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.
Kyrgyzstan is preparing to hold snap parliamentary elections on Sunday, 30 November 2025, after the Jogorku Kenesh (parliament) dissolved itself in Se...
The Spanish agricultural sector has been placed on high alert following the confirmation that African Swine Fever (ASF) has resurfaced in the country ...
The Japanese government is preparing to host a landmark summit with the leaders of the Central Asian states, expected to take place in Tokyo in Decemb...
The Kremlin is set to evaluate a new diplomatic proposal aimed at halting the hostilities in Ukraine, with high-level discussions involving a Washingt...
The European Union’s high-stakes strategy to leverage hundreds of billions in frozen Russian capital to prop up Ukraine’s defence has hit a critic...
The Spanish agricultural sector has been placed on high alert following the confirmation that African Swine Fever (ASF) has resurfaced in the country for the first time in over thirty years.
As the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) gains renewed momentum, Central Asia and the European Union (EU) are working to turn long-standing connectivity ambitions into concrete trade routes, investment deals and infrastructure upgrades.
The European Parliament has approved a non-binding resolution calling for a minimum age of 16 for social media access across the EU, citing rising concerns about children’s mental health and online safety.
French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit China from 3 to 5 December 2025, during which he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.
At least 47 people have died and another 21 are reported missing following ten days of heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides across Sri Lanka, local media reported on Thursday (27 November).
Hong Kong fire authorities said they expected to wrap up search and rescue operations on Friday after the city's worst fire in nearly 80 years tore through a massive apartment complex, killing at least 128 people, injuring 79 and leaving around 200 still missing.
A passenger aircraft from Polish carrier LOT veered off a taxiway at Lithuania's Vilnius airport after arriving from Warsaw on Wednesday, halting all traffic, the airport operator said.
Netflix crashed on Wednesday for about an hour in the U.S. as it launched season five of "Stranger Things", with the service becoming inaccessible to many subscribers within minutes of the episodes going live at 8 p.m. local time.
Thousands of Bulgarians took to the streets of Sofia on Wednesday to protest against the government’s draft budget for 2026, the first to be prepared in euros ahead of the country’s planned eurozone entry on 1 January 2026.
The Kremlin is set to evaluate a new diplomatic proposal aimed at halting the hostilities in Ukraine, with high-level discussions involving a Washington envoy scheduled for the coming days in Moscow.
The European Union’s high-stakes strategy to leverage hundreds of billions in frozen Russian capital to prop up Ukraine’s defence has hit a critical roadblock, with Belgium warning that the move could torpedo fragile diplomatic openings aimed at ending the conflict.
A simmering diplomatic feud between Washington and Pretoria has erupted into a full-scale crisis, with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa describing U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to ban South Africa from the 2026 G20 summit as "regrettable" and based on "misinformation."
Making his diplomatic debut in Türkiye, the first American Pope warned a "piecemeal" World War III endangers humanity. Leo XIV met President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the 1,700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed on Thursday (27 November), urging an end to global conflicts.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 28th of November, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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