PNL rejects PSD accusations over vote against extending Romania's recovery plan deadline
Romania's National Liberal Party (PNL) has dismissed accusations from the Social Democrats (PSD) that its MEPs voted against extending the deadline for the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, calling the claims manipulation and stressing that an extension is not possible under current EU rules.
The accusation
PSD announced that its MEPs voted in favor of an amendment calling on the European Commission to urgently present a legislative proposal to extend the implementation period of the Recovery and Resilience Facility. The party claimed that PNL MEPs voted against the amendment, contributing to its rejection.
It is hard to understand how those who, in Bucharest, talk daily about the need to save every euro from the PNRR vote in Brussels against an initiative that supported the European Parliament's position to extend the implementation period.
PNL's rebuttal
The PNL delegation in the European Parliament firmly rejected the accusations, calling them manipulation and disinformation. They stressed that an extension of the PNRR deadline is not possible under the current European framework, with less than two months until the limit.
We ask PSD MEPs not to import to Brussels the Romanian habits of manipulation, lies, disinformation and hypocrisy. In the current European context and with less than two months before the deadline, extending the PNRR is NOT possible.
Background on the extension request
PNL pointed out that it had already advocated for an 18-month extension for mature PNRR projects in 2025. The request was included in a European Parliament report on the Recovery and Resilience Facility, coordinated by PNL MEP Siegfried Mureșan. However, the European Commission did not act on it, instead repeatedly urging member states to prioritize mature projects and complete investments and reforms on time.
The disputed amendment
According to PNL, the PSD's claims are based on an amendment tabled by the Communist Group in the European Parliament to a report on the European Investment Bank's 2025 activity. The EIB has no authority to manage member states' recovery plans or decide on deadline changes, PNL argued. Presenting this vote as a solution for extending Romania's PNRR creates false expectations and diverts attention from the real priority: completing projects and absorbing available funds.
- PNL requests 18-month extension for mature PNRR projects
- European Commission rejects extension, urges prioritization of mature projects
- PSD announces MEPs voted for amendment; accuses PNL of voting against
- PNL delegation rejects accusations, says amendment unrelated to PNRR
Political context
The exchange is the latest in an ongoing political conflict between the two parties. PNL called on all political forces to support accelerating the implementation of mature projects and using EU funds fully, rather than promoting scenarios without backing in the current European framework.
