Brussels, 23/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - The Greens/EFA Group at the European Parliament has criticised the deal concluded between the German Social Democratic Party (SPD) of Sigmar Gabriel and the German Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of Angela Merkel, sealing the future of Martin Schulz at the European Parliament in exchange for the SPD renouncing its desire to obtain a European commissioner - which would be left to the CDU. The co-leaders of the Greens in the European Parliament, Rebecca Harms and Philippe Lamberts, believe that this is “anti-democratic”, as they state in a press release. “Whatever qualities Martin Schulz has shown over the past legislatures, it is not up to the great coalition in Berlin to decide on the presidency of the European Parliament. The 2014 European elections were the opportunity to make the process of appointing the European Commission president more transparent. It is out of the question that this process be deflected from its aim to the advantage of small arrangements between friends - which, what is more, are organised by a single member state.” The Greens also criticise the results of the outgoing German CDU commissioner, Günther Oettinger, who according to German newspaper Die Welt was reconfirmed as German commissioner on 23 June. In the Greens' view, Oettinger “has demonstrated his lack of strategic vision and his inability to drive Europe's transition towards renewable energy and energy efficiency” (our translation throughout). (SP)