Μake us preferred on GoogleNo line item in the EU budget should be exempt from “substantial” cuts, was the clear message from Friedrich Merz during the first visit by a German chancellor to Ireland since the era of Angela Merkel. Merz traveled to Dublin on Tuesday for talks with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, dominated by the EU’s negotiations over the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Germany’s position carries particular weight, since it contributes more to the EU budget than any other member state. “These cuts are necessary,” Merz said. How deep should the cuts goMerz declined to specify exactly how deep the cuts should be, but indicated that savings would need to reach several hundred billion euros to produce a result compatible with Germany’s own federal budget.