At the center of the dispute are the Commission’s plans for changes to regional and agricultural payments, which MEPs claim cut the Parliament and regional leaders out of decision-making regarding budget allocation.
Serafin said he was working with other commissioners with responsibility for this element, which he acknowledged was “the bone of contention,” on how to “address concerns of the European Parliament.”
He added: “It has never been the intention of the Commission to eliminate the regions from the picture. I mean, this is not a coincidence that we do not talk about national plans, but national and regional partnership plans. But this is an issue on which we will work.”
He declined to say what specific concessions the Commission might make.
Hashing out a deal
Serafin announced during the meeting with the Parliament that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would call a meeting between Parliament chief Roberta Metsola and officials from Denmark, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, so that countries and Parliament can hash out a deal among themselves.
“It’s important because you know, the MFF, we are not doing only the Commission, the Parliament, but we also need to remember about the member state dimension,” Serafin said. “But it could also be an opportunity actually to, if some elements are agreed, to make actually progress in the negotiations much faster than expected.”
Serafin needs to square Parliament’s demands with pressure from member countries who are in favor of the reforms the Parliament opposes.
One national diplomat, granted anonymity to speak candidly about confidential discussions, said people in governments had been increasingly complaining that MEPs are “blocking everything” and “risking leaving our countries without a clear plan for investment.”