Division over key EU reforms threatens the EU’s executive power

Popular Europeans have made this vote a target in line with their promises to voters to improve the EU’s business climate. In the first vote last month, the proposal agreed upon between the Popular Party and the Socialists, who form the political nucleus that guarantees stability in the European Union, was rejected due to the negative vote of part of the Social Democratic representatives. Over the past few weeks, the possibility that the Popular Party might have decided to form a majority with the three far-right groups has been hovering over Brussels, despite the fact that, as EPP sources admit, “this would have meant the collapse of the legislature and the government.” Maybe the committee will fall.

Approval of this legislative package can be considered part of the recommendations of the former Italian Prime Minister mario draghi, Its report on the need to increase the competitiveness of European industry. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz considered it “!disaster” It was not approved in the October plenary session because the Socialist deputies did not respect voting discipline and expressed their annoyance when it reached the European Council.

Weber pulls the rope

Some media recall that in May he was the spokesman for the popular group, also German manfred weber, He began to define a practical position regarding parliamentary accounts. “I would like to see a different situation in the European Parliament but the far-right legislators are here, they have the right to vote and the EPP has a fundamental principle of keeping its promises,” which was interpreted as a veiled threat to the pro-European majority of socialists and liberals.

However, that will not happen, or at least not intentionally. After the failure of the proposal negotiated with the Socialist Group, the European People’s Party prepared on its own a series of amendments to relax environmental standards, confident that it would have the support of a clear majority and without regard to the source of those votes.

Jurgen WarburnThe EPP negotiator on this matter explained that “we will go ahead and only present our own amendments” that we believe are reasonable, and with which I am confident that we will achieve the majority needed to quickly start negotiations with the Council.

Perhaps the key is that these amendments introduced by the Popular Amendments are very similar to those introduced by the Conservatives and Reformists (ECR). Georgia MeloniAnd the extremists of the Patriots for Europe (where Vox is active) and the Europe of sovereign states.

The Socialists, Liberals and Greens reproach the Popular Party for not negotiating these amendments with them, and the answer is that they have not negotiated them with anyone, even though they have publicly declared, at least from the European Council for Reform, that they are in favor of doing so with the Popular Party.

Delay

The French Aurore LalocShe, from the Social Democratic Group and Chair of the Economic and Social Affairs Committee (ECON) of the European Parliament, defends herself against criticism that points to the Socialist Group as the source of the delay in approving this package. “European citizens choose us to do our job, whether they like it or not,” he says, “and in tripartite negotiations, who is constantly blocking progress, who has to constantly consult with capitals? Well, it is always the Council.” For his part, socialist Bernd Lange, head of the International Trade Commission, says this is due to “the serious problem posed by the complexity” of the legislative package.

The stability of European institutions depends on the coexistence of a stable majority of socialists, liberals and populists. However, there is also a clear majority that includes the European People’s Party with the three far-right groups and is known as the “Venezuelan majority” because it was imposed when socialists joined the far left to avoid condemning that country’s existing dictatorship. So far, the EPP has maintained its position of respecting the legislative agreement with the Socialists, and has not broken it even in this case.

However, it is very likely that far-right votes in the vote will be added to those of the EPP, which could have consequences for the stability of the center majority.

Danish Environmental Electrical and Mechanical Engineering keira marie peter hansen, The representative of her group had previously warned in this regard that she found “shameful that the European People’s Party closed the door to any dialogue, and preferred to remain alone and dissatisfied, instead of being part of the solution.”