Responding to the blockade threat from the European Parliament, the President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen completes its proposals for the EU’s next long-term budget. According to information from the German Press Agency, von der Leyen informed Parliament President Roberta Metsola and the presidents of the current governments of the EU countries in a letter about the options for change. This includes, among other things, more voice given to regions, possible guarantees for the agricultural sector, and greater Parliamentary involvement in the allocation of funds from the European Union budget.
If member governments agree, it could be agreed that, in addition to the funds allocated for the common agricultural policy (CAP), a portion of the EU budget funds will be reserved for rural development targets.
The proposed changes are intended to support the decision-making process regarding the financial framework for 2028 to 2034, according to a letter sent to the German Press Agency. The long-term budget is intended to allow spending of around two trillion euros – around 700 billion euros more than currently budgeted for the current seven-year budget period.
Lawmakers fear influence
In previous months there had been strong criticism of the budget and threats of blocking it, especially from parliament. In letters to von der Leyen, top officials recently criticized the fact that the needs of regions outside the capital are not being met.
This is motivated, among other things, by the fact that currently the EU does not have many platforms for agricultural policy and the promotion of structurally weak regions, but in the future there will only be one large fund for this purpose.
Lawmakers warned that by combining funding areas, each would lose its importance. Separate budgets for each region would provide more security and reliability to recipients of EU money. They also demanded that structural support policies not only be planned and implemented by the central government.
Lawmakers can block the budget
The European Parliament also wants to be involved in approving and amending national plans. They also want to play a stronger role in setting the EU budget each year.
The letter was signed by the leaders of the conservative EPP, social democrat S&D, liberal Renew and Greens as well as each of the groups’ budget negotiators.
The long-term EU common budget, the so-called multi-annual financial framework (MFF), is adopted using a special legislative procedure. EU countries must adopt it unanimously and the European Parliament must approve it. If the required majority is not achieved in parliament, the proposal is considered rejected. To prevent such a scenario, von der Leyen is now inviting people to the summit. Apart from Metsola, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen for the current Presidency of the EU Council is also scheduled to take part this Monday.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:251110-930-271059/1
