The Taxpayers’ Association of Europe (TAE) is calling for an end to the debate on the EU’s own resources!
Under the European Parliament’s proposal put forward for discussion, the forthcoming financial framework would rise to around 1.9 to just under 2.0 trillion euros – in other words, almost double the current level. Such a leap is in no way compatible with the economic reality of many Member States and their taxpayers. Instead of ever-new sources of revenue, there is a risk here of a creeping decoupling of EU finances from direct control by the Member States – and thus from the taxpayers themselves.
Specifically, numerous new own resources are on the table. The European Commission has put forward five key proposals: Revenue from the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), a levy on uncollected electronic waste, tobacco tax-based own resources (TEDOR), and a new corporate levy, CORE (Corporate Resource for Europe). CORE in particular must be viewed with great scepticism, as the proposed EU corporate tax CORE is based on turnover rather than profit. This would also burden companies with low margins or returns on turnover, or even those making losses – a clear violation of fundamental principles of economic performance.
The European Parliament is now going even further and calling for additional own resources, including a digital levy, a levy on crypto transactions, and on online gaming and gambling. The aim is clear: to provide the EU with an ever-broader and more independent revenue base. In other words, no more – or fewer – tedious negotiations, but revenue that flows automatically.
Particularly worrying is the protectionist dimension of these plans. New levies specifically targeting businesses and imports will not go unanswered internationally. Countries such as the US and China will respond with tough countermeasures – with the result that trade conflicts will intensify and European businesses will come under additional pressure. Ultimately, taxpayers will pay twice: once through new EU levies and a second time through higher prices, as major market players pass on the rising costs to consumers.
The introduction of additional own resources may seem politically convenient, but it obscures the actual burden on citizens and businesses. Especially in times of economic strain, what is needed is budgetary discipline, efficiency and clear priorities – not an expansion of spending without consistent reforms on the expenditure side. And let us not forget savings and new priorities in the EU budget.
It is surprising that the European Parliament now appears to be siding with the Commission on the issue of EU own resources, and now wants to join forces. Until now, we had the impression that the European Parliament viewed EU own resources with a similar degree of scepticism to us at the Taxpayers’ Association.
This makes it all the more incumbent upon the Council to halt this undesirable development and defend the interests of the Member States and their taxpayers. Nothing less than the protection of the financial sovereignty of the nation states is at stake.
Europe must not become a self-service shop. Should the proposed course of action actually be implemented, there is a risk of a dangerous shift in power at the expense of the nation states. That would be a fundamental turning point – in the worst-case scenario, confidence in the European Union would be so severely shaken that its very foundations would be called into question. This could then mark the beginning of the end for the European Union.
Brussels/Munich, 29 April 2026