8 billion euros for Ukraine are being delayed as Germany struggles to approve the budget

Germany’s budget committee paused final deliberations on the 2024 draft budget early on Friday morning, according to the chief budget officers of the coalition government, after a constitutional court ruling threw negotiations into disarray, Reuters reported.

Germany’s ruling coalition is scrambling to fix a large hole in its finances after a court ruling blocked the government from transferring 60 billion euros ($65 billion) in unused funds from the pandemic towards green initiatives and industry support. The state gas and electricity price brakes, which were due to expire at the end of the year, have been extended until March 31, 2024.

One of the two sections of the budget that couldn’t be finalised contains key projects such as doubling military aid to Ukraine to 8 billion euros in the coming year. On Wednesday, the constitutional court decision prompted the government to postpone the formal vote of the budget committee until next Thursday. Germany is one of the largest sponsors of Ukraine, both in military and economic spheres.

Despite the court ruling, the 2024 budget is expected to be passed as planned at the end of the Bundestag’s budget week on Dec. 1, according to members of the budget committee. The chief budget officers of the coalition government accused the opposition of refusing to cooperate in budget deliberations.