European Parliament Faces Potential Proposal Rejection Amid Budget Standoff
Pressure is mounting on the European Commission as the European People’s Party (EPP) signals a potential rejection of a key budget proposal unless significant improvements are made swiftly. This warning follows a series of unproductive meetings with budget commissioners, highlighting the urgency of the situation, reports 24brussels.
Should the deadlock persist, the European Parliament is expected to introduce a motion to reject the proposal during its upcoming plenary session in Brussels on November 12. This motion is likely to garner substantial support from various political factions.
While the Commission technically has the authority to dismiss the Parliament’s vote, such a decision could create complications, as the Parliament’s approval is necessary for ratifying the next seven-year budget, which spans from 2028 to 2034.
In a bid to extend negotiations, the EPP has retracted its previous threat to introduce a motion against the Commission’s proposal during next week’s plenary session in Strasbourg.
Heeding demands from farmers and mayors, the EPP seeks amendments to a contentious plan that would consolidate funds designated for agriculture and regional development—accounting for more than half of the total EU budget—into centralized pots managed by national governments.
Herbert Dorfmann, the EPP’s primary lawmaker on agricultural matters, emphasized the ongoing discussions with Agriculture Commissioner Christophe Hansen, stating, “We are trying to improve the proposal.” He reiterated that the EPP is prepared to support a rejection should the Commission fail to respond appropriately.
In the forthcoming days, senior EPP lawmakers will engage in further discussions with commissioners responsible for budget, agriculture, and regional policy—Piotr Serafin, Christophe Hansen, and Raffaele Fitto—aiming to secure necessary compromises and avert the looming crisis over the budget proposal.
