The Greens/EFA Group, now the fourth largest political force in the European Parliament, is having difficulty accepting the agreement on senior European posts negotiated by Christian-Democrat, Social Democrat and Liberal leaders at the recent European Summit (see EUROPE 12287/1).
One of the main weaknesses of this agreement, which allowed the German Christian Democrat Ursula von der Leyen to be nominated as candidate for the presidency of the European Commission, is, according to the Greens, that it was negotiated behind closed doors and buried the 'Spitzenkandidaten' process.
The Greens/EFA Group's support for Mrs von der Leyen's candidacy during the MEPs' vote on Tuesday 16 July is therefore far from assured at this stage.
The Greens vote is certainly not necessary for the nominated candidate to obtain an absolute majority (376) of votes in the European Parliament, with the Christian Democrat (EPP), Social Democrat (S&D) and Liberal (Renew Europe) groups representing 444 MEPs between them.
Nevertheless, given the increased importance of climate issues in the European election campaign and the rise of Eurosceptic and anti-Europe groups in the chamber, a pro-European majority including Greens would be more stable and would reinforce the legitimacy sought by Mrs von der Leyen. On the strength of its results in the European elections, the Greens/EFA group had therefore been included in the negotiations in Parliament on a strategic programme for the next institutional round, in order to influence the choice of political figures to lead the European Union over the next 5 years.
However, it would take "a political miracle" for Greens to support the candidate for President of the Commission, who in Germany is a "lame duck who owes everything to Mrs Merkel", Belgian Philippe Lamberts, co-chair of the Greens/EFA group, told EUROPE on Monday 8 July. "I guess they knew what they were doing", he said, criticizing an agreement reached between three political groupings, then endorsed by The Twenty-Eight despite German abstention because of the ire of the German Social Democrats, members of the governing coalition.
Lame duck. On Monday afternoon, Mr Lamberts and the other co-chair of the group, Germany's Ska Keller, met with Mrs von der Leyen. She will meet with all the group's elected representatives on Tuesday or Wednesday as part of a public decision.
Asked about the conditions set by the Greens for possible support, the two co-chairs stressed on Monday the need for Mrs von der Leyen to put forward concrete ideas on subjects close to their hearts. "We want proposals in the areas of combating climate change, rescuing migrants at sea and democratising European political life", said Mrs Keller.
"Migration is an absolutely essential element. Stop the drownings at sea!", said the co-chair of the Green group, after an interview with the nominated candidate. She described the latter as a politician "qualified" for the position, as she has survived many years in German domestic politics.
Mrs Keller said that the burial of the Spitzenkandidaten process, which campaigned across the EU for the presidency of the European Commission, was a "huge problem" for her group. Once again, the European Council turned up with "someone no one had any idea about" beforehand, she criticized.
Mr Lamberts called for a work programme that would fundamentally reorient European policies. He reported a feeling of "déjà vu" with the candidacy of Mrs von der Leyen after that of her predecessor, Jean-Claude Juncker. At least," Mr Juncker was a former Prime Minister. He could legitimately claim to be able to stand up to the European Council", he said.
Strategic agenda. On the strategic agenda, negotiations are now at a standstill. The presidents of the four political groups involved will meet on Tuesday to take stock and decide whether they will continue the work that is expected to be completed on Friday 12 July, at least before the vote in Parliamentary plenary session on the candidacy.
What is the point of continuing the work if the three groups are already in agreement on Mrs von der Leyen's candidacy? queried Mr Lamberts. And still, he warned: "If the discussions stop where they are, the Greens' no vote is assured".
At the same time, Mrs von der Leyen continues to consult Parliament to convince it of the merits of her candidacy. She will meet the Conference of Presidents of the political groups on Wednesday 10 July. On Monday, she met with the future President of the European Council, the acting Belgian Prime Minister, Charles Michel (see EUROPE 12291/2).
In order to ensure a smooth transition from the Juncker Commission, the nominated candidate already has logistical support and a small team of five people within the Commission. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)