The EU plans to raise the tourist tax to repay the debt of 350 billion euros

The EU is discussing the possibility of increasing the tourist tax for countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, in order to partially repay the debt of 350 billion euros incurred due to the cost of economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. The planned increase will be part of the updated ETIAS travel authorization system, which will become effective at the end of 2026 and will cover 60 countries with a visa-free regime with the EU. 

Currently, the tax is 7 euros, but its adjustment has been discussed taking into account inflation since its introduction in 2018. The European Commission will present the final budget proposal on July 16. However, the initiative is controversial: Germany, for example, fears that it could reduce the flow of tourists to Europe.

Earlier, the EU allowed the redistribution of 335 billion euros from the Reconstruction Fund to defense projects, although initially the funds were supposed to be used for climate projects, digitalization and reforms. The tax increase was part of a broad discussion about the redistribution of EU financial resources and changing the union's priorities.