The majority of the pro-European political groups in the European Parliament, with the exception of the liberal ALDE&R group, voted in favour of maintaining the process of top candidates ('Spitzenkandidaten')to identify the political personality who will chair the next European Commission on Tuesday 28 May, a few hours before an informal European summit on future appointments to the highest European offices (see EUROPE 11265/1).
“With reference to Parliament's resolution drafted by MEPs Bresso, Brok, González Pons, Verhofstadt and Jáuregui, reconfirming our resolve for the lead candidate process so that the next Commission President has made her/his program and personality known prior to the elections, and engaged in a European-wide campaign”, said the Christian Democratic (EPP), Social Democratic (S&D), Ecologist (Greens/ALE) and far left GUE/NGL groups, in a resolution of the Conference of Presidents of European Groups, adopted without support from the ALDE&R group.
In February 2018, the European Parliament had warned the Twenty-Eight Member States: “If the European Council does not adhere to the Spitzenkandidaten process, it risks submitting for Parliamentary approval a candidate to the post of President of the Commission who will not obtain a sufficient parliamentary majority”, it warned (see EUROPE 11956/2). The Twenty-Eight are not fundamentally opposed to the process, but they refuse any automatic accession of a Spitzenkandidat to the head of the Commission (see EUROPE 11968/2).
Glad that the CoP supports this process, the German Manfred Weber believes that it is up to him, as Spitzenkandidat of the political group that won the European elections, to first try to win a political majority in Parliament. “Let's now speak about the content, because that's what people expect from us”, he said.
On behalf of the Social Democrats, Germany's Udo Bullmann welcomed the fact that an “overwhelming” majority in the European Parliament supported the position expressed in early 2018. “Content is crucial and then we find a solution for positions”, he said, convinced that socialist Frans Timmermans can take over the presidency of the Commission.
According to him, the fact that in 2019 transnational lists of candidates could not be created is “not a reason” to oppose the renewal of the Spitzenkandidaten process which had enabled the Luxembourg Christian Democrat Jean-Claude Juncker to be appointed in 2014.
For the environmental co-Spitzenkandidat Ska Keller, the Council of the EU will have to take a step towards Parliament, “respecting not just the outcome of the elections but also the role of the European Parliament”. “They can't go around us”, she said. And despite the “very ambiguous” position of the Liberals, the Danish Margrethe Vestager is, for the Greens, a top candidate. Alongside the pre-summit of the Social Democratic Family, Mr Bullmann also considered that Ms Vestager could be considered a Spitzenkandidat.
The European Commissioner for Competition officially declared herself a candidate for the Presidency of the Commission on Sunday, after the elections (see EUROPE 12263/2).
On the strength of their electoral gains, environmentalists want to include consideration of strategic priorities and the personalities who will implement them when it comes to selection. For the Belgian Philippe Lamberts, there will be no majority without the EPP, S&D and ALDE&R. “It is just about possible without the Greens”, but we would get a “narrow majority”, he said.
The far left also intends to play a role. GUE/NGL Group President Gabi Zimmer of Germany appreciated the fact that MEPs are calling for “transparent and democratic” negotiations.
The Liberal Group did not speak to the press after the European Parliament Presidents' Conference. Its representative, Belgian Guy Verhofstadt, who voted against the declaration, reiterated his opposition to the Spitzenkandidaten process in a statement. The reason given was: the absence of transnational lists makes the process “not serious nor democratic”.
“They are trying to ride to power on a horse that they already slaughtered themselves”, added the former Belgian Prime Minister referring to the Christian Democrats, whose position had tipped the majority of the European Parliament against the creation of transnational lists (see EUROPE 11956/1).
A mandate for change
The Conference of Presidents also indicated that the Parliament would initiate an internal debate to prepare a “mandate for change”.
The objective is to establish “a framework for the European Commission's work programme within the next 5 years”, Mr Lamberts said.
This programme - or contract, according to some - could be symbolically adopted at the constituent plenary session in July, before the European Parliament decides on the Commission's presidency in mid-July. According to the Conference of Presidents, it could be combined with the strategic agenda that The Twenty-Seven will adopt at the end of June (see EUROPE 12251/1) in order to constitute a “solid basis” of priorities on which the post-Juncker Commission should draw.
For Mr Bullmann, “climate change is the number one issue” with “social justice” in second place.
See the declaration of the Conference of Presidents: http://bit.ly/30OPeS0. (Mathieu Bion with Lucas Tripoteau and Sophie Petitjean)