EU’s Budget Draft Sparks Controversy Among Officials
A draft of the European Union’s next budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), has been unveiled, ushering in a highly contentious phase of negotiations among member states and the European Parliament, reports 24brussels. The budget aims to transition funding away from traditional agricultural subsidies towards more innovative pan-European industrial initiatives.
Françoise Riso, a veteran civil servant with a background in navigating complex EU crises such as the eurozone turmoil, Brexit, and the pandemic recovery, is at the forefront of this initiative. At 49, Riso’s influence is both significant and divisive, as she seeks to reshape the EU’s financial priorities.
The budget draft is expected to undergo extensive examination as it moves between EU capitals and the Parliament. Already, Riso’s firm approach has caused friction within the Brussels bureaucracy. An anonymous EU official remarked, “The MFF has been written by three people locked in a room,” referring to Riso, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s chief of staff Bjoern Seibert, and Céline Gauer, who manages the post-COVID recovery fund.
Internally, Riso’s strategies have led to unrest, with several departments feeling marginalized as she has made drastic cuts and implemented significant reforms with minimal consensus. This has triggered a backlash among some commissioners, culminating in tense negotiations aimed at staving off her most radical proposals during a critical late-night meeting at the Commission’s headquarters earlier this month.
What typically is a procedural task has evolved into a politically charged conflict. The outcome of these negotiations will be critical, as the final budget will set the course for the EU’s funding strategy and priorities over the coming years.
