The European People’s Party (EPP) group does not want Romania to lose any euro from the European funds allocated to it through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), says EPP leader Manfred Weber.
His statement comes after the political groups European People’s Party (EPP, center-right) and Renew Europe (liberal) in the European Parliament asked the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to withhold 770 million euros from the EU funds allocated to Romania through the PNRR, due to concerns related to the reform of integrity law in Romania, with reference to the so-called „Fritz amendment” recently adopted by Parliament.
Manfred Weber emphasizes that the correct and timely fulfillment of the reforms undertaken is essential for Romania to fully benefit from European funds.
"The stakes are high: Romania must collect the 770 million euros and not lose any euro from the PNRR," states Manfred Weber.
The EPP leader points out that adherence to European values and the rule of law must be an essential condition for accessing European funds. At the same time, he argues that a quick clarification from the European Commission regarding the new Integrity Law in Romania is necessary.
Weber specifies that the letter sent by the EPP and Renew Europe groups to the European Commission provides Brussels with the opportunity to determine whether the current form of the law meets the requirements related to the PNRR milestone or if additional changes are needed.
According to the EPP leader, a prompt response from the European Commission is essential for Romania to make, if necessary, the required adjustments and meet the milestone on time.
"The correct and timely fulfillment of the reforms undertaken through the PNRR is essential for Romania to fully benefit from the European funds allocated to it," Weber conveys.
The European Commission has explained that the Integrity Law will be evaluated in the sixth and final payment request, which has not yet been submitted by the Romanian authorities, stating that EC services are engaged in technical discussions with them to support the implementation of the PNRR by the deadline of August 31, 2026.
S&D Group in the European Parliament Intervenes in Scandal
In response to the letter sent by the EPP and Renew leaders to the President of the European Commission, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament (S&D) accuses right-wing parties of "double standards" regarding the PNRR funds and warns that an internal political dispute should not jeopardize the 770 million euros allocated to Romania.
"We cannot have double standards when it comes to Recovery and Resilience Plans. Right-wing political parties cannot insist that every milestone of the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RRF) be respected when it suits their own governments, and then ask the European Commission - out of personal political interests - to intervene when a democratically adopted reform, respecting the rule of law, does not suit them.
Jeopardizing the 770 million euros allocated to Romania due to an internal political dispute does not represent responsible European policy. European political families should respect the rule of law and decisions of judicial systems, as well as successfully completing the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism," conveyed the S&D Group, according to Antena3.
Bolojan's Appeal
Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan argues that the Integrity Law project must be voted on today in the Senate, even though it contains "an abnormal provision," referring to the so-called "Fritz amendment."
"I believe that voting on this project, even with this abnormal provision - which retroactively interrupts a mandate, if that will be the case, although previous provisions stated that this action applies from the end of the mandate - I think it should be voted in such a way that Romania ticks off this milestone," stated Bolojan, referring to the 770 million euros milestone related to the Integrity Law within the PNRR.