The Finland EU budget stance is firm. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has openly rejected the European Commission’s proposed €2 trillion budget plan for 2028–2034. He said the suggested increase is simply too high and not well-targeted. The current EU financial framework, running from 2021 to 2027, is already set at €1.2 trillion.
Orpo pointed out that while Europe faces new geopolitical challenges, the bloc still needs a realistic financial roadmap. Expectations are growing for the EU to support Ukraine, boost defence capabilities, and maintain global competitiveness. But he stressed that the budget must remain balanced and grounded.
“The EU is expected to do a great deal, but the budget must be proportionate. This proposal is far too high,” Orpo told Yle in a national interview.
He also strongly criticized a proposed crisis mechanism that would allow the EU to provide emergency loans to member countries. According to Orpo, this would create a slippery slope.
“We oppose instruments based on joint debt,” he said plainly.
Orpo acknowledged that Finland’s contributions to the EU will increase, but he made clear that growth must be justified. He stated that new spending should be laser-focused on key areas like security and defence, not spread too thinly across non-essential items.
The new EU draft plan includes €131 billion for defence and space programs. That figure marks a fivefold jump from the current budget cycle. There’s also a proposed €100 billion Ukraine support fund, which would sit outside the main EU budget.
Orpo agreed that Ukraine must be supported, but warned against compromising core national needs.
“We must strongly support Ukraine, but it cannot come at the expense of our own essential expenditures,” he said.
Multiple Finnish Members of the European Parliament also raised red flags. Eero Heinäluoma (SDP) said the budget was worrying. He warned that Finland may end up paying far more than it gets back.
Aura Salla (NCP) opposed raising the budget by demanding more from member states. She said the EU should expand its own independent resources instead.
Green MEPs Ville Niinistö and Maria Ohisalo took a different approach. They claimed the plan was not bold enough. They criticized the Commission for ignoring potential revenue sources like a digital services tax or an aviation levy.
Under the new plan, agriculture could face a major blow. The Commission wants to cut agriculture funding by as much as 20 percent. This would be the largest policy shift in over 30 years.
Juha Marttila, President of the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK), condemned the proposal.
“This would be the biggest reform in agricultural policy in over 30 years,” Marttila warned.
He said EU farmers are already under pressure. Slashing support now would create serious uncertainty, especially when food security is a growing concern.
“Everyone understands the need to strengthen security, but that cannot come at the cost of farmers’ livelihoods,” he said.
MTK urged the Finnish government to take a stronger role in the negotiations and build alliances with other member states that oppose the cuts.
In 2023, Finland contributed about €150 per capita to the EU, totaling around €700 million. Yet some countries, like Estonia and Croatia, received over €600 per capita in return. Finland has been a net contributor since 2001. Most of its funding has supported agriculture and rural areas. Now, even that looks threatened.
As talks continue over the next year, Finland’s stance will likely shape broader debates across Europe.
