MEPs will vote, on Thursday 16 February, on a resolution that sets out their reaction to the Green Deal Industrial Plan presented by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in early February (see EUROPE 13112/1). They are expected to align themselves largely with her proposals, insisting on the need to find “fresh money” to strengthen the EU’s strategic autonomy.
According to several sources, the EPP group chose not to co-sign the draft joint resolution negotiated between the main political groups. It had however reached an agreement with the Renew Europe, S&D and Greens/EFA groups on the text earlier this week, according to two sources, before finally withdrawing its support.
The potential future European Sovereignty Fund, defended by the three other groups and mentioned as one of the possible ways by Mrs von der Leyen, is in essence a big problem for the Christian Democrat MEPs. According to the EPP group, it is above all the extent of European rules that affects the productivity of European companies. “Throwing money at the problem” will not solve anything, noted Markus Ferber (EPP, German) during the plenary debate on Wednesday 15 February. “It is time to get out of hypocrisy: less standards, more strategy, that’s what we need”, added the French MEP, François-Xavier Bellamy (EPP).
The president of Renew Europe, Stéphane Séjourné (French), criticised the EPP for its position, which he said had other explanations than the content of the text. “It’s perhaps to put Ursula von der Leyen in difficulty over internal deadlines, perhaps out of cynicism...”, he declared in front of the hemicycle.
Two other sources point in the same direction: the EPP group leader, Germany’s Manfred Weber, wants to distance himself from the President of the European Commission, who comes from the same political family, because he would like to promote another personality to lead the Commission after the European elections, in this case the current President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. Ursula von der Leyen’s policy is also becoming too favourable to the ‘green’ transition, in the eyes of certain members of her political group.
Contours of the Sovereignty Fund
For their part, the three centre-left groups found ways to bring together their respective positions on the Sovereignty Fund, the reform of the State aid framework, or a new impetus for international trade.
It is clear to them that “new money” is needed to achieve the EU’s objectives for European industry and that the Sovereignty Fund must be integrated into the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The ceilings of the latter should therefore be adjusted, say MEPs in the joint draft resolution.
The Sovereignty Fund should “strengthen our open strategic autonomy in a comprehensive way and the green and digital transitions”. It should also “increase European investment across the Union in key strategic sectors including, among others, health, raw materials and space”, they say.
The SURE instrument should also be strengthened, according to the draft resolution.
Buy European Act
Within the potential centre-left majority, however, there is no consensus on one point: European preference, for example in public procurement. The Buy European Act is a concept cherished by the French, but much less so by other countries, especially the more liberal ones.
Thus, the joint resolution suggests “unleashing the full potential of the current green public procurement instruments to empower all levels of governance to make smart and strategic procurement choices and strengthen the EU industrial base”.
The formula allows for a broader consensus than the Buy European Act idea, but the latter will be the subject of an amendment by Yannick Jadot (Greens/EFA, French). His compatriot from the EPP group, François-Xavier Bellamy, told some journalists, including EUROPE, that he fully agrees with this amendment, which he will approve.
The EPP has tabled just some 20 amendments to the text and the question of how the group will vote on the entire resolution is still open.
See the draft resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/5ch (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)