Envoys from Brussels who accompany European funds to Madrid arrive full of controversy

The women and men in black are already in Spain. Ten members who form part of the European Parliament’s Budgetary Control Committee — whose task is to analyze How does the government spend European funds?— landed this Monday in Madrid. And they did it in a turbulent time. Just a few days ago, Commission President and member of the European People’s Party Monika Hohlmeier and Spanish Vice President for Economy Nadia Calviño organized a notorious conflict after the German MEP leaked to the media a letter sent to his office by Calviño herself.

Hohlmeier criticized that it was “surprising” that the minister’s letter was “shared with the press”, even shortly after she herself received it. That wasn’t the German’s only criticism: “It was interesting to read that you seem to be shifting the responsibility for the success of the recovery and resilience fund to the communities,” Hohlmeier said grimly. Despite the tense background that marks the arrival of the commission, the Government assured these days that it expects a conciliatory climate. In return, they promise “maximum transparency”.

The Sánchez executive has a good asset in its favor. The European Commission announced its decision on the unblocking on Friday the third payment of European funds, allocated with 6,000 million eurosa gesture with which they in Brussels seem to have given the green light for the milestones and obligations that Spain has achieved as part of the Recovery Plan.

But the men in black are a different matter altogether. First of all, by the names that make up this commission. Hohlmeier is accompanied by a group of ten members of the European Parliament — five holders and five companions — who come mainly from Spain. Among the headlines, the Government has two allies: the Italian Caterina Chinnica and the Spanish Isabel García Muñoz, both belonging to a large European socialist family. The latter was in charge of exposing the friction that exists within the commission. García has been very critical of Hohlmeier these days, accusing him of a lack of neutrality, even assuring that the mission has become politicized. This MEP criticized the party’s interest in traveling in the pre-election context.

But the other three members are not part of the friendly side. In addition to Hohlmeier and the Portuguese Fernandes (from the European PP), the list is completed by MEP Jorge Buxadé, from Vox, who joined the monitoring delegation at the last minute. This contingent is completed by five more companions: two from the Ciudadanos party, a socialist, a PP MEP and another from Catalunya en Comú.

Important criticisms were also made from these lines. Many of them point directly to the Minister of Industry, Reyes Marota, who dropped out at the last minute of the interview program that the MEPs planned to do: “Cancelling the meeting with Minister Marota is not acceptable,” complained Susana. Solís Pérez, from Ciudadanos.

Busy schedule

A busy visit awaits the men in black. This Monday they held meetings with the authorities of the five autonomous regions, with CEOE, the association of automotive employers Anfac, the Spanish Chamber of Commerce and with Calviño itself. This Tuesday, he will meet with the Minister of Finance María Jesús Montero, the association of self-employed employers ATA, UGT and the association of bank employers. He will conclude the trip with the Minister of Inclusion, José Luis Escrivá.