Last year, the total spending of the European Union on environmental protection reached €359.9 billion, a record high over the past 10 years, exceeding the bloc's defense spending in the same year.
These figures are cited by analysts of the Slovo i Dilo publication based on data from Eurostat and the European Council. According to them, last year's defense budget was €33.9 billion less than environmental spending – only €326 billion.
The researchers stated that environmental spending is growing in the EU from year to year:
- 2019 – only €293 billion;
- 2022 – €338.1 billion;
- 2023 – €351.2 billion.
That is, on average, they increase by €10-20 billion annually.
Infographics: sltoidilo.ua.
Germany became the leader among EU countries in terms of environmental spending in 2024. It spent more than €80 billion on these measures. This is followed by France and Italy with over €50 billion, Spain with about €30 billion, and the Netherlands and Belgium with approximately €20 billion each. The top 10 countries investing the most in environmental protection also include Poland, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Austria. Each of them spent about €10 billion.
Environmental expenditures cover more than 10 areas, from waste management and water purification to air quality monitoring, biodiversity conservation, climate change, and ecosystem restoration. Among the green initiatives that have received funding in many countries, a significant share is related to the introduction of energy efficiency technologies and the transition to a green economy.
Slovo i Dilo analysts noted that the increase in environmental funding is in line with the EU's Green Deal strategy, which aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. They also noted that environmental spending in the EU is increasingly intersecting with energy and industrial policy – especially after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as it has forced the EU to reconsider its energy sources and the degree of dependence on fossil fuels.
