Germany remains EU's top net contributor despite economic slump, study shows

By Rene Wagner and Maria Martinez

BERLIN, Nov 26 (Reuters) - Germany remained the European Union's largest net contributor in 2024 despite its ongoing economic crisis, though its payments have fallen sharply from previous years, according to a study by the German Economic Institute IW seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

Europe's largest economy paid 13.1 billion euros ($15.09 billion) more into EU coffers than it received last year.

However, Germany's weakening economy is taking its toll: Net payments are in a downward trend, at 19.7 billion euros in 2022 and 17.4 billion euros in 2023.

France ranked second with net payments of 4.8 billion euros, followed by Italy at 1.6 billion euros.

Greece was the largest net recipient at 3.5 billion euros, ahead of Poland with 2.9 billion and Romania with 2.7 billion.

On a per capita basis, German citizens paid around 157 euros net to the EU, the highest amount, followed by Ireland at 130 euros.

MIRROR OF ECONOMIC POWER

"The EU budget is a mirror of the economic power relations in Europe," said IW expert Samina Sultan.

High-growth countries like Poland are receiving less support, while "Germany and France are the problem children of the EU."

Germany is forecast to grow below the European average again this year, meaning its net contribution is likely to decline further, Sultan said.

The EU Commission published statistics on net contributors and recipients until 2020 but has since stopped doing so for political reasons, according to the IW.

($1 = 0.8679 euros)