news conference.
A €100 billion (around $116 billion) fund is also earmarked for Ukraine, labelled by the EU's Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin, as the EU's “most strategic partner.” But backlash followed swiftly.
Environmental groups and Green MEPs criticized the elimination of the only dedicated nature protection fund, calling it a dangerous move amid the biodiversity crisis.
Farmers and members of the European Parliament were similarly alarmed by a proposed merger of flagship policies such as agricultural and regional funds, warning of severe risks to farming stability.
However, EU officials argued that €300 billion (around $349 billion) in direct payments to farmers remain untouched.
Von der Leyen said the new taxes would ease pressure on national budgets, but countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden criticized the plan as too costly.
Adding further tension, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán condemned the proposed Ukraine funding, insisting EU support should focus on farmers.
From 2028, the EU must start repaying its €750 billion ($872 billion) pandemic recovery loans, costing up to €30 billion ($35 billion) annually—double the current research budget.
The proposal requires unanimous approval from all 27 member states and the European Parliament.
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The European Commission will instruct governments to be flexible in enforcing EU rules on gas imports, diplomats told Reuters on Thursday (12 March), a move likely to benefit imports from Azerbaijan.
The United States has ordered non-emergency government personnel and their families to leave several Middle Eastern nations, including Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, and Jordan.
European Union stands with its member states in the face of any threat, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in response to the drone strike that hit Britain's Royal Air Force base of Akrotiri in southern Cyprus overnight.
Georgia faces rising diplomatic pressure as Western partners urge alignment against Russia. Tensions grew after the UK sanctioned TV channels Imedi and POSTV, prompting Georgia to summon the British Ambassador for clarification.
Israel and Iran continued to exchange strikes on Friday (13 March), as the U.S. and French militaries reported deaths in Iraq, and the U.N. launched a $325 million appeal to help Lebanon, where a seventh of the population have left their homes since fighting began.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued veiled threats to Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and Hezbollah on Thursday (12 March), during his first press conference since the conflict with Iran began.
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Ayman Ghazali, a 41-year-old U.S. citizen born in Lebanon, crashed his truck into the hallway of a Detroit-area synagogue on Thursday (12 March) while children attended preschool. Security personnel shot him dead during the confrontation, and authorities said no one else was seriously injured.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday (14 March) that many countries are interested in purchasing Russian oil after the United States temporarily eased sanctions on certain exports.
An explosion lightly damaged a Jewish school in Amsterdam early on Saturday (14 March) in what the city’s mayor described as “a deliberate attack against the Jewish community.”
Ukrainian drones struck an oil refinery and a key port in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region overnight (13-14 March), local authorities said, causing injuries and damage. In separate action, Russian air attacks on Ukrainian territory killed and wounded civilians near Kyiv, officials reported.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 13rd of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
North Korea fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile on Saturday (14 March), Japanese and South Korean officials said. The development comes amid the joint annual U.S.-South Korea "Freedom Shield" military drills and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's visit to Washington.
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