2025-11-10 15:32
publication
2025-11-10 15:32
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced amendments to her draft of the next long-term budget of the European Union for 2028-2034. Earlier, the European Parliament threatened to block it if the EC did not make changes to it.
Von der Leyen, in a letter addressed to the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, and the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, who heads the EU presidency – which the EC forwarded to journalists in Brussels – announced that she would make corrections to her project. This includes: o strengthening the role of regions in spending EU funds.
This is a reaction to the letters of the heads of the largest factions in the European Parliament, who in September rejected the EC budget proposal, pointing out, among other things, that it limits the role of regions in spending EU funds. They also argued that the project was too ambitious, including: when it comes to agriculture.
Von der Leyen discussed this issue with Metsola and representatives of the Danish presidency on Monday.
“We have clarified and strengthened our goals in three key areas: securing the role of regions, strengthening the identity of the Common Agricultural Policy and improving management,” announced the head of the European Commission in an entry on the X website.
She added that she would take part in a debate on this topic in the European Parliament on Wednesday.
In a letter to Metsola and Frederiksen dated Sunday, which the EC forwarded to Brussels correspondents, von der Leyen repeated that she believed the Commission had proposed an ambitious EU budget proposal in July.
However, she announced that she proposed introducing the so-called regional control, which is intended to ensure the full involvement of regional authorities in the preparation, implementation and evaluation of plans for spending EU funds. She also announced that support for less developed regions would be protected.
She added that the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) will retain its Community character so that farmers in all countries are treated the same. The EC also proposes introducing solutions that would guarantee the continuity of investments in rural areas. The role of regional authorities in spending funds on agriculture is also to be maintained.
Von der Leyen also announced a strengthening of the role of the EP and the Council in the process of building the new EU budget for 2028–2034.
The budget is adopted under a special procedure. First, EU member states must approve it unanimously, and then the European Parliament must give its consent. If Parliament does not obtain the required majority, the project is rejected.
Already in July, when the draft budget for 2028-34 was published, some MEPs from the largest factions, including the European People's Party, European Conservatives and Reformists and Socialists and Democrats, expressed criticism of some elements of the European Commission's proposal.
MEPs then argued that – in their opinion – the project should include more funds for cohesion policy and agriculture, as well as maintain the regions' autonomy in using EU funds. – The European Commission is trying to change what works well in the budget, instead of focusing on real priorities – said the EP rapporteur for the budget, MEP Siegfried Muresan (EPP), in an interview with PAP. He added that the level of the proposed budget is insufficient considering the growing challenges.
Although the negotiations are still at an early stage, the European Commission is trying to find a common denominator in talks with the European Parliament.
From Brussels Łukasz Osiński (PAP)
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