Now in September, negotiations on the EU's next budget, which will apply from 2021, are starting to get serious. The European Commission wants Sweden to pay more than the approximately 41 billion we paid last year to the EU.

"Sweden is a very rich member country, so it is no more than reasonable that Sweden pays its share of what other member states pay," Gert-Jan Koopman, director general of the European Commission, told Sweden's Radio Editors today.

Several ways to count

The reason he says it is because the European Commission's calculator shows that Sweden pays a tenth less of its economy - measured in GNI - compared to the average of the EU countries.

However, if one chooses to pay the EU tax per inhabitant in Sweden, it will end up at approximately SEK 4000 per person. That is about SEK 1100 more than the average EU citizen pays.

- We do not think the Commission is right when they claim that we will pay up to 40 percent more. This needs to be redone, EU Minister Hans Dahlgren (S) tells SVT.

More money even without Brexit

Some of the money comes back in the form of EU grants. The fact that Sweden pays relatively much per person is because we are a country with few inhabitants - but with a strong economy. In addition, the Commission wants Sweden to pay more to cover the hole after Great Britain. But even if there is no so-called Brexit, more money is needed, the Commission claims.

- Sweden and other countries have said they want to do more. Everything from coastal surveillance to environmental issues and research and then it is clear that they cost money, EU Commissioner Cecilia Malmgren told SVT.

But Hans Dahlgren does not want to fully agree with that.

- It is reasonable that Sweden, as a richer country, pays more. But we say no to Sweden paying much more, he concludes.

Footnote: The source for Sweden's EU contribution is the Government Offices converted to today's euro exchange rate (SEK 10.72 / euro).