MEP Isabel Serra Sánchez (The Left) has asked the European Commission to investigate whether Zaragoza City Council misused NextGenerationEU funds for a media campaign, alleging irregularities including retroactive approval and potential partisan bias. The campaign, worth €152,012.06, was intended to promote the renaturalisation of the River Huerva but reportedly allocated funds to media outlets with no local presence, including those linked to right-wing and far-right groups, raising concerns about transparency and compliance with EU procurement rules.
The parliamentary question, submitted on 10 June 2026, cites a press report claiming that the municipal records acknowledged a 'breach of the contracting procedure laid down in law' and that the plan was approved after the campaigns had already been carried out. Serra Sánchez invokes Regulation (EU) 2021/241, which requires protection of the Union's financial interests and adherence to principles of transparency, equal treatment, and sound financial management.
Specifically, the MEP asks three questions: whether the Commission considers it compatible with EU obligations for a campaign financed with EU funds to be carried out first and then regularised; whether it will request information from Spanish authorities on selection criteria, invoices, contracts, and competitive procedures; and what steps it will take to recover misused amounts and prevent EU funds from financing media outlets linked to disinformation or hate speech.
The question targets the Commission's enforcement of NextGenerationEU rules, with potential implications for local governments managing EU recovery funds. If irregularities are confirmed, the Commission could demand repayment and impose corrective measures, affecting Zaragoza City Council and other Spanish entities. The case also highlights tensions between EU fiscal oversight and local autonomy, as well as concerns over political bias in public spending.
The Commission is expected to respond within approximately six weeks, and its answer will signal its stance on enforcement and the use of EU funds for political communication.