France proposes using Google EU fines to cut member contributions

France's Europe Minister Benjamin Haddad proposed that the European Union treat €4.6 billion in fines on Google as a new revenue source that would automatically lower every member state's contribution to the common budget. He stated the idea in a Franceinfo TV interview on September 29, 2026. Google was fined €890 million in July 2026 for antitrust breaches, lifting its total EU penalties over nearly two decades to €10.38 billion. Member governments are negotiating the 2028–2034 budget. The European Commission has put forward a €2 trillion package, or 1.26% of EU gross national income, including about €168 billion to service borrowing for the post-pandemic recovery fund. Finland, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and Austria want a plan several hundred billion euros smaller. Five net-contributor leaders said in a joint warning that the budget is too focused on subsidies and transfers allocated largely in advance, leaving too little room for common investment in security and defence, competitiveness, innovation, and the fight against irregular migration. Summits are set for October, November and December to secure a deal by year-end. Google is appealing related EU orders at the General Court in Luxembourg over Android ecosystem and search data access requirements.