The political balance of power that will emerge after the EU elections in June will show a direct call for the EU centre-right to keep key EU policy portfolios under its helm, Thanasis Bakolas, secretary general of the European People’s Party, Europe’s largest political family, told Euractiv in an interview ahead of the party’s congress on 6-7 March in Bucharest.
“To be quite honest with you, it’s above my pay level to tell you how the top jobs are going to be distributed as it’s the leaders that will ultimately decide this. But I’m allowed the opportunity to offer a political perspective based on the relative balance of power throughout the EU”, Bakolas said.
“If one looks at this objectively, one could argue that the EPP not only gets the Commission, which, of course, it will get, and I think everybody agrees with it. If you look at the big picture, I think there is a straightforward call that the key portfolios should be left to the very capable, steady hands of EPP leadership”, the EPP official noted.
In an interview with Euractiv on 2 March, the socialist EU leading candidate Nicola Schmit said in the next Commission, his party would seek to take over portfolios related to the social economic and green transition dimension, which are “deeply interlinked”.
Bakolas commented that the socialists and some others are feeling very nervous at this point, trying to manoeuvre and position themselves for the top jobs in the next institutional cycle.
Asked about the future of the Green Deal particularly, Bakolas commented, “The Green Deal is in very good hands, in the hands of the EPP”.
He described the Green Deal as a “hallmark” born out of the necessity to protect people and the planet.
“But it was also designed as an opportunity to build our future prosperity. This is something we did not hear from the socialists or the liberals. We will achieve the best solutions only if we use all technological possibilities without any prejudice or ideology”, he added.
The EPP official explained that for the Green Deal to be a success, “every group, every stakeholder in Europe should be involved […] nobody should be left behind” and “must be fully aligned and part of our competitiveness and prosperity proposals”.
The key policy changes centre-right EPP made in its final manifesto
The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) made two key policy changes in its final EU elections manifesto compared to the draft leaked last month, a source familiar with the matter told Euractiv.
EPP expects 12, 13 leaders at June’s EUCO
According to the latest EU elections projection by Europe Elects for Euractiv, the EPP will rank first with 181 seats in the EU Parliament, followed by the Socialists, who come second with 140 seats.
Third ranks the far right with 92 seats, while the liberals are expected to have 82 seats behind conservatives (ECR), are estimated to get 83 seats.
The EPP expects to have 12 or even 13 leaders sitting around the table of the European Council after the elections.
“That’s more than the socialists, the liberals and the Greens put together. I can definitely tell you is that the EPP is very strong and united”.
He noted that the EPP Congress in Bucharest will show elements of the will but also showcase the “quality of our leadership because the quality of the leadership matters: our leaders produce results for the European people”.
“I’m afraid that other political groups will have to review the leaders that they put forward in the next institutional cycle because we all know and understand that when it comes to the function of the Council and our foreign policy arm, there’s a lot, that was expected and not achieved”.
Asked whether this was criticism against EU Council chief Charles Michel and EU top diplomat Josep Borrell, Bakolas commented:
“Someone must honour the mandate entrusted to him by the EU, especially in such demanding circumstances our Union is going through. We don’t have the luxury to put our strict personal ambitions ahead of our responsibilities. And someone must not resort to one-sided personal positions when he or she represents the Union to the world. I’m afraid that Charles Michel and Josep Borrell went down this road”.
PES Congress at the ‘epicentre of Qatar gate’
In their congress in Rome over the weekend, the EU socialists lashed out against the EPP, claiming that they try to “normalise” the extreme right.
“We will fight those who propagate hatred and division in our societies, those who feed fears and prepare the return of nationalism (…). The normalisation of the extreme right, as we have seen in the Netherlands, is dangerous and irresponsible”, Schmit said.
For Bakolas, the EU socialist congress was “a bit of a distress call, a cry for help”.
“At times, I thought they were sending the message to the EPP, please lead us forward in the next institutional cycle, because we don’t have the capacity to do so ourselves”, the EPP official noted, adding that some very difficult questions arose.
“To begin with, the socialists did their Congress in Rome, the epicentre, ground zero of Qatar gate. The socialists have not given a full and clear explanation about their responsibilities as a political grouping insofar the Qatar scandal […] In this whole conversation they had about the extreme right, they conveniently forgot to talk about the extreme left, which they’re in bed with”.
Referring to the liberals, he said there is “deafening silence” about how to move forward.
“I feel they’re not to certain extent part of the conversation at all”, he said.
“The EPP remains the only political force in Europe standing against the far right […] We saw it in Spain, Poland, and Greece. I’m afraid we’re not seeing the same defence from countries led by socialist or liberal leaders […] The policies of liberals and socialists provide fodder for the far right […] It’s a reality that is very difficult for the socialists and liberals”.
The Meloni, Le Pen questions
In their congress, the EU socialists hinted that they would not back Ursula von der Leyen for the EU Commission leadership if she got the support from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (ECR), whom they consider far right.
Asked about EPP’s future collaborations, Bakolas said the EPP leaders want a pro-Europe, pro-Atlanticist, pro-Ukraine majority to define the next institutional cycle.
“My assumption is that the EPP leaders are going to be very forthcoming in achieving such a majority in the next institutional cycle, something that will be reflected in the top jobs that come out. I think the EPP is big enough, strong enough and collaborative that you will ultimately see this desire to work with our friends across the proverbial political aisle to move forward”.
Bakolas said there will be “healthy” elements in the 720-member EU Parliament who will support the EPP’s red lines.
“We need to look at who these political elements are and help them distinguish themselves from the far right […] Because if they look at us, essentially it means they are looking to be distinguished from the far right elements, that do not define the tenets that I just described pro-Europe, pro-NATO, pro- Ukraine”.
He warned, though, that this will take time.
“It takes time to politically position oneself and adjust, and we will see who these political elements are and how they position themselves. But, you know, the day after the elections, we need a majority to get the job done regarding the top positions, the Commission and the other institutions. The timing of the two is not necessarily something that’s going to coincide”.
He said the EPP is a big political tent covering everything from centrists to Christian Democrats and conservatives.
“But what matters most? In my opinion, our policies, our fundamentally centrist in nature. We are dominating the centre through our policies, through our positioning”.
Asked about the situation in France, with far-right Marine Le Pen estimated to rank first in the EU elections, Bakolas said this is a “very disturbing” situation.
“What I know is what I read, is what you read through. I read the polls, and this is very disturbing. So, my assessment is your assessment. Of course, the EPP has to do a better job in France. But, I think, if you look at the rise of Marine Le Pen, for example, there is a lot of responsibility to go around, and there has not been assumed”, Bakolas concluded.
(Sarantis Michalopoulos | Euractiv.com)
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Source: euractiv.com
