N. Peter Kramer’s Weekly Column
Moreover they are deaf to criticism from citizens, business, trade and industry, and national governments. The by VDL proposed budget for the period 2028-2034 increases by hundreds of billions of euros to an astronomic €2 trillion. The most ambitious budget ever, the president of the commission dared to call it. She means the most megalomanic budget imaginable.
The proposal means that member states, which have paid in recent years 1.1 per cent of their gross national income to Brussels, have to pay 1.26 per cent, an increase of 15 per cent.
Billions in funding must be created, massive loans must be taken out, new taxes will be introduced, if VDL and her obedient commissioners have their way. The proposal includes an EU tobacco tax for smokers and a corporate tax for companies with a turnover of more than €50 million. This way, in its ‘hunger’ for own money, the commission wants to raise direct taxes for ‘Brussels’ directly, which affects the sovereignty of the member states. Countries decide for themselves how to tax certain matters.
The commission megalomanic spending passion stands in stark contrast to the member states, which are being forced to tighten their belts due to strict EU budget rules. Over the next two years, EU member states have to negotiate a final EU budget for Brussels.
It will be a tough battle, about EU taxes, Eurobonds and higher national contributions. No matter how it turns, in all likelihood the losers will be the EU citizens.
