The European Parliament has set out ambitious revenue targets for the EU's next seven-year budget, insisting on at least EUR 60 billion per year from new own resources, including potential levies on digital services, cryptocurrency, and online gambling, to reduce member state contributions and repay pandemic debt.
The European Parliament endorsed its position on the Interim report on the proposal for the multiannual financial framework for 2028-2034, which was approved on 28 April 2026.
The seven-year budget proposal underscores Parliament’s continued support for establishing new revenue streams, notably backing the European Commission’s “basket approach” to own resources, which encompasses taxation measures.
In the interim report on the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the European Parliament emphasises its strong commitment to introducing new genuine own resources to finance the Union’s enhanced policy ambitions and ensure the steady repayment of the NextGenerationEU (NGEU) debt.
The Parliament’s position on these revenue streams includes the following key points:
The “Basket Approach” and revenue targets
The Parliament supports the Commission’s “basket approach” to own resources, viewing it as a realistic pathway to secure support within the Council. It considers it an essential condition that these new revenue streams reach a level of at least EUR 60 billion per year. A primary goal of these new resources is to reduce the reliance on national gross national income (GNI)-based contributions, which currently place the financial burden on Member States.
Calls for consideration of additional levies
If the Council eliminates certain elements of the proposed basket, the Parliament demands that the resulting gap be filled by increasing call rates for other sources or by introducing entirely new ones. To ensure tax fairness and meet revenue needs, the Parliament specifically calls for the exploration of the following:
- Digital services levy: Aimed at major digital platforms.
- Gambling and betting levy: An online gambling and betting services levy.
- Crypto assets levy: A levy based on a uniform call rate on capital gains from crypto assets.
- Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): The Parliament also suggests exploring the extension of the CBAM as an additional revenue source.
Conditions and strategic objectives
The report underscores that any new revenue sources must be designed so they do not harm the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or the overall competitiveness of the EU.
Additionally, the Parliament calls for an end to “lump-sum” reductions for certain Member States to create an equitable budgetary balance for all, focused on solidarity and European added value.
The Parliament also states it will only approve the long-term budget if it includes appropriate and sustainable revenue that makes the Union fit for purpose in a changing world.
