The alliance of centrist, liberal and democratic parties, Renew Europe, which intends to position itself as “Team Europe” in the June elections, published its 10 joint priorities on Wednesday 20 March, the day it launched its campaign (see other news), to “continue transforming Europe for a better future for all”.
Ahead of the launch of the platform, the President of the Renew Europe group, Valérie Hayer, referred to this document before the press, reminding them that, in a troubled geopolitical context, these European elections were “decisive, the most important in our history. It is not a misnomer to say so”.
Developing defence capabilities
Ms Hayer explained that, given the threat posed by the Kremlin to European democracies since the invasion of Ukraine, the first priority was to strengthen European defence.
“Within the European Parliament, we are pushing for the creation of a full committee on defence issues. Given the context, it’s vital that we not only have a political signal, but also speed up the European defence process”, she explained.
The group believes that the EU must be collectively ready to protect peace on the continent by strengthening defence capabilities, from research to military cooperation, in the coming weeks and months to help Ukraine win the war against Russia and to deter threats from authoritarian regimes.
Boosting competitiveness
Renew Europe’s second priority is to regain a competitive edge over China and the United States. The group believes that the next Commission must be an “Investment Commission” that invests in research, development, innovation and people, and that attracts private investment to make Europe more competitive.
Protecting European values and combating extremism
The group reiterates its attachment to the mechanism linking European funds to respect for fundamental democratic principles such as the independence of the judiciary and the fight against corruption. It is therefore determined to apply Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union, which allows the funds of autocrats to be frozen, as is currently still the case for some of the funds intended for Viktor Orbán’s Hungary.
The President also reiterated that the fight against extremism was part of her group’s DNA. Asked about a possible coalition with the ID and ECR groups after the elections, Ms Hayer said that her group’s position was clear and that the cordon sanitaire would be maintained.
“Today, the configuration means that we work with the ECR on a daily basis. I personally believe that at the negotiating table in June, we have no business negotiating with the ECR, whose group includes the Reconquête party, which has recently appeared in France, as well as Vox and potentially Viktor Orbán tomorrow, so this is obviously a red line for us”.
She also felt that the line taken by Giorgia Meloni and her Fratelli d’Italia party was “very clearly” a far-right line, “although some in the EPP want to maintain their relationship with her”, she said.
Respect for fundamental rights
The group is also committed to building “a continent where everyone is free to build the life they aspire to”, particularly by protecting women’s rights and working for the legalisation and recognition of same-sex marriages and rainbow families.
Simplifying life for farmers
With regard to farmers’ demands, Renew Europe believes that the climate and agriculture are two sides of the same coin, and that farmers need to be supported and respected. “Let’s not bite the hand of those who feed us, but rather seize hold of it”, says the document.
Implementation of the legislative framework of the previous term of office
In its list of priorities, Renew Europe also focuses on the legislative measures that have been taken during the 2019-2024 term of office concerning the green and digital transition, and is now calling for them to be implemented quickly, “otherwise our businesses and citizens won’t be able to keep up”.
The importance of education and culture
For Renew Europe, the focus must also be on education as a provider of opportunities and skills. In particular, the group would like to strengthen the Erasmus programme, as well as investing in the field of culture, through a European cultural passport and the teaching of our common heritage.
Managing migration in a humane way
In terms of migration, the group would like to see proper control of external borders in order to crack down on traffickers, while placing people’s lives and dignity at the heart of European action. It also highlights the importance of legal clarity for those seeking shelter and a commitment to preventing the problems that drive people to flee their homes.
The document goes on to say that, since labour shortages are a reality, “economic legal pathways should be assessed so that European economies can have the necessary workforce for their growth”.
Building a global alliance of democracies
In the face of autocratic regimes around the world, the list of priorities proposes building partnerships with like-minded countries to create a global alliance of democracies to strengthen the EU’s influence in the world and promote its values.
Treaty reform
Finally, Renew Europe wants to reform the EU treaties to increase the efficiency, transparency and accountability of the European institutions, believing that ministerial meetings between EU countries are too opaque.
The group also wants to see a single president at the head of the European executive, “so the world finally knows whom to call”. It then wants to strengthen the role of the European Parliament and get rid of vetoes.
Ukraine should also be able to join the EU, but “without deep reforms, enlargement risks turning into a failure for all”, says the document.
To see the priorities: https://aeur.eu/f/bfv (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)