The newly formed Identity and Democracy (ID) Group, which has grown to become the fifth largest group in the European Parliament with 73 MEPs, could for the first time have access to two parliamentary committee chairs, the Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) and Legal Affairs (JURI) committees, according to a provisional internal document circulated since Wednesday 26 June.
However, according to internal sources, a cordon sanitaire could be formed, which would confirm the fears of the president of the far-right group, the Italian Marco Zanni, who, when the new group was presented in mid-June, had precisely anticipated this possibility (see EUROPE 12274/8).
The stakes are high, if this division is to be confirmed. The AGRI Committee is responsible for the Common Agricultural Policy, which has one of the largest budgetary allocations in the EU. In addition, it is the responsibility of the JURI Committee to vote on lifting of immunity of MEPs. However, the extreme right is often exposed to waivers being lifted, as is the case with the former President of the Europe of Nations and Freedoms (ENF), Marine Le Pen (see EUROPE 11809/26).
The budget and budgetary control on the right. According to the document, which remains a provisional version, the Committee on Budgets (BUDG), currently in ALDE's hands, would revert to the ECR, while the Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) would remain under the EPP presidency. The S&D would remain at the head of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON).
Internal market and consumers for the Greens. As expected, the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) would be the responsibility of the Liberal Group Renew Europe. The Greens/EFA would remain in charge of the Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN), but would also take over the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (IMCO), which until now had been headed by the ECR. The latter group would be responsible for the Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL), chaired under the last mandate by the GUE/NGL.
Cohesion policy for the GUE/NGL. The radical left could take over the chairmanship of the Regional Development Committee (REGI). Younous Omarjee, currently vice-chairman of the REGI Committee, would look at the presidency (see EUROPE 12283/4).
Decisions will be taken definitively during the week of 8 July, during which elections will be held for the chairs, vice-chairs of parliamentary committees and coordinators.
To consult the document: https://bit.ly/2X8SGUx (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens with the editorial staff)