The German government has voiced strong opposition to the European Commission’s proposed budget for 2028 to 2034, just one day after it was presented in Brussels.
The plan suggests raising the central EU budget to €1.816 trillion, a sharp jump from the current financial framework that began in 2021.
Officials in Berlin argue that such a large increase is not acceptable, especially as many EU countries are still trying to stabilize their national budgets.
Germany’s leadership has stressed that future spending must be based on better use of current funds rather than boosting the total budget.
Germany also objects to the European Commission’s plan to introduce new EU-wide taxes.
These include levies on electronic waste, tobacco products, and large corporations with high turnover.
The aim of these taxes is to repay the EU’s post-pandemic recovery debt, which costs around €25 to €30 billion annually.
Berlin argues that these proposed taxes could discourage investment across Europe, particularly in Germany.
Government leaders believe that added tax pressure on companies could harm economic growth rather than support it.
Although the German government agrees that the EU should focus on new priorities like digital innovation, climate action, and defense, it insists that this must be done by reorganizing current resources rather than expanding the budget.
Germany’s response adds to the challenges facing the budget proposal. The plan still needs approval from all 27 EU member states and the European Parliament before it can come into effect in 2028.
With countries like Germany already opposing key parts of the proposal, reaching a final agreement may take time and tough negotiations.
The European Commission had framed the budget as a way to prepare the EU for future challenges, but the pushback from Berlin shows that there are deep differences among member states over how to manage the bloc’s financial future.