EU: Budget deal struck, with Hungary threat still hanging - by Eszter Zalan

After what negotiators described as "tough" and "long" talks, MEPs and diplomats from the German EU presidency struck a deal on Tuesday (10 November) on the long-term EU budget and the coronavirus recovery package.

Momentum on the budget talks picked up after the European Parliament and the EU presidency agreed on how to link EU funds to the respect of rule of law in separate talks last week.

Read more at: Budget deal struck, with Hungary threat still hanging

Germany: Merkel 'very optimistic' about EU budget deal

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday said she was "very optimistic" a deal could be reached next week on the EU's one-trillion-euro budget for 2014-2020, even though she expected "tough talks." EU leaders are meeting on 7-8 February in Brussels after they failed to agree on the budget in November.

Read more: EUobserver.com / News In Brief / Merkel 'very optimistic' about EU budget deal