EU-contributie Duitsland stijgt mogelijk sterk (en)

Germany's contribution to the EU's coffers is set to rise by billions of euro by 2013.

According to a study by the French International Relations Institute (IFRI), quoted by Die Welt, Berlin's net contribution to the EU could rise to 16bn euro a year by 2013.

In 2002, the net contribution of the Union's largest member state was 7bn euro; this rose to 9.5bn euro last year.

The institution has based its calculations with the EU budget set at one per cent of gross national income - something demanded by six of the biggest contributors to the EU budget, including Germany.

It has also assumed that the British rebate is kept.

If the British rebate were to be scrapped, Germany would be paying 15.526bn euro per year but with the rebate, the contribution would lie at 16.185bn euro.

However, should the British rebate be taken away and instead a general rebate for all member states put in place, then Germany's contribution would sink to 14.113bn euro.

The study does not include costs for EU-hopefuls such as Turkey or Croatia, notes Die Welt.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times notes that Germany, Italy, Portugal and Greece are all at risk of breaching European Union ceilings on budget deficits in 2005.

The euro's stability pact sets a ceiling for budget deficits at 3 per cent of gross domestic product.