Mr. Tony Murphy:

Yes, but at least a state has an annual budget. In our case, we have a seven-year budget, so it is more difficult and there are issues with the budget’s flexibility. The Deputy can see the issues that the Commission is facing in the MFF review. It is looking for another €66 billion to meet additional tasks it believes it has to undertake, including in respect of Ukraine. There are other issues where the Commission wants to engage in more activity. It is basically at the whim of member states agreeing to increase their contributions to cover those activities, though. One cannot expect the EU budget to do everything. It is 2.1% or 2.3% of GNI. Sometimes, member states’ expectations are too high. Some of that is probably due to the propaganda of the Commission itself, in that it promises too much. The mix of the two does not help.

Linked to that matter is the question of borrowing. Borrowing was basically never allowed before. In response to the Covid crisis, a specific decision was made to allow the EU to borrow. The EU wanted to help member states in difficult circumstances.