According to an investigation, the planned new EU debt rules could stand in the way of investments in areas such as health, education and environmental protection. According to a report published on Monday by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the New Economics Foundation (NEF), only Denmark, Sweden and Ireland will be able to afford the necessary expenditure from 2027 if the planned rules on budget deficits and public debt are adhered to. According to the report, investment would also be severely inhibited in Germany.