MEPs were divided in Strasbourg on Tuesday 4 July over the initiatives the European Commission should take in 2018 to meet economic and migration challenges in particular.
Parliament’s recommendations on the Commission’s work programme for 2018 will be put to the vote on Wednesday in a joint resolution from a number of political groups. The Commission will present its work programme for next year on 24 October.
Commission First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said that the structured dialogue between Parliament and the Commission “is working well”. “Midway through its term of office, this Commission is producing results”, he stated. His view is that the focus should be on the major issues where effective European action can make the difference. “We need to find new ways” to respond to the migration crisis and to what is happening in Italy (see other article), Timmermans said, hoping also for progress on European social standards, the security programme and the European defence fund. In the autumn, fresh measures will be proposed to tackle tax evasion and fraud and on the circular economy (plastics). On 13 September Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker will deliver his State of the Union speech. “2018 will be a key year for results and citizens will be able to judge for themselves if the EU has met their expectations”, he said in conclusion.
József Szájer (EPP, Hungary) stated that the crisis had not yet been overcome, expressing his conviction that an open, competitive market economy is crucial for the EU. From among his group’s priorities, he mentioned: - improving the work-life balance; - industrial and SME competitiveness; the digital single market; - tackling the root causes of migration; - simplifying cohesion policy.
Reform of the asylum system. Maria João Rodrigues (S&D, Portugal) criticised the right-wing groups (EPP, ECR, ALDE) which had tabled a “very conservative” joint resolution on the Commission’s work programme. She said that only progressive groups can provide citizens with a new strategy for jobs based on the goals of sustainable development. “A strong social pillar is needed and there must be investment in youth”, she argued. Her group will, then, bring forward an alternative draft resolution. She argued for reform of European asylum policy.
Is solidarity in Europe utopic? Laura Agea (EFDD, Italy) also called for the reform of the so-called Dublin regulation on asylum. She said that Italy was looking like a fool. “It’s shameful that banks are collapsing and the government is the symbol of a bankrupt European project”, she said. In her opinion, a Europe where everyone stands together in solidarity is no more than Utopia. “We will close our ports to stop the invasion”, stated Mara Bizzoto (ENF, Italy).
Reform is needed and the economic challenges are huge, said Anthea McIntyre (ECR, UK), highlighting the high unemployment rate and stagnation in the purchasing power of EU households.
Sophie in’t Veld (ALDE, Netherlands) was unhappy that the Council was nowhere to be seen in this debate. She suggested that Commission and Parliament were on the same wavelength while the member states fail to apply the laws passed, such as the passenger name record system. For us, she said, Social Europe is about giving young people the chance of finding jobs.
Dimitrios Papadimoulis (GUE/NGL, Greece) advocated deep reform to make Europe more democratic. Ending “social dumping” and austerity policies is a priority for the GUE/NGL, and it is also calling for more robust measures to address tax evasion.
Philippe Lamberts (Greens/EFA, Belgium) slammed the Commission’s inertia in the face of crises. He reproached it for wanting to “deregulate” and to conclude free-trade agreements tailor-made for the multinationals. He also criticised the Commission’s opposition to any increase in banks’ own capital when, in Italy, taxpayers are once again having to put their hands in their pockets to save these same banks. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur, with Camille-Cerise Gessant)