A chill in the air for the EU budget

Temperatures are not the only thing falling as autumn begins. The future EU budget is shrinking too. For months, everyone has been waiting for proposals from the European Council, chaired by Ireland. Meanwhile, Parliament is sending mixed messages, with its various committees pulling in different directions. The advantage of the Irish proposal, published on 10 October, is that it offers a comprehensive solution. It seeks a compromise between the so-called “frugal” countries (led by G