EU Budget Contributions May Get Boost from Google Fines

France's Europe Minister Benjamin Haddad has proposed using the €4.6 billion in fines imposed on Google to reduce EU member states' budget contributions.

The plan, which was floated by Haddad during an interview with Franceinfo TV station, would automatically lower the contributions of all member states if implemented.

The European Union's budget for 2028-2034 is currently proposed at €2 trillion or 1.26 percent of EU Gross National Income, but some member states, including Finland, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Austria, want it to be smaller.

These countries argue that taxpayers cannot shoulder the rising cost of both traditional and new priorities, and that the budget is too focused on subsidies and transfers.