On Wednesday 3 July, the European Parliament adopted the numerical composition of its 20 parliamentary committees and two subcommittees (see EUROPE 12285/2). From 8 July, in Brussels, the parliamentary committees will be reconstituted and will elect their chairmanships for two and a half years, as well as their bureaux.
Some names are already circulating, such as Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe, France), for the chairmanship of the Environment Committee, which is numerically the largest (76 MEPs).
Granting chairmanships of parliamentary committees to political groups is governed by the D'Hondt rule. This rule, used in 16 Member States, makes it possible to convert proportional votes into full seats, while avoiding the domination of only one or two parties. It is on this basis that the political groups have allocated the posts according to their respective priorities.
Many names are already circulating.
The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) should be the responsibility of the Renew Europe group, specifically the former Director General of WWF-France and former French Development Minister, LREM MEP Pascal Canfin.
There is also little doubt that Karima Dalli (Greens/EFA) will be reappointed as head of the Transport Committee (TRAN). In Strasbourg, in front of journalists, the Frenchwoman welcomed this task, before listing the ‘mobility’ package, the heavy goods vehicle tax, the kerosene tax and freight as among the main challenges to be met. Italian Roberto Gualtieri (S&D) is also expected to be reappointed for a third two-and-a-half year term as Chair of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON).
On the side of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO), it should still be a Belgian, namely former Senator Petra de Sutter (Greens/EFA), who is expected take over the chairmanship. “Products entering the European market will be addressed in my commission. As a doctor [Mrs De Sutter is a gynaecologist and university professor, editor's note], I will ensure that we never lose sight of the precautionary principle for our health”, she told the Belgian press.
For the other commissions, the former Belgian Finance Minister, the Flemish Johan Van Overtveldt (ECR), is expected to chair the Committee on Budgets (BUDG). Tomas Tobé (EPP, Sweden) is expected to chair the Development Committee (DEVE), and Sabine Verheyen (EPP, Germany) is expected to chair the Culture and Education Committee (CULT).
British Liberal Chris Davies (Renew Europe) is reported to have been elected Chair of the Committee on Fisheries (PECH). The former vice-chairwoman of the Legal Affairs Committee, Evelyn Regner (S&D, Austria), is well poised to become chairwoman of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM). The former head of the LREM's list, the French Nathalie Loiseau (Renew Europe), should chair the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE), while the Belgian Marie Arena (S&D) would chair the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI).
In addition, the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) should be headed by Younous Omarjee (GUE/NGL, France) and the Committee on International Trade (INTA) by Bernd Lange (S&D) of Germany. Furthermore, the former Polish Prime Minister, Beata Szydło (ECR), seems to be well on her way to steering the work of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL).
Some uncertainties.
Rumours are circulating about the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), which could again be chaired by David McAllister (EPP) of Germany, and about the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO), which could be chaired by the former President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani (EPP) of Italy.
Concerning the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE), the name of Romania's Adina-Ioana Vălean (EPP) comes up regularly, even if Pole Jerzy Buzek, the outgoing chairman of the committee, would like to reappoint.
Based on previous decisions, the Civil Liberties Committee (LIBE) should be chaired by a Spanish socialist, Juan Fernando López Aguilar or Javier Moreno Sánchez. The Budgetary Control (CONT) meeting could be chaired by Monika Hohlmeier (EPP, Germany). As for the Committee on Petitions (PETI), it seems destined to go to a Spanish Christian Democrat, perhaps Dolors Montserrat.
Cordon sanitaire
Finally, there is the big unknown: the Committees on Agriculture and Sustainable Development (AGRI) and Legal Affairs (JURI) should, according to the D'Hondt rule, revert to the far-right group Identity and Democracy.
Taking as an example the election of European Parliament Vice-Presidents (see EUROPE 12288/1), a ‘cordon sanitaire’ would be set up by the other pro-European political groups to prevent a representative of this openly europhobic political family from taking up this position of responsibility and representing the European Parliament.
The chairmanships of these two committees should then be divided between the Socialists and the Christian Democrats. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean, with editorial staff)