EU to send inspectors to Spain over 2,389 million diverted to pensions

EU to send inspectors to Spain over 2,389 million diverted to pensions

The European Parliament is finalising a mission to scrutinise the management of EU funds in Spain. The visit, scheduled for October, comes after the Court of Auditors detected that 2,389 million euros intended for other purposes were diverted to pensions, a use that was not permitted. The absence of a national budget has been singled out as the root of the problem. The German press has been quick to call the case "absolutely unacceptable", while Germany ranks among the largest net contributors to the EU budget and Spain among the biggest recipients.

A diversion that is no accident

The Court of Auditors attributes the diversion to the absence of a national budget, which has been extended for more than three years. Without a budget, the government has had to resort to extraordinary items to pay pensions, and has used EU funds earmarked for other purposes. This practice, though technically illegal, has been tolerated for years. The exact figure, 2,389 million, is what has been specifically diverted to cover pensions. The question is whether this amount is just the tip of the iceberg.

The October mission: inspection or theatre?

The European mission, led by an MEP critical of Pedro Sánchez, is not arriving with a blank cheque. In fact, the context suggests the funds are already pretty much spent. As one line of analysis points out, the inspection arrives when there is nothing left to scratch: pure staging so that Brussels can say it is "keeping watch", while the loot has already been shared out among the usual friends. The bill, as always, for ordinary taxpayers and for future generations. The ECB's printing press does not create wealth; it creates debt with an expiry date.

Brussels, a necessary accomplice

Another current of opinion holds that the European Union is as corrupt and complicit as the national governments. The argument is that Brussels knows what is going on but prefers not to stir the hornet's nest to avoid contagion. When countries like Germany, France or Finland protest "energetically", they are appeased with contracts or concessions. Dog does not eat dog. This perspective explains why the October mission will probably end in a lukewarm report with no real consequences.

Meanwhile, in Spain, the lack of a budget becomes the perfect excuse for improvisation. EU funds are spent on items they should not go to, and when Europe comes knocking, the government hides behind the budget extension. The paradox is that no one seems to have been held accountable. The question left hanging is whether the October mission will achieve anything or end up like the others: a protocol visit with a photo and little else.