Radosław Sikorski (EPP, Poland) is the MEP with the greatest overall influence on foreign affairs, according to the influence index published on Tuesday 4 August by BCW Brussels and VoteWatch Europe.
Sikorski, who is a former Polish Minister of Defence and Foreign Affairs, is a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE), and chairs the Delegation for Relations with the United States.
He is ahead of Reinhard Bütikofer (Greens/EFA, Germany), the Chair of the Delegation for Relations with China, Hilde Vautmans (Renew Europe, Belgium), the Chair of the SEDE Subcommittee, Nathalie Loiseau (Renew Europe, France), and David McAllister (EPP, Germany), the Chair of the AFET Committee.
According to the influence index, the EPP and Renew Europe groups are the most influential overall in shaping EU foreign policy.
In a press release, Pietro Bertaggia of BCW Brussels explained that foreign affairs is “a policy area that is still shaped by national governments and so being affiliated with larger political groups, whose member parties are often in power at national level, is likely to increase the political influence you can exercise in the European Parliament”.
Experience also counts, with many senior MEPs from both political groups having already served as ministers or MEPs for more than one term.
Both organisations measured MEPs’ ability to change legislation, win votes and shape debate, as well as their ability to communicate with people and change public discourse.
The GUE/NGL is the leading group with regard to ‘social’ influence, ahead of the Greens/EFA group. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)