Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Finland cannot support the European Commission’s proposed €2 trillion EU budget for 2028–2034, calling the suggested increase excessive and poorly targeted. The current financial framework for 2021–2027 stands at approximately €1.2 trillion.
Orpo said the proposal reflects a new geopolitical reality, with high expectations placed on the EU to support Ukraine, invest in defence, and strengthen its competitiveness. Still, he stressed that the financial plan must remain realistic.
“The EU is expected to do a great deal, but the budget must be proportionate. This proposal is far too high,” Orpo told Yle.
Orpo also criticised a proposed crisis mechanism that would provide loan-based support to member states during emergencies.
“We oppose instruments based on joint debt,” he said.
While Finland acknowledges that its membership fees will rise, Orpo said any increase must be justified. He maintained that budget growth should be moderate and concentrated on defence and security.
The Commission’s draft includes €131 billion earmarked for defence and space programmes, a fivefold increase compared to the current cycle. It also proposes an additional €100 billion support fund for Ukraine, to be held outside the main budget framework.
Orpo welcomed the emphasis on security and Ukraine but said support efforts must not undermine core domestic priorities.
“We must strongly support Ukraine, but it cannot come at the expense of our own essential expenditures,” he said.
The European Parliament and all 27 EU member states must approve the budget. Discussions are expected to continue over the coming year.
Several Finnish Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) also voiced concern. Eero Heinäluoma (SDP) described the budget as “concerning,” warning that Finland’s net returns could fall while contributions rise.
Aura Salla (NCP) opposed raising the budget through higher member state payments and called for an expansion of the EU’s own resources instead.
Green MEPs Ville Niinistö and Maria Ohisalo said the Commission’s proposals lack ambition. They criticised the omission of new revenue streams such as a digital services tax and aviation levy.
Finland has been a net contributor to the EU budget since 2001. In 2023, Finland paid about €150 per capita into the EU budget, totalling roughly €700 million. Countries such as Estonia, Croatia and Latvia received more than €600 per capita in return.
Much of Finland’s EU funding has historically supported agriculture and rural development. But under the new proposal, the European Commission plans to cut agriculture spending by up to 20 percent.
The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) strongly opposed the cuts, calling them inconsistent with earlier EU commitments.
“This would be the biggest reform in agricultural policy in over 30 years,” said Juha Marttila, President of MTK.
Marttila said the proposal places EU farmers in a state of uncertainty, even as food security and supply resilience become increasingly vital.
“Everyone understands the need to strengthen security, but that cannot come at the cost of farmers’ livelihoods,” Marttila stated.
MTK called on the Finnish government to join with other member states to push back against the proposed changes in upcoming negotiations.
HT
