EU Parliamentarians Advocate for Increased Influence Over Foreign Aid Allocation
The ongoing discussions surrounding the democratic control and influence of the European Parliament (EP) members over the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) funds—part of the Next Generation EU program—have taken a significant turn, with the EP members from CDU and CSU advocating for increased democratic control.
The RRF, a new instrument in Next Generation EU, is expected to distribute 560 billion euros to member states for national recovery and resilience plans. However, the current distribution process is largely managed by the European Commission, with the EP's role in direct control or influence over RRF fund distribution being limited compared to traditional EU budget governance.
The Commission evaluates national plans and milestones before payments are made. For instance, Belgium’s payment requests were assessed and then forwarded to the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC), a Council advisory body, before disbursement decisions. The EP, on the other hand, does not possess a formal veto or direct oversight mechanism comparable to the Commission’s or Council’s.
However, new governance proposals and crisis instruments beyond Next Generation EU, such as the proposed new crisis instrument based on Article 311.4 TFEU, would require EP approval, signaling a shift toward more parliamentary involvement in future EU-level crisis funding mechanisms. This suggests a growing parliamentary role in financial governance instruments linked to recovery funding.
Regarding audit and accountability, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) is involved in reviewing the implementation of EU funds, including the RRF, to ensure legality and sound financial management. While the ECA's role in the RRF has not been detailed specifically, it traditionally audits EU budget spending and reports findings to Parliament and Council, providing an indirect channel for parliamentary oversight.
In a recent position paper, the European Parliament called for the instruments in Next Generation EU to have at least the same level of democratic control as the regular multi-annual financial framework. The Union MEPs are seeking increased democratic control for the Recovery and Resilience Facility, with stronger intervention rights for the Commission in the distribution of funds from Next Generation EU.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has shown openness to discussion on the matter of the Recovery and Resilience Facility's distribution process. She has offered to allow the Parliament to evaluate the expenditures annually for the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The call for more influence in the distribution of funds from Next Generation EU was reported by Der Spiegel.
Next Generation EU, a recovery fund totalling 750 billion euros, is intended to address the consequences of the corona crisis. As of mid-2025, discussions about the democratic control and influence of EP members over the Recovery and Resilience Facility funds remain nuanced, with limited direct involvement in distribution decisions, but evolving governance dynamics. The Parliament’s role is more pronounced in emerging instruments that complement or succeed Next Generation EU, with strengthened approval and oversight rights.
The European Parliament members are seeking increased democratic control over the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), which is a part of Next Generation EU and intended to distribute 560 billion euros, as they believe these instruments should have at least the same level of control as the regular EU budget. However, the direct involvement of the EP in RRF fund distribution has been limited compared to traditional EU budget governance.
The call for more influence in the distribution of funds from Next Generation EU was reported by Der Spiegel, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has shown openness to discussion on this matter, offering to allow the Parliament to evaluate the expenditures annually for the Recovery and Resilience Facility. This proposed change aligns with the Parliament's policy-and-legislation efforts to assert greater democratic control in the politics surrounding the management of these funds.
