The EU summit in Cyprus this week was held in an unusually calm atmosphere due to the absence of Viktor Orban, who for many years was among the main sources of tension in the Union, notes Politico, reports News.bg.
However, European leaders quickly realized that internal contradictions do not disappear with his withdrawal. On the sidelines of the forum, politicians admitted that Orban was often used as a “scapegoat”, while real differences between member states remain.
One of the first clashes emerged on the issue of Ukraine's possible membership. Some leaders support accelerated accession, while others insist on a more cautious approach. Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković stressed the need for realism in the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Serious disagreements also arose on the energy issue, with the parties torn between resource shortages and the need to continue sanctions against Russia.
The future of the EU budget also sparked debate. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jeten said the budget should be "modernized" and reduced, a position supported by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
This puts them at odds with countries such as Poland, which are pushing for a larger budget, as well as with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who has defended the need for stronger funding.
“It's either higher national contributions or lower spending capacity. "These are the only options," she said, warning that cutting spending would mean "less Europe just when more Europe is needed."