EU countries opposed the 'money for reforms' model in the bloc's new budget
Kyiv • UNN
France, Italy, Spain and other EU countries opposed the European Commission's proposal to link payments from the 2028-2034 budget to the implementation of reforms. Critics fear payment delays and increased influence from Brussels.
Ten European Union countries, including France, Italy and Spain, have opposed the European Commission's proposal to link EU budget payments to reforms in member states. This was reported by Politico, citing diplomats, writes UNN.
Details
The proposal concerns the EU budget for 2028–2034, amounting to nearly 2 trillion euros. It stipulates that countries must implement reforms, particularly in the pension sector, in order to receive funding.
According to Politico, both major budget donors and countries that receive more funds from EU coffers, including Poland, Hungary and Malta, opposed the model.
Critics believe that such a mechanism could lead to payment delays, strengthen Brussels' influence over the domestic policies of states, and make regional funding dependent on the implementation of reforms.
We do not want the recommendations (of the commission - ed.) to become an imposition
Disputes will continue
Politico notes that a similar mechanism was already used in the post-COVID-19 recovery fund. The European Commission considers it successful, while a number of countries complain about payment delays and the complexity of meeting the conditions.
The discussion on this model is expected to continue during the next EU summits dedicated to agreeing on the new seven-year budget.