Interest payments include interest payments on government debt including long-term bonds, long-term loans, and other debt instruments to domestic and foreign residents.
Although the European Union pays around 5% of its government expenditure on interest payments on average (half of the US level), there are big differences between the EU members. Italy has to put aside 10% of its government expenses, compared to Germany's 5% and Finland's mere 3%.
Turkey, with 18%, or India, with 21% of government expenses, are on another level still.