The EPP on manoeuvres

Dear readers,

Welcome to EU Politics Decoded where Benjamin Fox and Eleonora Vasques will bring you a round-up of the latest political news in Europe and beyond every Thursday. In this edition we look at the row over the EPP’s attempts to shoot down the Nature Restoration Law.

Editor’s Take: The EPP on manoeuvres

The European Parliament does not have a reputation for rowdiness but there was something of a dust-up in the Environment committee earlier this week after MEPs voted by the narrowest of margins to shoot down a draft law that lies at the heart of the EU’s new Green Deal.

The law seeks to restore Europe’s failing ecosystems, including forests, agricultural land and marine habitats. But instead, having been rejected in committee, the file will now face a take it or leave it vote when Parliament votes as a whole in its July plenary session in Strasbourg, the last session before the summer recess.

After the vote on Tuesday, Pascal Canfin, the Renew chair of the Environment Committee, accused EPP leader Manfred Weber of ‘manipulation’ by packing more pro-industry MEPs into the committee vote. Weber’s spokesperson quickly retorted by accusing Canfin of showing ‘contempt’ for the parliamentary process.

A storm in a tea cup or a sign of ideological battles to come?

First things first: the EPP did not do anything outrageous or break the rules. Groups are perfectly entitled to substitute members from other committees for key votes and enforcing a strict party line on a file is perfectly normal practice in almost all national parliaments. The war of words between MEPs is the rough and tumble of politics.

Yet there’s no doubt that the EPP, and Weber, are on manoeuvres. Weber still harbours ambitions of securing a top EU job after next June’s elections, having been denied the Commission presidency back in 2019. Officials say that this means cosying up to the likes of Italian premier Giorgia Meloni, also the president of the European Conservative and Reformist party, and an increasingly influential player in EU decision making.

Politicians like to give their voters and supporters some red meat, particularly ahead of elections. It is not that unusual for the political groups to select a handful of files – as the EPP appears to be doing – and then take an aggressive voting strategy. In the EPP’s case, they want to curry favour with the farming and business lobbies who traditionally offer money and votes to conservative parties across Europe.

However, is this part of what some have described as a determined plot by Weber to create a post-election alliance with eurosceptics and nationalists? Probably not.

For one thing, an EPP/ECR alliance across the board would be a recipe for defeat in the European Parliament. Even if the two right-wing families do better than expected next June, they would still number fewer than 300 seats in a Parliament of over 700. Far more likely is that a right-wing majority would be created with the support of some liberal votes.

Indeed, the EPP was only able to shoot down the NRL – at least for now – because a couple of Renew MEPs voted with them.

Who’s electioneering

There were no surprises in last week’s Greek elections. New Democracy won and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis looks set to govern for at least one more full term. The left-wing Syriza saw its vote drop below 18%, while the centre left party Pasok made modest gains.

Politics in The Spotlight

The next EU elections will take place next June. You can watch our video explainer about the 2024 turnout here.

EURACTIV asked the presidents of the European Parliament’s political groups what they think the EU electoral campaign will look like. We will publish a new video interview each Monday, you can find the special report page here.

This week we spoke with the Co-President of European Conservatives and Reformists group Nicola Procaccini, who told EURACTIV that the Conservatives hope to have a right wing majority in the next mandate.

Capitals-in-brief

Hungary delays ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership. Hungary’s parliament will not ratify Sweden’s NATO membership before the summer recess as lawmakers decided not to include the vote on the agenda of next week’s session.

Bulgaria wants Euro as parallel currency, opens talks with EU Commission. The new Bulgarian government has started negotiations with the European Commission to introduce the euro as a parallel currency to the Bulgarian lev as early as 2024, Finance Minister Asen Vasilev announced on Wednesday (28 June).

Austrian parliament debates new corruption law. A proposed crackdown on corruption, which would make it an offence to obtain a preferential position on a party list via a donation in the national parliament, state parliaments and EU parliament a punishable offence, was discussed by the Austrian parliament’s justice committee on Wednesday.

Belgian foreign minister expected to survive no-confidence vote. Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib faces a no-confidence vote on Thursday after granting visas to Iranian and Russian delegations in the framework of a mayor’s convention earlier this month, but parties say they won’t vote for it as it could destabilise the Belgian government.

Portuguese PM stresses urgency of concluding EU-Mercosur deal. Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa stressed the importance of concluding the trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur as it is a priority to deepen Portuguese-Brazilian relations, he said during a discussion with Brazilian Vice President Geraldo Alckmin on Wednesday.

Inside the institutions

50% of Frontex’s boat sightings triggered illegal returns. Half of the sightings by the EU border agency Frontex prompted Search and Rescue missions or migrant interceptions by Libyan coastguards in international waters, according to a new report, a practice that typically leads to people being illegally returned to an unsafe country.

Tunisia pact a ‘blueprint’ for new ‘cash for migrant’ deals, says EU chief. The EU should make its recently-agreed ‘cash for migrant control’ deal with Tunisia a model for similar deals with other countries, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a letter to EU leaders ahead of a summit in Brussels on Thursday (29 June).

EU leaders to discuss ‘future security commitments’ for Ukraine. EU leaders are expected to discuss on Thursday what future security commitments the bloc could provide to Ukraine, according to the latest draft summit conclusions seen by EURACTIV.

SLAPPs: EU lawmakers adopt ‘more ambitious’ draft law against abusive litigation. The European Parliament’s draft report for the proposed EU directive to protect journalists from abusive litigation was adopted by the legal affairs committee on Tuesday (27 June), a move welcomed by advocacy groups.

EU calls for global talks on climate geoengineering risks. The European Commission on Wednesday (28 June) called for international talks on the dangers and governance of geoengineering, saying such interventions to alter the climate posed “unacceptable” risks.

Commission updates payment rules to fight fraud, improve consumer rights. The European Commission presented two proposals for updated rules on payment services, in a bid to combat fraud, increase transparency for consumers, improve the availability of cash, and level the playing field between banks and fintechs.

What we are reading

Religious minorities are abused at an EU-funded centre in Turkey, writes Nikolaj Nielsen for EU Observer.

The last Brexit deal? Gibraltar fears a hard border with Spain, writes the Financial Times.

UK plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda is unlawful, appeal court rules, writes The Guardian.

The next week in politics

No major meetings at the Council next week after this Thursday and Friday European Council.

Political groups and committee meetings at the European Parliament next week.

Thanks for reading. If you’d like to contact us for leaks, tips or comments, drop us a line at [email protected] / [email protected] or contact us on Twitter: @EleonorasVasques & @benfox83

[Edited by Alice Taylor]