The candidate nominated by the European Council for the Presidency of the European Commission, Germany's Ursula von der Leyen, gave additional assurances on Monday 15 July to the four main political groups - EPP, S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA - of the European Parliament, in order to secure a stable pro-European majority when MEPs voted on her candidacy on Tuesday 16 July in Strasbourg.
In two letters to the Social Democratic S&D and Liberal Renew Europe groups in response to their written requests (see EUROPE 12295/1), the German Christian Democrat promised that she would launch new concrete initiatives to respond to the requests made by MEPs by hearing her within their political group.
"My main priority as Commission president will be to make Europe the first climate neutral continent by 2050", von der Leyen writes to the S&D group. While this promise is not new, the promise to raise the CO2 emission reduction target to "55%" by 2030 - as required by Parliament (see EUROPE 12214/13) - is.
Other innovations that will also satisfy the Greens/EFA Group: - the introduction of a carbon border tax at the borders of the European Union, visibly to protect European products from imports of products from outside the EU that do not comply with European standards; - the creation of a 'just transition fund' to support individuals and regions most affected by economic adjustment, and ; - the launch of a European plan for sustainable investment, as well as the transformation of part of the EIB into a climate bank.
Applying the concept of sustainability to trade policy, Mrs von der Leyen pledges that each free trade agreement negotiated by the EU under her mandate will contain a 'sustainable development' chapter encouraging trading partners to respect the highest environmental and social standards (zero tolerance for child labour).
But, according to Pascal Canfin (Renew Europe, France), the nominated candidate must "go further on the integration of the Paris Agreement in a binding way into trade agreements".
Contrary to what the Social Democrats are calling for, the nominee is not proposing to reform the Stability and Growth Pact. However, it promises "total flexibility" within the framework of current European budgetary rules. In addition, it announces an initiative to introduce a European unemployment insurance system, in addition to fiscal capacity for the euro area.
In the social field, the nominated candidate promises a comprehensive implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, in particular through a legal instrument guaranteeing a fair minimum wage to all workers and the creation of a European child guarantee to combat child poverty.
Rule of law. In her letter to both Liberals and Social Democrats, Mrs von der Leyen reiterates her desire to see the creation of a European mechanism to monitor respect for the rule of law. This mechanism will develop a common approach for all Member States, will work closely with national authorities and will involve the European Parliament more closely.
"None of us are perfect in this area", she said. It also considers that respect for the rule of law and the EU's post-2020 budget must be linked.
The Christian Democrat is once again committed to gender parity in the College of Commissioners and violence against women would be included in the list of crimes defined in the Treaty.
Liberals are calling for hierarchical equality within the College between the Danish liberal Margrethe Vestager and the Dutch social democrat Frans Timmermans. In this capacity, Mrs von der Leyen plans to create two executive vice-president positions which, together with the President, will lead the Commission. But "one of the two, the First Vice-President, will replace the President in her absence", adds the German, pointing to a hierarchical difference between Mrs Vestager and Mr Timmermans.
Democratisation of political life. The Christian Democrat is also trying to give pledges to the Liberals on the democratisation of European political life. Presumably chaired by Guy Verhofstadt (Renew Europe, Belgium), a conference on the future of the EU will be held in 2020 and will have to make proposals in the summer on how to revive the process of top candidates ('Spitzenkandidaten') in the European elections, perhaps linking it to transnational lists.
Taking up a proposal from the former candidate for President of the Commission, Germany's Manfred Weber, Mrs von der Leyen supports the idea of a right of initiative for the European Parliament. If resolutions adopted by a majority of MEPs require a legislative initiative, "I undertake to respond to them with a legislative act in full respect of the principles of proportionality, subsidiarity and better regulation", she said.
To be elected, Mrs von der Leyen requires an absolute majority of 374 MEPs in a secret ballot vote. At this stage, only the Christian Democratic Group EPP have indicated that they will vote in favour. The S&D and Renew Europe groups reserve their final judgment for new commitments and the content of the debate on Tuesday morning in plenary.
Social democrats are the most difficult to convince. "Mrs von der Leyen's letter was rather well received by the S&D group", said an internal group source on Monday, noting further opposition from the German, British and Dutch delegations.
If elected, Mrs von der Leyen will then work on the constitution of the College. It will then ask Member States to provide it with the names of a woman and a man. On Monday, she said that she will resign from her current position as German Defence Minister, no matter what.
In mid-July 2014, Mr Juncker received 422 votes in favour (250 against, 47 abstentions) out of 729 voters (see EUROPE 11122/1). In 2009, Mr Barroso was re-elected as President of the Commission with 382 votes in favour (219 against, 117 abstentions) out of 718 voters (see EUROPE 9978/1). In 2004, he received 413 votes in favour (251 against, 44 abstentions) for a required majority of 333 votes (see EUROPE 8753/1).
See letters to the S&D (http://bit.ly/2LSNbqR ) and Renew Europe (http://bit.ly/30ubPSA ) groups. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)