Center-right European groups EPP, Renew ask EC to withhold PNRR funds to Romania over integrity law

25 August 2026 The leaders of the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) and Renew Europe, two of the most important groups in the European Parliament, publicly asked the European Commission on Monday, August 24, to withhold EUR 770 million in PNRR funds meant for Romania due to the “Fritz amendment.” EPP president Manfred Weber and Renew group leader Valérie Hayer both signed a letter shared by POLITICO asking Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to make it clear that the money will not be granted unless Bucharest abandons plans to amend a law that could lead to Save Romania Union (USR) party leader Dominic Fritz being banned from holding the office of mayor. Weber and Hayer also argued that retroactive application violates EU legislation and Romania’s Constitution and accused th