Strasbourg, 28/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - The coordinators of the Greens and S&D at the European Parliament met up on Monday 27 April 2015, in a backdrop to the plenary session in Strasbourg, to examine how they could strengthen cooperation between themselves.
According to Isabelle Thomas (S&D, France), it was agreed that MEPs from the two groups would work more closely together in the Parliamentary committees they sit on. Each group vice president would also promote contact with the vice president of the other group.
Philippe Lamberts, copresident of the Greens/EFA (Belgium), appeared rather negative, however, and said “they say that they want to work with us but will they dare put the EPP into a minority? We know only too well that every time they want to do so, a phone call from the 'Berlaymont' reminds them to keep in line”. According to Lamberts, the EP vote on the free trade agreement between the EU and US currently being negotiated will constitute an appropriate test case because “the EPP want it, the Greens do not and Parliament will not be able to vote either yes or no. The S&D will therefore have to make a choice”.
Speaking anonymously, one socialist MEP criticised the ideas expressed by Lamberts and said that his position of principle was always to be critical, adding, “the S&D have split from the EPP, for example during the vote on the European Commission's work programme for 2015. Mr Lamberts must take into account the fact that by making this kind of comment, he is putting the rapprochement between the Greens and the S&D in jeopardy, a rapprochement which he, nevertheless, wanted”.
Gianni Pittella (Italy), the president of the S&D group, stated that it was “normal” that the EPP, ALDE and the S&D, as groups, formed the “major coalition” at the European Parliament by working together so that “the legislative proposals were appropriately concluded”. “This does not mean, however, that we are reduced to silence: we can also cooperate with other groups”. (Jean Comte)