Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis has declined to introduce an obligation for EU member states to provide technical support to opposition parties when drafting financial proposals, instead pointing to the strengthened role of independent fiscal institutions as the primary mechanism for ensuring compliance with fiscal discipline. In a written answer on 29 June 2026, Dombrovskis responded to a question from MEP Afroditi Latinopoulou (PfE), who had raised concerns that opposition parties lack access to technical expertise when formulating budget alternatives, risking the spread of unsubstantiated economic opinions. The Commissioner's answer reaffirms the existing framework rather than proposing new measures, signalling the Commission's preference for institutional transparency over direct party-level support.
The question, submitted on 30 April 2026, highlighted the tension between national sovereignty in budget-making and the need for all political actors to respect EU fiscal rules. Latinopoulou had asked whether the Commission would require member states to give opposition parties technical assistance to ensure their proposals comply with budgetary discipline, and whether mechanisms for independent citizen information on budgets should be introduced. Dombrovskis answered both questions by referencing the 2024 reform of EU economic governance, which strengthened independent fiscal institutions (IFIs) in each member state. He noted that under Council Directive 2011/85/EU, IFIs are tasked with participating in parliamentary hearings and providing independent information to the public on budget content. Member states had until end-2025 to transpose the amendments into national law, and the Commission is currently assessing compliance. A review of the directive's effectiveness is scheduled by 31 December 2030, which will also report on IFI capacity and tasks.
The answer contains no concrete proposals for new obligations or mechanisms, instead relying on existing legislation and the ongoing transposition process. The policy orientation is one of continuity: the Commission sees the current framework as sufficient to address transparency and compliance concerns without intervening in national political processes. Institutional follow-up will focus on the 2030 review and the current assessment of transposition, with no immediate legislative action signalled. Stakeholders most impacted include opposition parties, who will not gain new technical support; independent fiscal institutions, whose role is reaffirmed; national governments, which retain control over budget formulation; and EU citizens, who may benefit from improved transparency through IFI activities.