Story perspectives

EU Pushes Digital Tech Levy, Citing Farmer Funding Risks

6/19/2026

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MEPs Champion Digital Levy

MEPs are championing a digital levy on major tech firms, warning cuts would endanger farmers, regional cohesion and security programmes.
Parliament seeks to adopt the levy as a new EU own-resource, aiming for an agreement by January 2028.
Spain’s Pedro Sanchez called the draft inadequate and demanded more spending for farmers and cohesion.
Parliament demanded funding for Common Agricultural Policy, Regional Development Fund and Cohesion, rejecting a merger.

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EU Leaders Budget

Spain Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the draft inadequate and demanded higher spending for farmers and cohesion to match inflation.
EU heads of state will meet in Brussels to set the 2028-2034 budget and address trade relations with China.
The Cypriot Presidency presented a budget draft cutting the Commission’s proposal by two percent.
Luxembourg ministers agreed on regulations for partnership plans, a Competitiveness Fund and Global Europe instrument.

History

Historical Context

The 2000 EU budget reform introduced an own-resource system based on customs duties, a mechanism defined in the EU’s own-resources decision to fund the Common Agricultural Policy. European Parliament cites that precedent while proposing a digital levy; Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and the Cypriot presidency demand new revenue support farmers, cohesion and security, echoing a budget that represents 2 % of EU public spending.

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MEPs Champion Digital Levy

MEPs are championing a digital levy on major tech firms, warning cuts would endanger farmers, regional cohesion and security programmes.
Parliament seeks to adopt the levy as a new EU own-resource, aiming for an agreement by January 2028.
Spain’s Pedro Sanchez called the draft inadequate and demanded more spending for farmers and cohesion.
Parliament demanded funding for Common Agricultural Policy, Regional Development Fund and Cohesion, rejecting a merger.

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