Chairman of the committee, Ursula von der Leyenmanaged to suppress the rebellion European Chamber Against his proposal Multi-year budget The European Union is set to take over the EU presidency for 2028-2034 – threatening to derail negotiations before they even begin – by offering a package of limited concessions.
“The proposals represent a good step forward and the process will continue“said the President of the European Parliament, Roberta MitsolaAfter a virtual tripartite meeting with von der Leyen and the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksenwhose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.
“Now the proposals are clear and we have a clear roadmap to follow“I congratulated von der Leyen, who ended the crisis in this way. After the meeting on Monday, the European Parliament abandoned this week’s approval of a resolution against the budget plan, the trump card with which he tried to subjugate the president.
In the end, MEPs will be limited to discussing von der Leyen’s proposals in Wednesday’s plenary session in Brussels, however No opinion will be voted on.
In essence, what the European Parliament did was propose A pulse for the executive power of society, but also for national governmentsTo achieve more powers in negotiating the budget and the ability to intervene at an early stage.
According to the treaties, It is the heads of state and government of the 27 countries who agree to this Unanimously, the Multiannual Financial Framework, something that is scheduled to happen at the end of 2026. The European Parliament only intervenes at the end of the whole process to give its approval (or cancel the previous agreement).
However, Parliament now intends to amend New budget structure proposed by von der Leyen for the period 2028-2034, which focuses on the management of structural, agricultural and migration funds in member states.
All these aids are integrated into One national envelope for each countryThe spending of which will be largely at the discretion of governments.
This is a radical change that deprives autonomous communities and regions of a large part of their ability to decide how to distribute aid. Moreover, It blurs the essence of two emblematic EU policies: the Common Agricultural Policy and the Cohesion Policy.
In a letter sent at the end of October, the leaders of the political groups in the “grand coalition” supporting von der Leyen (Popular, Socialist, Liberal and Greens) rejected this proposal. Renationalization of European funds They called for the restoration of the independence of the Common Agricultural Policy, as well as a greater role for regional and local entities.
but, National governments support this new structure Because it frees them from many bureaucratic burdens and gives them more room to maneuver when deciding how to spend European money.
Hence, von der Leyen resisted amending her proposals until the end. It was only the threat of a negative decision by the European Parliament that prompted him to make simple concessions, which in any case are more symbolic than real.
In a letter addressed on Sunday to Mitsola and Frederiksen, the President first proposes to obligatorily reserve part of the funds from national envelopes not only for direct agricultural payments (as envisaged in her original proposal), but also for direct agricultural payments. Rural development policies. The aim is to “strengthen the identity” of the Common Agricultural Policy.
Second, von der Leyen proposes the introduction of “territorial control” for full assurance With the participation of regional authorities In preparing, implementing and evaluating spending plans, as well as your right to communicate directly with the Authority. Finally, Germany is offering to grant more powers to the European Parliament while negotiating and supervising these national plans.
These minimal transfers have been enough to appease the European Parliament for the time being, although the socialist group is still demanding further changes.
However, the real battle is the one you face Germany and the “frugal”who are demanding further cuts to the EU budget, against major recipients of European funds, such as Spain, who see von der Leyen’s proposals as insufficient.
In total, the multi-year budget proposed by the German company amounts to 2 billion euros for seven years, a figure equivalent to 1.26% of society’s GDP.
If the interest payment on the assumed debt is discounted with next generation funds, it remains at 1.15%, This is a very slight increase compared to 1.13% for the current financial framework.
The new financial framework Multiply defense spending by five (Up to 131,000 million euros in seven years) and It cuts agricultural funds and cohesion, which are most important for countries like Spain.
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