The current contribution from member states is not enough to cover the European Union’s future budget. Therefore, the European Commission also wants to receive a portion of the tobacco excise and tax from large companies.
The cost increases from 1,200 billion to 2,000 billion euros, Euro Commissioner Piotr Serafin (Budget) said on Wednesday during the presentation of the proposal for the new multiannual budget (2028-2034).
That money comes partly from the EU countries. In recent years, it has been about 1.1 percent of what the member states jointly earn. From 2028, that share will be 1.26 percent.
The Netherlands, among others, does not want to contribute more money to Brussels. Other sources of income are needed if the EU wants to keep the “national contributions stable,” said the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
To provide other income, the Commission is looking at the national excise duties on tobacco. If part of that flows to Brussels, there is more money to spend.
More money for border control and climate
Furthermore, there could be a tax on the non-recycling of electrical waste. And companies with a turnover above 100 million euros can also contribute money to the EU. With the new sources of income, the Commission hopes to add 58.5 billion euros to the annual budget.
The multiannual budget also states that spending on border control will be tripled. A third of the budget goes to climate and the protection of biodiversity. And for Ukraine, there is a pot of money with 100 billion euros.
300 billion euros goes to agriculture, which is less than now. In addition, 218 billion euros is earmarked for aid to disadvantaged regions. And 410 billion euros goes into a new fund to make the EU more competitive.
All EU countries must agree to the proposal. The European Parliament must also agree to the budget.