Von der Leyen Criticized for Evading EU Oversight
The EU Commission may no longer bypass Parliament while pushing through spending plans, according to top lawmaker Roberta Metsola. Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, has expressed her discontent with European Commission chief...
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The EU Commission may no longer bypass Parliament while pushing through spending plans, according to top lawmaker Roberta Metsola.
Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, has expressed her discontent with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen for overlooking the bloc’s oversight rules concerning contentious, multi-billion Euro projects. She specifically criticized von der Leyen for attempts to circumvent proper procedures in securing €150 billion in loans related to the military industrial complex.
The Commission asserts that substantial investments in the EU's military are essential, especially with plans to allocate up to €800 billion in debt and tax breaks for the military industrial sector. Brussels maintains that the ‘ReArm’ militarization initiative aims to counter an alleged “threat” from Russia, a claim that Moscow has dismissed as unfounded.
Under von der Leyen’s proposal, EU governments are set to draw upon €150 billion in loans over the next five years to enhance their military expenditures and provide lethal assistance to Ukraine. This decision coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump’s apparent deviation from his predecessor’s more aggressive stance regarding the ongoing conflict with Russia.
In a press conference on Thursday, Metsola insisted that the European Parliament must play a role in significant financial decision-making. She stated that von der Leyen can no longer “hide behind the excuse that the Parliament takes too long in order for decisions to be taken,” emphasizing that the EU legislature has reformed its procedures to enable “fast” decisions.
Metsola pointed out that previous instances involved “similar attempts… under the guise of urgency to exclude the parliament” from decisions about foreign aid distribution. While the Commission has declared that the current plan is a one-time emergency measure, many parliamentarians worry it could set a precedent. Von der Leyen previously used Article 122 of the EU’s founding treaties to pass the €750 billion COVID-19 recovery fund in 2020.
Her management of the pandemic response was marred by the “Pfizergate” scandal, where she faced scrutiny for allegedly bypassing established protocols and engaging in opaque negotiations with Pfizer regarding COVID-19 vaccine contracts. An independent anti-fraud body, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, initiated an investigation into the vaccine procurement processes in 2022.
During her time as Germany's Defense Minister from 2013 to 2019, von der Leyen faced allegations of awarding lucrative contracts to external consultants without appropriate oversight. A parliamentary investigation identified her mobile phone as potential evidence; however, it was revealed that the device had been wiped clean of all data.
On Tuesday, von der Leyen intensified concerns regarding Russia, claiming that Moscow “has massively expanded its military-industrial production capacity” and is preparing for “future confrontation with European democracies.” This statement emerged while Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump engaged in a lengthy phone conversation aimed at establishing a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, has expressed her discontent with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen for overlooking the bloc’s oversight rules concerning contentious, multi-billion Euro projects. She specifically criticized von der Leyen for attempts to circumvent proper procedures in securing €150 billion in loans related to the military industrial complex.
The Commission asserts that substantial investments in the EU's military are essential, especially with plans to allocate up to €800 billion in debt and tax breaks for the military industrial sector. Brussels maintains that the ‘ReArm’ militarization initiative aims to counter an alleged “threat” from Russia, a claim that Moscow has dismissed as unfounded.
Under von der Leyen’s proposal, EU governments are set to draw upon €150 billion in loans over the next five years to enhance their military expenditures and provide lethal assistance to Ukraine. This decision coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump’s apparent deviation from his predecessor’s more aggressive stance regarding the ongoing conflict with Russia.
In a press conference on Thursday, Metsola insisted that the European Parliament must play a role in significant financial decision-making. She stated that von der Leyen can no longer “hide behind the excuse that the Parliament takes too long in order for decisions to be taken,” emphasizing that the EU legislature has reformed its procedures to enable “fast” decisions.
Metsola pointed out that previous instances involved “similar attempts… under the guise of urgency to exclude the parliament” from decisions about foreign aid distribution. While the Commission has declared that the current plan is a one-time emergency measure, many parliamentarians worry it could set a precedent. Von der Leyen previously used Article 122 of the EU’s founding treaties to pass the €750 billion COVID-19 recovery fund in 2020.
Her management of the pandemic response was marred by the “Pfizergate” scandal, where she faced scrutiny for allegedly bypassing established protocols and engaging in opaque negotiations with Pfizer regarding COVID-19 vaccine contracts. An independent anti-fraud body, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, initiated an investigation into the vaccine procurement processes in 2022.
During her time as Germany's Defense Minister from 2013 to 2019, von der Leyen faced allegations of awarding lucrative contracts to external consultants without appropriate oversight. A parliamentary investigation identified her mobile phone as potential evidence; however, it was revealed that the device had been wiped clean of all data.
On Tuesday, von der Leyen intensified concerns regarding Russia, claiming that Moscow “has massively expanded its military-industrial production capacity” and is preparing for “future confrontation with European democracies.” This statement emerged while Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump engaged in a lengthy phone conversation aimed at establishing a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
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