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EU Budget Talks Heat Up as Political Groups Draw Battle Lines Ahead of Commission Proposal
As the European Commission prepares to unveil its proposal for the next seven-year EU budget on Wednesday, political groups in the European Parliament are gearing up for intense negotiations to defend their funding priorities. The upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which requires approval from both the European Parliament and all 27 EU member states, has triggered a fierce push by parties to secure their flagship programs.
Each group is determined to safeguard at least one core priority. For the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), that is the European Social Fund (ESF), a nearly €100 billion programme supporting jobs, education, and social inclusion. S&D MEP Carla Tavares called the ESF a “red line,” insisting the budget must reflect support for health, employment, and worker skills. The group is also advocating for increased contributions from member states and new EU-wide levies on digital firms and imported parcels.
The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), Parliament’s largest group, also backs the ESF but is equally focused on preserving funds for agriculture and regional cohesion. Romanian MEP Siegfried Mureșan warned against merging existing programs into broader funds, a move reportedly central to the Commission’s draft. The EPP wants to ensure separate and direct budgets for farmers and regional development projects.
The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) echoed the EPP’s position, prioritising the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and infrastructure investments related to defence, including military mobility.
On the other hand, the liberal Renew Europe group opposes the idea of national “cash pots,” which they argue could sideline EU regions. French MEP Fabienne Keller warned such an approach would undermine EU unity and reduce transparency. Renew is calling for more “own resources” at the EU level, such as carbon border taxes, to avoid painful budget cuts and ensure funding does not benefit what they describe as “autocratic” regimes.
Meanwhile, the Greens and The Left are pushing for a socially and environmentally focused budget. The Greens want at least 50% of the MFF dedicated to climate-related goals, up from the current 30%. The Left is prioritising housing, child welfare, and poverty reduction, proposing a €20 billion European Child Guarantee.
In sharp contrast, the far-right Patriots for Europe (PfE) group opposes defence spending and EU aid to Ukraine. Instead, they call for stricter border control and the scrapping of climate policies, which they claim harm farmers and industry.
With the Parliament holding the power to reject the Commission’s proposal, the stakes are high. A resolution adopted in May made one thing clear: MEPs believe the current level of national contributions is insufficient to meet the EU’s growing needs.
As negotiations begin, a clash of competing visions for Europe’s future is set to unfold — one that will shape everything from social policy and agriculture to defence and climate action.
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Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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