The number of EU countries unwilling to increase the multiannual budget for 2021 to 2027 is growing. Sweden, Austria, and Denmark are joining the Dutch and German opposition to an increase. This threatens to spark a confrontation in European decision-making between EU governments, the European Commission, and the European Parliament.
These five countries do not want to spend more than 1 percent of the combined European income over the next seven years, as became clear in Luxembourg, where the EU finance ministers met for two days. The European Commission argues that the multiannual budget should be raised to 1.11 percent, while the European Parliament considers 1.3 percent necessary.
According to Austrian Minister Eduard Müller, the EU cannot ignore this “coalition of five net contributors.” “Since the British have left the EU, we finance 40 percent of the European household. This situation must be taken into account.” The Commission and the European Parliament believe that with more tasks and more work (climate policy, environment!) more budget is also needed.
Dutch Minister Wopke Hoekstra said that 1 percent of the summed economies is “more than sufficient.” At the same time, the multiannual financial framework (MFF) urgently needs to be modernized, he said. “Let’s start with the 21st century, with themes such as innovation, climate change, and border control.”
EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger (budget) warned on Wednesday in Brussels that the budget must grow to meet all the member states’ demands. EU member states must reach unanimous agreement on the MFF.
The prime ministers and presidents of the EU countries must take a position at their summit on October 17–18 about a possible budget increase. The agenda of that meeting also already includes the potential British departure from the EU and the appointment of a new French candidate for the European Commission.