Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi (EPP, Greek) was elected chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) with 33 votes out of 46 on Tuesday 23 July. Roman Haider (PfE, Austrian), who received 13 votes, denounced the denial of democracy.
“As an abstaining democrat, I accept the vote, but I cannot congratulate you on your election”, he said after the vote. “You are denying us the democratic rights you claim for yourselves. With that lousy and shady behaviour, you’re causing serious damage to democracy in Europe”, he added. “But every bad deed causes bad karma and I’m sure it will haunt you for the next five years. What you did, only fascists did and do, and you are showing that you are the true enemies of democracy, shame on you all!”, he concluded before leaving the room in full session, to some applause.
Ms Vozemberg-Vrionidi continued with her speech: “Transport and tourism policies are at the core of the European project and form the cornerstone of our way of living”.
Former European Commissioner for the Environment Virginijus Sinkevičius (Greens/EFA, Lithuanian) was elected First Vice-President by acclamation (see EUROPE 13453/24). The two new MEPs, Sophia Kircher (EPP, Austrian) and Matteo Ricci (S&D, Italian), were elected second and fourth vice-presidents respectively by acclamation. Elena Kountoura (The Left, Greek), who was already a member of the TRAN committee during the previous term of office, was elected third vice-president by acclamation.
“We need to have a good policy and strategy for sustainable tourism and also for transport, because they are combined, and we need to do our best to confront all the crises that are coming. It’s important for the sector”, stressed Ms Kountoura after the vote, interviewed by Agence Europe. Regarding Mr Haider’s exit, she felt that “everything happened in the right way”.
The TRAN Committee will meet on Wednesday 4 September. (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)