Politics · France · 6 hrs ago
France received more from the EU than it paid since 2021
France received more EU funding than it paid in since 2021, when recovery funding is included.
In 2025, however, it received €16.4 billion from the EU and contributed €23 billion, leaving a gap of more than €6 billion.
France is the EU’s largest recipient of the Common Agricultural Policy, which provides funding to farmers.
Cereal farmer Maxime Liévin said he receives €55,000 a year through the policy and that his farm has struggled financially.
On 14 October in Brussels, Marine Le Pen called for France to pay less into the EU budget.
France cannot unilaterally cut its agreed payments, which are set for seven-year periods.
A reduction would require a revised budget or negotiations for a lower budget in 2028.
Since 2021, France has received more from the European Union than it has paid in, when the recovery plan is included.
In 2025, France received €16.4 billion from the EU and contributed €23 billion, leaving a deficit of more than €6 billion that year.
France is the EU’s largest beneficiary of the Common Agricultural Policy.
Marine Le Pen called for France to reduce its payments to the EU budget.
EU budget contributions are set for seven-year periods, and member states must meet their commitments.
- Who
- France, the European Union and Marine Le Pen.
- What
- France received more from the EU than it paid since 2021, including the recovery plan. Le Pen called for France to reduce its contribution.
- When
- Since 2021; the article was published on 15 October 2026.
- Where
- France and the European Union; Le Pen made her appeal in Brussels.
- Why
- Le Pen argued for lowering France’s contribution to the EU budget. The article says France received more than it paid over the period since 2021 when the recovery plan is included.
Marine Le Pen
EU budget commitments and recipients of EU aid
Reducing France's contribution
Marine Le Pen
Le Pen called for a reduction in the sums France pays to the EU budget.
EU budget commitments and recipients of EU aid
EU budget contributions are set for seven years, and member states must meet their commitments.
France's balance with the EU
Marine Le Pen
Le Pen argued for reducing the contribution; the article also notes that France paid more than it received in 2025.
EU budget commitments and recipients of EU aid
Across the period since 2021, including the recovery plan, France received more than it paid.
Including the recovery plan, France received more from the EU than it paid.
France received €16.4 billion from the EU and contributed €23 billion.
Marine Le Pen called for France to reduce its payments to the EU budget in Brussels.
franceinfo published its report on France’s EU receipts and contributions.
- Net balance since 2021
- France received more than it paid, including the recovery plan
- EU receipts in 2025
- €16.4 billion
- French contribution in 2025
- €23 billion
- French deficit in 2025
- More than €6 billion
- Common Agricultural Policy
- France is the EU’s largest beneficiary
- EU budget period
- Seven years
What people are saying
On the year, I receive 55,000 euros, which corresponds to about 230 euros per hectare.
We have been in the red for several years in a row. At some point, the question will arise whether my job can still support me: what do I do with my farm? You cannot live on credit forever; it is not possible.
It would not be possible, for example in May, to unilaterally decide to considerably reduce France’s contribution to the European Union budget.