On Wednesday 18 January, the chair of the EPP group at the European Parliament, German MEP Manfred Weber, invited the Social Democrats to join the EPP-ALDE platform to reform the EU. This agreement contributed to the victory, the evening before, of the EPP's candidate, Antonio Tajani, following an election for President of the Parliament that went to four rounds (see EUROPE 11705).
Speaking to a group of journalists in Strasbourg on Wednesday morning, Weber gave his initial gut analysis of the results of the election in which Tajani emerged as the victor.
He acknowledged that the EPP-ALDE agreement on a platform of EU reform and to create a pro-European platform had failed to enthuse the ECR group, but called on the other political groups, in particular the S&D, to make their contributions to the proposals made (possible launch of a Convention to reform the EU, new economic governance, reform of the system of own resources of the EU, etc.).
He held out a very clear olive branch to the Socialists to come on board the programme, and put the members of his group under orders to support the S&D candidates for the posts of vice-presidents of Parliament (see other article). "This is a signal for a partnership again", Weber said. He stressed that there are a number of important votes in the offing, in particular on the free-trade agreement with Canada (CETA) and the issues of 'migration' and the 'fight against terrorism', "and the EPP hopes that it will be able to count on the responsible members of the S&D group" on all of these dossiers. The chair of the EPP also advised his peers to stay in touch with their S&D colleagues in the delegations and parliamentary committees.
An ideological break is not the right approach, says Weber
Weber referred to a "highly political" election result, as Tajani was voted into power with the support of the ECR and ALDE groups, whilst Pittella had the backing of the GUE/NGL and Greens/EFA groups to achieve his very respectable score of 282 votes.
Once again, Weber reiterated that since September 2016, he has constantly been urging the S&D group to respect, for the rest of this legislative period, the agreement of the 'grand coalition' on the S&D/EPP alternation of the top job at the hemicycle. "My group represents a lot of voters, as does the S&D group, and my aim is for the voters to be represented by those who dominate the hemicycle", Weber explained.
He regretted the fact that the Socialists had broken this pact "in order to have a more controversial political debate, an ideological break". However, he went on to say, this view of things "is not the right one in the middle of the legislative period". He does not feel that at the moment, the citizens want worthy debates in election campaigns, but expect results at European level in the fight against terrorism, the management of migration flows or job creation. He hopes that the wake-up call will come to Parliament after the elections in France and Germany. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)