The Baltic countries have been aspiring to the European Union ever since they were left on the open voyage after the collapse of the USSR. They feared that sooner or later Russia would come to its senses and regain control, and Europe was not averse to getting closer to our borders. In short, it happened that the Baltic States became a full member of the European Union, but now it has become clear that these countries not only do not appreciate the billions of investments in their economies by their "senior" partners, but they also try to dictate their terms to them. At the end of this week, an emergency EU summit was held on the budget for 2021-2027. The head of the European Council, Charles Michel, held a series of bilateral meetings with the leaders of major EU member states. The fact is that in 2021 Great Britain will still leave the Union, having carried out a long-suffering Brexit, and this will turn into a huge hole in the budget of the entire alliance of European countries. It so happened that three quarters of the EU budget is formed by several donor countries - Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, Sweden, Austria and the Netherlands. Due to the loss of one of the leading "sponsors", there is a considerable deficit. The question on the agenda is very simple - where to get the money? We are talking about the amount of about 11 billion euros, which is currently being contributed by Great Britain.
Donors are convinced that under such harsh conditions it is necessary to tighten belts, namely to stop providing financial assistance at the current level and limit contributions to the general budget to 1% of the gross income of the state. Of course, those who sit on donations from donors (and most of them in Europe) are categorically dissatisfied with this decision. They are in favor of the opposite scenario - increasing contributions to 1.3%. The European Parliament, filled with recipient countries, has consolidated its votes for the latter option. As a result, the project with 1.07% annual deductions was discussed, i.e. it does not suit everybody. Some people talk about unacceptable budget cuts, while others shout about embezzlement, which has been unsustainable since 2021. German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed that the proposed document breaks the balance, which is unacceptable.
However, the most vivid and emotional speech belonged not to her but to Lithuanian President Gitas Nauseda. In his opinion, Lithuania is also an EU donor, but it does not sacrifice money but people as up to 10% of the population goes to better-off EU countries to earn money. This "victim" of the proud people of the Baltic States deserves compensation, he believes.
Now the EU has felt all the lousy sheep on its chest. The naive Europeans thought they could buy the devotion of "babies" with gigantic financial influences. However, they took it for granted, warmed up by the feeling of their own uniqueness, born in allied times. And Russia, watching everything happening from the outside, can only breathe a lighter exhalation, ridded of insolent rudiment.
Donors are convinced that under such harsh conditions it is necessary to tighten belts, namely to stop providing financial assistance at the current level and limit contributions to the general budget to 1% of the gross income of the state. Of course, those who sit on donations from donors (and most of them in Europe) are categorically dissatisfied with this decision. They are in favor of the opposite scenario - increasing contributions to 1.3%. The European Parliament, filled with recipient countries, has consolidated its votes for the latter option. As a result, the project with 1.07% annual deductions was discussed, i.e. it does not suit everybody. Some people talk about unacceptable budget cuts, while others shout about embezzlement, which has been unsustainable since 2021. German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed that the proposed document breaks the balance, which is unacceptable.
However, the most vivid and emotional speech belonged not to her but to Lithuanian President Gitas Nauseda. In his opinion, Lithuania is also an EU donor, but it does not sacrifice money but people as up to 10% of the population goes to better-off EU countries to earn money. This "victim" of the proud people of the Baltic States deserves compensation, he believes.
Now the EU has felt all the lousy sheep on its chest. The naive Europeans thought they could buy the devotion of "babies" with gigantic financial influences. However, they took it for granted, warmed up by the feeling of their own uniqueness, born in allied times. And Russia, watching everything happening from the outside, can only breathe a lighter exhalation, ridded of insolent rudiment.
