Negotiations on the European Union’s next long-term budget have started, with EU institutions and member states staking out competing positions. Across the EU, the debate centers on how much funding the EU should allocate and which priorities should receive increases. EU institutions are pressing for significantly higher funding than in the current framework, presenting their case for expanded resources. At the same time, the final outcome depends on the 27 EU member states, which hold the key decision-making power in the budgeting process. As talks proceed, the “sticking points” are expected to include disagreements over the size of the overall budget and the distribution of money across policy areas. While the institutions lay out their proposals and priorities, member states are also expected to weigh their national interests, budget constraints, and the value of different spending plans. The discussions therefore involve both internal EU institutional positioning and broader negotiations among governments, which ultimately determine the shape of the new budget and the compromises needed to reach agreement.