Member states will inevitably reach a compromise on the EU budget, but there is little chance of necessary reforms being carried out

Last month’s European Council summit failed to secure an agreement on the next seven years of the EU’s budget (2014-2020). Ahead of another Council summit later this week, Jorge Núñez Ferrer writes that EU governments have the broad foundations for a compromise based around the proposals of Council President Herman Van Rompuy. He argues, however, that the eventual compromise will likely stop short of reforming important areas such as agricultural spending and structural funds.