STRASBOURG - The European People's Party (EPP), the largest political force in the European Parliament, is rebelling against two key proposals by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. According to Politico, it faces a serious intra-party crisis just as it prepares for a double vote of no confidence.
The main dispute concerns the Commission's proposal to reform the EU's multiannual budget and its plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Both moves, von der Leyen said, were intended to confirm her position as a leader in European politics, but instead have deeply divided her own faction.
Fighting for control of money
According to Politico, the EPP opposed the proposal, which would have merged agricultural subsidies and funds for the poorest regions into a single entity managed by national governments. Critics warn that it would mean less money for farmers and weaken control by regional authorities.
Head of the EPP Manfred Weber has described the disputes as "discussion among friends", but he also admitted that his party is not satisfied with the proposal. "We're the party of mayors and farmers - and in both areas, we don't feel yet that the national budget reform agenda is set up right," he said.
To calm the growing opposition, the Commission has promised formal talks with the EPP representatives. Commissioners Piotr Serafin, Christophe Hansen a Raffaele Fitto set up working groups with elected MEPs Karla Ressler, Herbert Dorfmann a Andrei Novakov.
According to MP Dorfmann. "the design has a serious problem in the architecture itself - it's just not good." He added that the proposal did not have support across the Agriculture Committee and would have to be reworked by the Commission.
Tensions escalated during Tuesday's budget negotiations, where the two sides clashed openly, according to Politico. Hansen warned that if MEPs reject the proposal, "they can't expect more money for agriculture."
The EPP argues that merging funds strengthens governments at the expense of regions and farmers, weakens oversight of the use of EU money and undermines transparency. Two EPP members said the group was considering rejecting the proposal outright or fundamentally rewriting it.
Disputes over climate targets
Adding to the tensions over the budget is the conflict over climate commitments. The EPP leadership, including Weber, disagrees on whether to maintain the planned 90 percent emissions reduction target by 2040.
"There is no majority for a 90 percent reduction," said the EPP's climate coordinator Peter Liese. He added that "a good compromise might be slightly below that threshold."
According to the participants, the negotiations were heated and ended without an agreement - some MEPs even left the room. Fears of a voter exodus to the radical right are said to be hampering the EPP's willingness to continue to support ambitious environmental policies.
The result? According to the server, it is now likely that the vote on the emission targets and the budget will be postponed. This could leave the Union looking divided - and President von der Leyen weakened - at the COP30 climate summit in Brazil in November.
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