EU budget: asking too much of member states?
The EU Commission has proposed a new budget for the period from 2028 to 2034 which totals some two trillion euros - around 700 billion euros more than is planned in the current budget. At the same time, less money is to be allocated to fixed areas, in a bid to increase flexibility and allow for quicker responses in a crisis. The European press reacts with shock.
Boundless greed
This budget proposal is simply excessive, fumes De Telegraaf:
“The greed of the Brussels bureaucrats knows no bounds. The EU Commission under President von der Leyen seems to be preoccupied only with accumulating more power. ... Von der Leyen calls this 'the most ambitious budget ever'. What she really means, of course, is the most megalomaniac budget imaginable. ... The Commission is once again showing no understanding for the economic situation in the EU member states. And it is deaf to the criticism of the citizens. ... This is also an important task for a new government: firmness is needed.”
Essentially fraud
Just where is the money for this budget supposed to come from? Der Tagesspiegel asks:
“The EU is meant to finance itself from contributions from its member states. Specifically, from a fixed percentage of these countries' GDP. Until now this was set at 1.1 percent; in future it's to go up to 1.23 percent. But first the governments must agree to this increase. How likely is that? They already have problems with their own budgets. ... This new chapter in the book of Europe's destiny presented by von der Leyen is essentially fraud. The revenues and expenditures simply don't add up.”
Universally unpopular
There is no support whatsoever for this proposal, comments La Repubblica disdainfully:
“Inadequate and not at all European, say the MEPs. Too generous, say the thrifty Netherlands and Germany, which were the first countries to speak out. An attack on agriculture, cry the farmers who are already out on the streets (without tractors and fertiliser for the time being). A blow that will break the backbone of cohesion policy, say the regions. Too many taxes, say the sovereigntist right-wingers. The fact that the Commission's new budget is already so unpopular with many - almost everyone - could also be a positive sign. In any case, it is the prelude to a fierce battle of power, interests, lobbies and consensus.”
Ammunition for the far right
It's not surprising that some countries are wary of such costly proposals, Jutarnji list comments:
“In some member states such as the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany and Austria, the far right has managed to win votes with the rhetoric that their country 'always pays too much to the EU'. The governments of these countries are therefore cautious and want to avoid giving these radical political forces any additional arguments for resisting an increase in contributions to the EU budget. At the same time, it won't be possible to finance the EU's planned priorities without an increase in contributions.”
Farmers' protests guaranteed
At more than 400 billion euros, the EU's Common Agriculture Policy and cohesion policy, which supports less developed regions, currently have the biggest budgets by far, but this would change under the new EU budget. In an article in Magyar Hang, EU correspondent László Arató sees major controversy ahead:
“The Hungarian government - and others in Europe - are accusing the European Commission of wanting to cut funding for the Common Agricultural policy by 20 percent. This has sparked a heated debate in the European Parliament's Agriculture Committee. ... It is safe to assume that Europe's larger cities will once again be the scene of major farmers' protests.”