There is growing concern in Saxony's politics about a considerable loss of EU funding. The draft EU budget reveals a further loss of subsidiarity and threatens to weaken Europe's regions, CDU politician Marko Schiemann told the German Press Agency: "We must not allow this to happen, because only strong regions ensure the stability of the European Union." Schiemann is his party's spokesperson for European policy in the state parliament. He is calling for drastic changes to the draft presented and an increase in funding for structural policy of 100 billion euros.
Federal government should push for clear changes to the EU draft
According to Schiemann, the Free State of Saxony will receive around four billion euros from the EU budget in the current funding period to align with the economic development of Western Europe. These funds must also remain available without restriction in the new funding period from 2028. This would be used to implement local projects in the areas of education and training, to strengthen the competitiveness of companies, agriculture and local authorities. Schiemann is calling on the German government to advocate for significant changes to the draft EU budget.
Saxon SPD MEP Matthias Ecke had also recently warned against a reduction in funding and the consequences of the planned centralization of responsibilities in the EU. With the proposal presented by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen 2025, the Free State is threatened with enormous losses in the new funding period, Ecke made clear. In future, half or up to three quarters of European funding could be lost, depending on the basis of calculation: "We really are at a turning point."
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