The EU debt taken on under Ursula von der Leyen is more expensive to service than originally planned.

Omissions

• The higher servicing cost is driven mainly by the ECB's rate cycle after 2022, not by a change in the terms negotiated in 2020; the claim is correct as a statement about cost versus plan but should not by itself be read as evidence of mismanagement.
• The most precise quantification found (Bruegel: interest cost 'could be twice as high as what was' originally planned) dates from June 2023 and is therefore more than two years older than the session date; it is an estimate, not an outturn.
• The European Parliament research briefing figure (€28 billion of NGEU grant-related interest over the 2021-2027 MFF, 'significantly above' the original allocation) was not verified against the underlying Commission budget documents in this check, and no direct ECA/Eurostat primary table comparing planned versus actual interest was retrieved.
• Reporting based on the European Court of Auditors' 2025 annual report (EU debt up more than 20% to €738.9 billion, on track for €1 trillion by 2027) appears in outlets dated around October 2026, i.e. at or very close to the session date; the MEP may not have had that specific report available.

Sources

• SecondaryBruegel — 'The rising cost of European Union borrowing and what to do about it' (Policy Brief 12/2023)"Our estimates suggest that, because of the high current and expected levels of interest rates, this cost could be twice as high as what was" [originally planned]; the brief also states that "given the much higher interest costs than initially planned, the EU should quickly review how interest costs are accounted for".
• SecondaryEuropean Parliamentary Research Service — 'Management of debt liabilities in the EU budget under the post-2021 MFF'"Interest payments on NGEU grants-related borrowing during the 2021-2027 MFF are expected to total 28 EUR billion, significantly above the" amount originally planned.
• SecondaryEU Perspectives — 'EU debt has grown eightfold in five years. Taxpayers will feel it'"EU debt grew almost eightfold in five years to €739bn and could hit €1tn by 2027, auditors warn. Interest costs run far above plans."
• SecondaryYahoo Finance — 'EU debt could hit €1 trillion by 2027 as spending errors rise' (reporting the European Court of Auditors' annual report)"Outstanding EU borrowing jumped by more than 20% to €738.9 billion last year and could reach €1 trillion by 2027"; the article reports auditors' warnings on rising debt-servicing costs.