European Parliament president threatens lawsuit against Commission over defence budget

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has issued a strong warning to the European Commission, signaling the possibility of legal action over its attempts to bypass the legislative body in approving defence spending.

Metsola raised serious concerns about the Commission’s efforts to sideline elected Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in critical defence budget decisions, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The dispute centres around a proposed 150 billion-euro-initiative to "rearm Europe," which aims to bolster the EU’s defence capabilities. Metsola directly appealed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging her to amend the legal framework governing this initiative.

The proposed changes would allow the defence spending initiative to move forward without proper involvement of the European Parliament, which Metsola argues would undermine the democratic process. In response, the European Parliament has made it clear that if its demands are ignored, it is prepared to pursue legal action. The Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs has already ruled that the Commission’s plan to bypass MEPs in making decisions regarding defence spending is illegal.

By Naila Huseynova