In 2008, a little over 20 percent of the EU:s revenue came from Germany, followed by France (16.9 percent), Italy (13.3 percent) United Kingdom (11.4 percent) and Spain (9.5 percent).
Often, it is discussed which countries "earn" or "lose" on the EU budget.
The debate often includes the "net payers". That is, if a country pays more to the EU than it receives in the form of aid. Germany, France, Netherlands, UK and Sweden are all net payers.
But it is difficult to determine what the level of net payments actually is. Large parts of the budget does not go back to the Member States, it is assistance to third countries.
Several EU projects are international in character and do not favor just one member country. For example, the EU can contribute support for a project in France that a Swedish company performs. An additional example is custom duty. Customs for goods imported into the Belgian Antwerp is shown as payment from Belgium, even if the custom duty finally is paid by a consumer in Poland - or vice versa.
According to the EU's basic contract the Member States are “eager to strengthen the economic community between their countries and ensure their harmonious development by reducing the gap between different regions and the lag of the less favored regions.”
Cecilia Helland