Ursula von der Leyen gives a press conference on December 4, 2019 | Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP via Getty Images Von der Leyen hits out at ’severe cuts’ in EU budget plan The Commission president called for leaders to reach a decision on the 2021-2027 EU budget early next year.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today pushed EU governments to consent to a bigger 2021-2027 budget, arguing the proposal currently on the table would badly undermine the EU’s ambitions.

In her first press conference as president of the Commission, von der Leyen told reporters she is “concerned” about “severe cuts” from the Commission’s budget proposal suggested this week by the Finnish presidency of the Council of the EU.

Without an ample budget, von der Leyen risks proposing new programs — such as the planned European Green Deal to tackle climate change — but not having sufficient funds to implement them.

The Finnish presidency suggested reducing the overall budget size by €47 billion compared with the Commission’s proposal, a nod to a powerful five-country alliance that wants to limit spending.

That level of spending would impact “key objectives of the strategic agenda ... for example [the EU’s border agency] Frontex, for example defense, for example the digital or funds for greening our economy,” the president said.

Without an ample budget, von der Leyen risks proposing new programs but not having sufficient funds to implement them.

She said she wants to “discuss this with my peers in the European Council next week and I think it is time that we work together to ensure that we can deliver on the objectives we have all agreed on together.” EU leaders meet December 12 and 13.

Von der Leyen also called for leaders to reach a decision on the new budget early in 2020.

She promised to collaborate “intensively” with European Council President Charles Michel “with the view, and this is important for all of us, that we reach an agreement early next year.”