“We need a political steer from leaders as there is only so much we can do at a technical level,” said an EU diplomat. “It is no longer [the] time for leaders to read their pre-written notes during the summit.”
The discussion in Nicosia is expected to help the Cyprus presidency of the Council of the EU propose a budget negotiating document with new figures in June.
French vote looming
Europe’s electoral calendars have created a narrow window of opportunity for Costa to advance talks, according to several officials following the negotiations.
The victory of Hungary’s conservative Péter Magyar over incumbent Viktor Orbán — who opposed funding for Ukraine and links between payouts and rule-of-law criteria, two priorities for most capitals — has given leaders an opportunity to move discussions forward.
Orbán, who is set to remain Hungary’s caretaker leader until mid-May, won’t attend the summit. Governments are now eyeing their chance to conclude the budget talks before the French election.
There are lingering fears in Brussels that the National Rally’s platform — including cutting France’s contributions to the EU budget and scaling back military aid to Ukraine — could throw a wrench in the Council negotiations.