Von der Leyen offers minor concessions on EU budget to win over centrist MEPs
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has introduced a series of modest adjustments to her proposed €2 trillion EU budget, aimed at easing tensions and preventing a parliamentary backlash. The changes are designed to strengthen the role of regional authorities, safeguard funding for rural areas, and expand the European Parliament’s oversight powers — without altering the overall structure of the budget plan.
The revisions follow mounting pressure from the four centrist groups that form von der Leyen’s pro-European majority — the European People’s Party (EPP), the Socialists & Democrats (S&D), Renew Europe, and the Greens. These parties had warned they would reject the draft unless their concerns were addressed, particularly regarding the new National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPP). The NRPPs propose merging key funding streams — including the Common Agricultural Policy and cohesion funds — under a unified framework, a move critics argue could undermine solidarity, distort competition, and centralise power at the expense of regional and local authorities.
After a crisis meeting with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, von der Leyen described the talks as “constructive,” with all three leaders expressing optimism about the path forward.
The concessions appear to have eased immediate tensions, with parliamentary sources suggesting that a planned resolution opposing the budget could now be withdrawn. Nonetheless, von der Leyen’s reformist ambitions continue to face resistance, underscoring the delicate balancing act required to push through her ambitious 2028–2034 EU budget.
