The three EU Parliament groups of the centrist majority diverge on some key policy issues for the next mandate, according to draft action plans seen by Euractiv, the basis for their talks with Ursula von der Leyen as she seeks support to win a second mandate as Commission president.
The centre-right EPP, the Socialists and Democrats (S&D), and the liberal Renew Europe group are drafting their own wish lists for the 2024-2019 EU term this week, with the final versions expected to come out on Thursday (4 July).
These wish lists will be the basis for the three groups to negotiate with von der Leyen, and among themselves starting next week, once the EPP group comes back from a retreat in Cascais, Portugal.
These priorities reflect what each political group expects from the next European Commission’s term and — more specifically — its future president, most likely Ursula von der Leyen.
Some of the groups’ priorities are close on farmers’ rights and the next moves to develop the bloc’s defence industry, but diverging on key issues around how to bring more financial resources to the EU, or the fate of the combustion engine ban, according to the draft priorities seen by Euractiv.
Even though EPP-affiliated Ursula von de Leyen counts on the three-group platform for her re-election, she will still have to take into account their policy requests and balance them out. The same will matter when presenting draft legislation over the next five years.
Drawing from her own party priorities, the demands of Socialists and Liberals, and other potential partners, von der Leyen will develop a policy programme — the so-called “political guidelines” — ahead of her confirmation vote, expected during the first plenary in Strasbourg on 18 July.
She is also currently reaching out to other political groups, including the Greens – as Euractiv reported – and will continue to do so in a bid to secure the required 361 votes in the European Parliament.
Von der Leyen will be visiting The Left group on 15-16 July, according to sources, but the group’s co-chair Manon Aubry told reporters on Wednesday they will “vote against” and “fight against” von der Leyen and her coalition.
Agriculture: all in against large buyers
While the three groups have divergent interests in agricultural policy, particularly regarding sustainability ambitions, they all advocate for fair remuneration for farmers and addressing unfair trading practices.
The EPP, S&D, and Renew Europe are calling for a revision of unfair trading practices directive (UTP), which bans certain abusive behaviours by large buyers against farmers.
The Commission had previously admitted that the rules do not protect farmers from the few large companies dominating the food and retail industry. ...
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