The Social Democrat (S&D) group in the European Parliament on Monday 17 January announced an agreement with the Christian Democrat (EPP) and centre-right (Renew Europe) groups on the political priorities and allocation of posts in the European institution for the second half of the 2019-2024 legislature.
As a result, the Social Democrats have decided not to put forward a candidate for the Presidency of the Parliament to succeed David Sassoli, who died last week (see EUROPE 12866/1) and whose term of office has expired. There was no majority in favour of a progressive candidacy and to go into battle denying the informal agreement on European high office reached in July 2019 carried the risk of triggering political turbulence with consequences that were difficult to anticipate.
The way is therefore clear for the Maltese Christian Democrat Roberta Metsola who, as Vice-President of the European Parliament, opened the plenary session in Italian with a heartfelt tribute to Mr Sassoli (see EUROPE 12870/1). “Dear David, you were a friend, a mentor, a leader. This assembly will honour your work”, she promised.
Despite her anti-abortion stance, which contrasts with the majority position of the European Parliament (see EUROPE 12867/2), she should be elected without difficulty on Tuesday against candidates from other political families: - Alice Kuhnke from Sweden for the Greens/EFA group (see EUROPE 12866/27); - Sira Rego from Spain for The Left group; - Poland’s Kosma Złotowski for the ECR group (see EUROPE 12848/28).
According to our information, the agreement also concerns the distribution of posts within the European Parliament. The S&D group gets five vice-presidencies and a Quaestor post, while the Renew Europe group gets three vice-presidencies.
Values and gender equality are high on the agenda
In the tripartite agreement, of which EUROPE has a copy, the EPP, S&D and Renew Europe groups commit themselves “to achieving ambitious compromises and ensuring stable majorities on our shared strategic priorities”. “Only a strong European Parliament” can “create the conditions for a free, value-based, sustainable, competitive, innovative, safe, fair, inclusive and strong Union”, they add.
The Green/EFA group was not invited to the discussions, not least because it has put forward its own candidate and because the political forces do not necessarily need the Greens to win a majority.
Fundamental values and respect for the rule of law are high on the agenda. “All mechanisms must be activated without delay and whenever conditions are met, in particular the ‘rule of law’ conditionality regulation to protect the EU budget”, the three groups stress.
In order to strengthen European democracy, the agreement calls for a right of legislative initiative for the Parliament and supports the creation of transnational lists for the European elections.
Unsurprisingly, action to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and investments to enable the green and digital transitions are highlighted.
According to the three groups, the economic and budgetary response to the Covid-19 pandemic should guide the development of the growth strategy for the decade: massive investments through European debt, own resources in the EU budget, ‘smart governance’. “We call for a new fund on strategic investments in key technologies as part of our industrial strategy”, they stress. Just, the European growth model will have to incorporate rules for a minimum wage in the Member States and regulation for workers on digital platforms.
On security, the EPP, S&D and Renew Europe groups call for a “new security pact” in Europe to better coordinate the actions of Member States, particularly in the management of the EU’s internal and external borders.
See the tripartite agreement: https://bit.ly/3GEyPDV (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)