25/05/2021 (Agence Europe) – The Chair of the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL), Lucia Nicholsonová (Slovakia), formalised her departure from the ECR group to join Renew Europe on Thursday 20 May. Speaking to the Slovak press, the MEP explained that she had long considered leaving the conservative group, dominated by the Polish PiS, with which she disagreed on ethical and human rights issues. Above all, she opposed the integration of the Hungarian party Fidesz, which recently left the EPP. Her integration was reportedly unanimously supported within Renew Europe. Despite this change, she remains in her position as committee chair until the end of her term of office (of two and a half years), according to Parliament’s rules of procedure (art. 19 of Parliament’s rules of procedure). As a result, Renew Europe now chairs six parliamentary committees. (PH)