Germany cannot continue as one of the key contributors to the European Union budget whilst receiving little from Brussels in return, German Finance Minister Hans Eichel said in an interview published on Sunday. Speaking in Focus news magazine Eichel said: "We have had to shoulder a huge burden through German reunification but are still contributors in net terms."
"The Irish, who in the meantime have overtaken us in prosperity levels, are still net recipients. Things cannot stay as they are," Eichel added.
Germany had formed a coalition with five other member states to ensure in the future no country paid more than one percent of its gross domestic product to Brussels, he said.
Funds flowing out of the EU were another problem for Germany, Eichel said.
"As more than half of EU funds flow into the agriculture budget and Germany is not an agricultural country, there are countries richer than us receiving more from Brussels."
Eichel said he was confident the European Union would take reunification costs into account when examining Germany's deficit.
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