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"We are not there yet." German Ambassador to the EU, Thomas Hans Ossowki, speaks to Euronews' Stefan Grobe on the German view for the upcoming EU budget discussions.
"More cuts will be definitely necessary." Ruling out new common borrowing and European-level taxation, Ossowki details an economically frugal view, whilst maintaining sovereignty and support for Ukraine. Hopeful to conclude budget debates "before Christmas", Ossowki hopes for a sustainable "moderniser" budget for the future of the bloc's finances.
He also emphasises that the upcoming support for Ukraine is "outside" the German contribution to the EU budget, and echoed European leaders in their "continued support" for Ukraine.
Germany is the largest economy in Europe and the largest net contributor to the EU's common budget, giving the country a significant sway in EU budget negotiations.