On Thursday 13 June, the Jacques Delors Institute presented its latest publication on the European elections. An exercise in forecasts and proposals around four objectives which aims to “help and inspire ” the ongoing negotiations for the constitution of the future European coalition. (see EUROPE 12273/17)
In 2019, and for the first time, no clear majority emerged at the European Parliament following the elections of 26 May. According to the Jacques Delors Institute, it is therefore necessary to establish a roadmap for a pro-European “coalition agreement”. These ongoing discussions between the EPP, S&D, Renew Europe and Greens/EFA groups at the EU Parliament are also close to some of the Member States' parliamentary system of coalitions, the report points out.
The main novelty is that the election of the President of the Commission is thus “conditional upon the candidate’s acceptance of a text”, before negotiating a detailed programme.
During the discussions, the next President of the Commission was mentioned as “coalition leader” and “[he] cannot automatically be the EPP Spitzenkandidat, but the personality who will bring political families together”, according to Christine Verger, Adviser, in charge of relations with the Parliament for the Institute.
The Institute's ambitious proposals therefore aim to “put something on the table as if it were the result of the discussion”. The political groups could then draw inspiration from the Institute’s proposals to: - respond to the environmental emergency; - work towards a more competitive and fairer Europe; - ensure security for all ; - step up democracy.
The competitiveness component is based in particular on stabilising the euro area and consolidating the European social model. For security, it has proposed, in particular, to create an EU Security Council and even to negotiate a new treaty for migration policy.
A final prediction that emerges from the debates is that the existing political balance - in terms of political families - between the EU Council and the European Parliament could make the proposal for the name of the President of the Commission by the EU Council very close to that expected by Parliament.
Finally, a document formalised by the groups of MEPs is expected next week, before the European Council on 20 and 21 June. The initial objective of having the document ready by Monday, on the other hand, is perceived as “wishful thinking” by the researchers.
To consult the proposals for the coalition: http://bit.ly/2XTCjfL (Original version in French by Martin Molko, intern)