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Euractiv
a day ago
- Business
- Euractiv
Commission to ditch regions with €800bn cash-for-reform plan
The system mirrors the EU's COVID-19 recovery fund, where the Commission negotiated directly with national capitals and bypassed regions in managing implementation Euractiv is part of the Trust Project Jacob Wulff Wold Euractiv Jul 14, 2025 16:59 2 min. read News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Commission is set to push ahead with plans to condition farming and regional funds on domestic reforms in the 2028–2034 budget, according to a draft regulation seen by Euractiv. The idea had already triggered months of backlash from 19 member states, 149 regions, and even Ursula von der Leyen's own political party, the centre-right EPP, arguing that such a plan would erode regional autonomy and unfairly penalise local authorities for national-level decisions. At the heart of it is a radical reshaping of the bloc's two largest spending programmes: the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and Cohesion funds, meant for poorer regions across the bloc. Brussels wants to fold the roughly €800 billion allocated to those funds into 27 national cash pots, making money contingent on EU-approved national reforms. "Moving from close to 540 programmes to 27 National and Regional Partnership (NRP) Plans will reduce administrative costs at all levels," the draft regulation reads. Each government would be required to submit a national plan outlining its "agenda of reforms, investments, and other interventions," and would only receive funds after approval from the Commission and the Council. The plan is inspired by the EU's €650 billion COVID recovery loan, where the Commission sidestepped regions by negotiating with capitals, leaving implementation in the hands of national authorities. Von der Leyen floated the idea of partnerships in May, but left open how far-reaching the reform would need to be, reassuring both regions and farmers that they would maintain a central place. Farmers secured protection for their €291 billion in direct income support in the next budget, but saw their €96 billion regional fund fully subsumed, as first reported by Euractiv. The final version of the document, including funding numbers, is set to be presented on Wednesday. Sofia Sanchez Manzanaro contributed to reporting. (mm)
Euractiv
3 days ago
- Business
- Euractiv
EU to tax tobacco, large companies to fund next budget
Whilst EU countries want an ambitious budget, they will also have to repay the bloc's €650 billion covid loans from 2028. The budget proposals must be approved unanimously. Euractiv is part of the Trust Project Eddy Wax and Jacob Wulff Wold Euractiv Jul 12, 2025 15:19 2 min. read News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The European Commission is hoping all EU countries can agree on new taxes on tobacco, large companies, electronics waste and carbon emissions to fund the EU budget, according to a draft proposal seen by Euractiv. The bloc's members are straining their finances, but the Commission wants an ambitious 2028 to 2034 budget (MFF) to boost competitiveness and defence. Direct contributions based on GNI, which financed 56% of the previous budget, "will reach its limits as financing needs increase," writes the Commission in its draft, before presenting its proposal for five new EU-level income sources. A Tobacco Excise Duty Own Resource (TEDOR) would "generate significant revenue" and also help towards the EU's health policy objectives. The document does not detail the excise duties, but Euractiv previously reported that the Commission has considered a 139% tax hike on cigarettes. A Corporate Resource for Europe (CORE) would tax companies with a permanent establishment in the EU and over €50 million in annual net turnover. To aid its green ambitions, the Commission proposes new contributions based on electronics waste. Two carbon levies which have already been floated – ETS1 and CBAM – will tax emissions inside and outside the EU. These proposals will stir debate among EU countries, which must approve them unanimously. To sweeten the deal, most ETS revenues would go to national budgets, and a temporary "solidarity adjustment mechanism" would balance differences between winners and losers of the new system. Proposals from 2020 and 2023 have not progressed much in the council, but the next budget is a unique opportunity. It is very difficult to agree on new revenue sources without also discussing expenditure, one EU diplomat told Euractiv this week. Whilst EU countries want an ambitious budget, they will also have to repay the bloc's €650 billion covid loans – known as the Recovery and Resilience Facility – from 2028. The EU will dedicate roughly one-fifth of its current annual budget size to these repayments (equal to €25-30 billion each year). (ow) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project
Euractiv
08-07-2025
- Business
- Euractiv
European Commission aims to guide research cash to political priorities in next long-term budget
Jacob Wulff Wold Euractiv Jul 8, 2025 18:42 2 min. read News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Want to keep reading? Get a subscription on Euractiv Pro and elevate your political insight! Discover Euractiv Pro For corporations Already have an account? Log in
