North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister-President Hendrik Wüst has expressed concern regarding the significant overhaul of the European Union’s budget currently being planned by the European Commission. In an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Wüst emphasized the crucial role of regional involvement in maintaining the EU’s cohesion policy, which he described as a key pillar for economic, social and territorial unity within the bloc.
The Commission, led by Ursula von der Leyen, is scheduled to present its initial proposal for the financial framework spanning 2028 to 2034 on Wednesday. A radical restructuring of the EU budget has been anticipated since last autumn, with plans to fundamentally alter the existing budgetary structure. Preliminary indications suggest the Commission intends to redistribute a substantial portion of the budget, impacting areas such as agricultural subsidies (Common Agricultural Policy) and regional development funds (Cohesion Policy).
Reportedly, the Commission intends to shield agricultural funding through a mechanism integrating it within national plans, ostensibly to provide stability for farmers in the event of future crises, guaranteeing that subsidies are not redirected for other purposes. A similar protective measure is not currently planned for the Cohesion Policy, raising questions about the potential impact on regional development initiatives across the EU. Minister-President Wüst stressed that ensuring the involvement of regions is vital and that final decisions on fund allocation should remain with those regional authorities.