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Factbox-How does the EU plan to raise money for its next long-term budget?

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on April 28, 2026

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· Last updated: April 28, 2026

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Factbox-How does the EU plan to raise money for its next long-term budget?
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EU Proposes Five New Revenue Streams for 2028-2034 Long-Term Budget

Overview of Proposed EU Revenue Streams

BRUSSELS, April 28 (Reuters) - The European Union is discussing how to boost revenues for its seven-year budget to be able to pay for new priorities like defence and competitiveness and service joint debt, without cutting back too much on agriculture and regional aid.

These are the five new revenue streams proposed for the budget for 2028-2034 by the European Commission:

1. Emissions Trading System

Revenue Shift from National Governments

The Commission proposed shifting 30% of CO2 emissions-permit revenue from national governments to the EU budget, excluding road transport and buildings.

Estimated Revenue and Volatility

The Commission estimates this would bring 9.6 billion euros ($11.2 billion) to the EU budget every year, based on a carbon price of 88 euros per tonne, though revenues are uncertain due to price volatility. 

2. Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)

Levy on Imports and Protection for EU Producers

CBAM is a levy importers have to pay on goods from countries with weaker CO2 rules, protecting EU producers subject to stricter and more costly standards.

Implementation Timeline and Revenue Allocation

CBAM has applied since October 2023 and started generating revenue in 2026. The Commission proposed that from 2028, 75% of it be given to the EU.

Expected Revenue Impact

The Commission expects this would produce up to 1.4 billion euros a year for the 2028-2034 period, plus 200 million euros as coverage expands in 2028. 

3. Tobacco Excise Duty

Uniform Call-Rate and Revenue Estimate

A new 15% uniform call-rate tobacco duty, paid by EU member states from national budgets, is estimated to raise an average of 11.2 billion euros a year, the Commission says.

4. Non-Collected Electronic Waste

Levy on Non-Recycled Waste

The Commission proposed a levy of 2 euros per kilogram on non-recycled electronic waste, paid directly from national budgets. It estimates this would raise about 15  billion euros a year.

5. Corporate Resource for Europe (CORE)

Levy on Large Companies

Companies with over 100  million euros of annual turnover would pay a fixed annual levy of between 100,000 euros and 750,000 euros. This would raise about 6.8 billion euros a year for the EU budget, the Commission says.

Exchange Rate Information

($1 = 0.8551 euros)

(Reporting by Jan Strupczewski; editing by Philip Blenkinsop and Bernadette Baum)

Key Takeaways

  • The EU budget for 2028–2034 (Multiannual Financial Framework) totals almost €2 trillion over seven years, or ~1.26% of EU gross national income.(commission.europa.eu)
  • Five new ‘own resources’ are proposed to raise up to €58.5 billion annually: ETS revenues (~€9.6 bn), CBAM (~€1.4 bn plus €200 m scaling), tobacco excise (~€11.2 bn), levy on non‑recycled e‑waste (~€15 bn), and CORE corporate levy (~€6.8 bn).(commission.europa.eu)
  • These new revenue mechanisms help finance evolving EU strategic goals (defence, digital, green transition) while aiming to reduce reliance on national contributions and repay COVID-era debt.(commission.europa.eu)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What new revenue streams has the European Commission proposed for the 2028-2034 EU budget?
The Commission has proposed revenue streams from emissions trading, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), tobacco excise duty, non-collected electronic waste, and a Corporate Resource for Europe (CORE) levy.
How much does the EU expect to raise from the Emissions Trading System?
Shifting 30% of emissions trading revenue to the EU budget is estimated to bring in €9.6 billion per year.
What is the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and how will it generate revenue?
CBAM is a levy on imports from countries with weaker CO2 rules. From 2028, 75% of this revenue will go to the EU, expected to yield up to €1.4 billion annually.
How will EU member states contribute through tobacco excise duty and electronic waste levy?
A 15% uniform tobacco duty and a levy of €2 per kg on non-recycled electronic waste are expected to raise €11.2 billion and €15 billion per year, respectively.
What is the Corporate Resource for Europe (CORE) and its expected contribution?
CORE is an annual levy on companies with over €100 million turnover, expected to raise about €6.8 billion per year for the EU budget.

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