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The European Commission wants the next multi-annual budget (2021-2027) to be increased to 1.11 percent of the combined European income (gross domestic product, GDP). Now that is 1 percent.
With the extra money, new tasks must be tackled, said European Commissioner Günther Oettinger at the presentation of the budget proposal. He cited border controls and development assistance as an example to prevent the influx of refugees. The EU also wants to invest more in cyber security and the climate.
But some EU countries, including the Netherlands, do not want to pay extra for this. The Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Denmark and Germany have formed a coalition to fight against increasing the budget. According to the Netherlands, the current 1 percent is & #8216; more than sufficient & #8217 ;.
Gert Jan Koopman, the (Dutch) EU director of Budget Affairs, does not agree. During the press conference in Brussels, he addressed the Dutch government coalition. According to him & #8220; the Netherlands misleads its citizens & #8221; about the level of the EU costs, by counting the customs duties in the annual payment to Brussels.
At a press conference in Brussels, the Dutchman fiercely fought for the international media in The Hague. Last week, EU Budget Commissioner Günther Oettinger had already accused the Netherlands and Germany of it & #8220; lies & #8221; spread over the figures.
According to the Dutch Ministry of Finance, the Dutch payment threatens to rise to € 10.9 billion in 2027. According to Koopman, The Hague wrongly adds the customs duties that are collected in the ports and at airports for the benefit of the EU budget. It is almost 3 billion euros a year.
