Insights | EU Insight, 12 July 2024

15/07/2024

EU Insight, 12 July 2024

Brussels, 12 July 2024

 

TWO NEW FAR-RIGHT GROUPS IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

Earlier this week, a new far-right group called Patriots for Europe was formed, replacing Identity and Democracy (ID) and becoming the European Parliament’s third-largest group with 84 seats ahead of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR, 78) and Renew Europe (77). The new group could have grown even further had Alternative for Germany (AfD) joined too. However, AfD decided to go its own way instead and create yet another political group: the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ENS). With only 25 MEPs from 8 different Member States, ENS just about meets the criteria to form a political group.

 

PARLIAMENT’S 10TH LEGISLATURE WILL BEGIN NEXT WEEK

Next week’s plenary session in Strasbourg will see the formal constitution of the European Parliament’s (EP) 10th legislature (2024-2029). The session will feature key votes on the EP’s leadership, including the likely re-appointment of Roberta Metsola as President. Most notably, on Thursday the members will decide whether to re-elect Ursula von der Leyen as European Commission President. She will need an absolute majority of votes in favour (361) to remain in office and start configuring the new College of Commissioners. Votes will also be held on the size and composition of EP committees, which will then be officially constituted during the week of 22 July.

 

LEFT COALITION WINS FRENCH LEGISLATIVE ELECTION, BUT WHAT NOW?

Contrary to poll projections, the left-wing coalition of the New Popular Front won the snap legislative election in France. The ad-hoc coalition secured 182 of the 577 seats and beat the far-right National Rally, who got 143 seats. “Together”, Macron’s coalition arrived in second place with 168 seats. Given this very fragmentated political landscape, it remains to be seen what the new French government will look like. For now, President Macron has refused the resignation of Gabriel Attal as Prime Minister but with the constitution of the new Parliament scheduled for 18 July, a change of government seems to be only a matter of time.

 

ORBÁN’S “PEACE MISSION” MET WITH STRONG CRITICISM FROM ACROSS THE EU

During the last two weeks, Viktor Orbán has used Hungary’s Presidency of the Council to embark on what he has called a “peace mission” to end the “Russia-Ukraine war”. Hungary’s Prime Minister met with Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyj, Xi Jinping, and Donald Trump to try to facilitate a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine. Orbán’s move has been strongly condemned by EU institutions and other Member States alike. For instance, European Council President Charles Michel recalled Orbán “has no mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the EU” while the next EU High-Representative and current Estonian Prime Minister said Orbán was “exploiting the EU presidency”.

 

DENMARK IS EU’S INNOVATION LEADER (AGAIN)

The Commission presented the 2024 edition of the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS), which measures the innovation performance among EU Member States based on 32 economic, social and political indicators. Topping the leaderboard is Denmark for the second year running, followed by Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands. Overall, the innovation performance has seen a steady increase, growing by 0.5% since 2023 and 10% since 2017. For 15 Member States, the innovation performance has increased, while 11 Member States have declined since last year’s edition. The only Member State were innovation performance remained stable is Croatia.

 

COMING UP NEXT WEEK

  • 16-19 July: European Parliament Plenary Session in Strasbourg. On the agenda: Election of the President, Vice-Presidents, and Quaestors of the Parliament, and President of the Commission
  • 18 July: Governing Council of the European Central Bank.
  • 15 July: EU-Jordan Association Council. On the agenda: bilateral relations, implementation of Association Agreement and the EU-Jordan new Partnership Priorities.
  • 15 July: Agriculture and Fisheries Council. On the agenda: Work programme of the Hungarian Presidency, trade, and viability of rural areas.
  • 15 July: Eurogroup. On the agenda: economic and budgetary situation in the euro area and the fiscal policy stance for 2025 and next year’s national budget.
  • 15-16 July: Informal meeting of energy ministers. On the agenda: decarbonisation of the energy system,  and contribution of the energy sector to the new competitiveness deal.
  • 16 July: Economic and Financial Affairs Council. On the agenda: Work programme of the presidency, Recovery and Resilience Facility, Ukraine/Russia, European Semester, Stability and growth pact, Convergence reports, G20, and financial services.
  • 16 July: Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council. On the agenda: Labour and skills shortages, social inclusion of persons with disabilities, and European Semester.
  • 18 July: Meeting of the European Political Community.

 

Karl Isaksson, Managing Partner Brussels, Kreab

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Kreab • Tel: +32 2 737 6900 • karl.isaksson@kreab.comwww.kreab.com/brussels • X: @KreabEU  •  LinkedIn: Kreab Worldwide