EU

EU must ‘think beyond’ member state funding to secure bigger budget

Bloc’s current trillion-euro budget runs out in 2027, with diplomats now calling for increased funding to afford new members and climate change

EU budget commissioner Johannes Hahn: “If we want to remain a global player, we need to rise to the geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges. Business as usual is no longer an option.” Picture: EU/Claudio Centonze

The next EU budget will need to be much bigger to pay for defence, climate change and new members, a conference in Brussels has heard.

Johannes Hahn, European Commission budget chief, said the bloc will need to “think beyond” direct contributions from national coffers and “explore all options of innovative financing using our Union's joint weight” referencing the EU’s experience with its temporary €750 pandemic fund.

The EU’s current trillion-euro budget, known as the multi ...