Euractiv | Křenek: The initial shock from the EU’s multiannual budget proposal has subsided. I expect the basic contours of the negotiations to remain intact

To begin with, it’s important to note that these changes have been taking place over a longer period of time, so in some respects, we are observing the continuation of long-term trends. By this, I mainly mean the gradual reduction of traditional spending areas such as cohesion and agricultural policy, and, conversely, the increase in other areas that encompass the remaining EU programs.

If we want to allocate more funding to certain priorities without significantly increasing the overall budget—which fiscally conservative member states, including the Czech Republic, oppose—we must make cuts elsewhere. These cuts are expected to come primarily from cohesion and agriculture. Some savings will also come from simplifying programs and reducing their overlap. However, these savings will not be sufficient to finance the EU’s new priorities, which mainly include boosting competitiveness and strengthening defense.

You can read the whole interview here.