20
May
2026
Watch
Financing EU priorities in a sustainable, predictable and resilient way through a new EU own resource from the online gambling and betting services sector (debate)
Dear President, Commissioner, colleagues, if security, competitiveness and energy transition are to be financed, and this is no longer a question of desire, but a question of preserving Europe as we know it, then the Union must have adequate and stable sources of income. That is why it is important to seriously discuss credible budgetary sources, including the potential of revenues from online gambling and betting. This sector is highly digital, cross-border and generates significant revenues thanks to the European single market. In this sense, it is legitimate and needs to be seen whether part of these revenues can help finance our common priorities in a fair and proportionate way, thus reducing the pressure on both national contributions, the European economy and European citizens. This is particularly important now in times of growing challenges when the European budget must also respond to the debt repayment challenge of the common post-pandemic instrument. Such a proposal should therefore be taken seriously. I thank the Commission that this is exactly what it has decided to do, but that it has also carefully shaped it, together with the whole package, with a focus also on fairness between countries, on enforceability and on the protection of the regulated market. New own resources should therefore be seen as part of the response to how the European Union can ultimately finance future challenges responsibly.