Babiš Warns Czechia Could Become Net EU Payer by 2029 as Contributions Surge

The Czech prime minister also said Brussels is likely to permit a larger budget deficit as Prague seeks funding for hospitals, highways, and other domestic investment. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has expressed alarm over the country’s rapidly increasing payments to the European Union, warning that the Czech Republic could become a net contributor to the bloc as early as 2029. Following talks with Finance Minister Alena Schillerová, Babiš said Czech payments into the EU budget had risen by 22 billion crowns (€911 million) this year alone. “I was shocked by how much we are paying into the European Union,” he said, as cited by Echo24. “If in one year we are told that we will pay 22 billion more, that is a lot.” Officials currently expect the Czech Republic to become a net contributor to the EU budget for the first time in its history in either 2029 or 2030. Babiš was also asked about next year’s state budget deficit. When asked whether it would exceed this year’s planned shortfall of 310 billion crowns (€12.8 billion), he replied, “Don’t test me. I don’t know what the deficit will be.” Schillerová said a reliable estimate would only be possible after...

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