Lawmakers oppose the Commission’s “national plans,” an idea to pool funds for farmers and regions — which make up around half of the total EU budget, worth €1.8 trillion — into single pots managed by the bloc’s 27 governments. This is a change from the current system, where regions play a crucial role in handling the funding.
“As the current proposal on the [national plans] does not take our core requests into consideration, it cannot constitute a basis for negotiations,” the draft says. “We therefore look forward to seeing our key requests meaningfully reflected in an amended proposal of the European Commission, which would allow the negotiations with the European Parliament to move forward.”
The letter is designed to increase pressure on the EU executive to make concessions after weeks of stalled negotiations. If no agreement is reached, the four political groups will put forward a resolution rejecting the national plans part of the budget in the full plenary session of Parliament starting Nov. 12.
Rural development
The Commission argues that this model will allow governments to spend the EU’s money according to their specific needs and create a stronger link between payments and governments’ economic reforms.
But lawmakers say the plan would expand the power of central governments at the expense of regions, which have traditionally played a key role in handling EU funds.
One of the most significant demands from the political groups is that the Commission allocate specific funding to rural development and all regions — something that’s not included in the current budget proposal.