OREANDA-NEWS The head of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen is planning a large-scale reorganization of the financial units of the European Union (EU). This is reported by Politico.

According to the newspaper, all structures of the department working with the union's budget funds may be affected. The changes will affect the Directorates General for Agriculture, Ecology and Food, Maritime Affairs, Fisheries, Research and Innovation. One of the EC officials called the current course towards "absolute centralization."

Brussels hopes to create a single service for managing all EU funds, modeled on the Recovery Fund created after the coronavirus pandemic. The new model assumes reliance on national plans of the member countries, phased payments and centralized supervision.

Earlier, Bloomberg, citing sources, reported that von der Leyen was trying to usurp power in his department. According to the agency, a group of von der Leyen's close advisers actually controls the activities of the EC, since the head of the department dismisses those who are not part of her inner circle. In addition, people close to the head of the EC draw a direct link between her leadership style and "more general problems that cause dissatisfaction among executive leaders."