国际英语新闻:Finnish PM suggests EU net payers reduce contribution if rule of law not followed in EU

HELSINKI, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Finnish Prime Minister Antti Rinne said on Thursday the net payer countries of the European Union plan to reduce their contributions to the EU, if Hungary, Poland and Romania do not follow the basic value principles.

Rinne told the Finnish national broadcaster Yle that the net payer countries are unanimous about the action. The "pay cut plan" is an alternative to reducing the EU support that Hungary, Poland and Romania are getting.

Finland, as the current rotating chair of the Council of the EU, has been pushing that the level of EU financial support should be tied to the value status and rule of law in the recipient countries.

However, analysts have noted that a cutback of supports would require unanimity in the EU, and such unanimity is unlikely. Paying less would then be a tool for the net payer countries to enforce their view.

"Net payers" are those EU countries that contribute financially to the EU more than what they get.

The largest net payers, in relation to the GDP, in 2017 were Germany, Sweden, and Austria. Finland has been a net payer since 2001. The largest net recipients were in 2017 Lithuania, Bulgaria and Hungary.