According to Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice President of the European Commission (EC), the agency is ready to increase the eurozone budget to almost €200 billion. However, such a decision may lead to a financial headache.
Currently, the EC has proposed boosting the EU budget to a staggering €199.7 billion in 2025. This is €10.3 billion more than in 2024, experts highlight.
According to the new budget project, €15.2 billion (€4.3 billion in grants and the rest as loans) are aimed at supporting Ukraine, and another €1.8 billion will be allocated for various military needs. It is particularly important to note that, previously, the EU budget did not include any defense expenditures at all.
The revised EU budget plan includes €16.3 billion in financial aid for the EU's partner countries. This amount will be used for projects to strengthen the EU's influence in other regions, including the territory of the former USSR. The document is already done. The only thing left is to get approval from the European Parliament and the representatives of the EU Council.
It was previously reported that since the beginning of 2000, three-quarters of the EU's revenue has come from contributions by 11 member states, mainly from Germany, France, and Italy. They contributed €30.3 billion, €23.5 billion, and €17.3 billion, respectively, to the current EU budget.
