Germany has once again emerged as the leading contributor to the European Union budget. According to a study by the German Economic Institute (IW), in 2023, Germany's contributions to the EU budget exceeded its receipts by €19.7 billion, making the country the primary donor to the overall EU budget.
France follows as the second largest contributor, having paid nearly €9 billion more than it received in 2023. Italy ranks third, with a contribution of €4.5 billion.
Poland was the largest net recipient of EU funds last year, as it was in 2022, receiving €8.2 billion.
In May, it was revealed that contributions from 11 EU member states accounted for three-quarters of the bloc’s budget revenue since 2000. Germany, France, and Italy contributed the most, analysts noted.
As of 2024, the EU budget received €143 billion, of which €137 billion came directly from member states' contributions. Among the largest donors were Germany (€30.3 billion), France (€23.5 billion), and Italy (€17.3 billion).
The EU budget has totaled €3.13 trillion since 2000, with Germany, France, and Italy playing pivotal roles in its funding. During this period, Germany allocated €569.1 billion, France - €471.2 billion, and Italy - €351.8 billion.
