Center-right European groups EPP, Renew ask EC to withhold funds to Romania over integrity law

Update: Manfred Weber, the leader of the European group EPP, which includes the National Liberal Party (PNL), the party of Romania’s interim prime minister, Ilie Bolojan, said that it is not his group’s goal to make Romania lose funds allocated through the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The explanation comes after he and the Renew Europe group leader asked European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to withhold EUR 770 million from EU funds allocated to Romania through the PNRR due to concerns regarding the reform of Romania's integrity law.

"Respect for European values and the rule of law must be an essential condition for accessing European funds. The EPP Group does not want Romania to lose a single euro from the European funds allocated to it through the PNRR. Proper and timely implementation of the reforms undertaken through the PNRR is essential for Romania to fully benefit from the European funds allocated to it," Manfred Weber wrote on Facebook.