Şerban Dimitrie Sturdza· ECR

Underestimated

Europe borrowed heavily in recent years, 700 billion euros in less than five years

Omissions

• The official authorized amount is €750 billion (2018 prices), not €700 billion
• The borrowing is specifically for NextGenerationEU (NGEU), not general EU debt
• The exact amount actually raised by March 2025 may be closer to €650-700 billion, with some funds still to be borrowed by end of 2026
• This borrowing is exceptional and temporary, linked to post-pandemic recovery, not a permanent feature of EU finances

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Parliament - Multiannual financial framework Fact SheetsNGEU was endorsed at EUR 750 billion for the years 2021-2023, with grant component of EUR 390 billion and loan component
• AcademicRevista Catalana de Dret Public - NextGenerationEU analysisBetween 2021 and 2026, the Commission will raise 750 billion euros on behalf of the EU on international capital markets
• SecondaryHowTheyVote.eu - European Parliament Voting RecordsThe Own Resources Decision empowers the Commission to borrow funds of up to EUR 750 billion in 2018 prices between 2021 and 2026
• SecondaryBruegel - The rising cost of European Union borrowingApproximately €400 billion in outstanding EU debt as of May 2023, 85 percent arising from borrowing since 2020