A new alliance of Nordic centre-right MEPs have declared they will not back Ursula von der Leyen for a second term, viewing her too close to the European Greens.
Members of the new Nordic alliance within the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group told journalists that Von der Leyen had failed to issue any promises to the ECR in a recent meeting, despite initial reports that she was willing to work with the group.
As such, supporting von der Leyen in her bid to be reappointed as European Commission president on Thursday, July 18, is now something they are no longer willing to do, they said.
Speaking at a press conference July 17, veteran Sweden Democrats MEP Charlie Weimers speculated that the European Commission President had, by contrast, likely struck an agreement with EU Green parties to secure their support.
“We don’t know what promises she made last night when she had a dinner with the co-chairs of the Greens,” he said.
“We only know that it probably will be very costly for the European taxpayer.”
Sebastian Tynkkynen of The Finns Party echoed these sentiments, saying Von der Leyen’s unwillingness to work with conservatives meant she was “neglecting the strong voices” of the EU electorate.
“People voted for change,” he said. “They voted for a more conservative parliament than we have had the last five years.”
“Despite this, Von der Leyen has demonstrated a willingness to continue governing with liberals and socialists.”
Ursula von der Leyen will be hurt by a European Court of Justice ruling criticising her lack of transparency when awarding vaccine contracts, her MEP critics have predicted. https://t.co/9B9nVfoB43
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) July 17, 2024
Previously deemed a shoo-in for a second term at the start of 2024, Ursula von der Leyen’s future now appears uncertain, with it unclear if she has garnered enough support from within her European People’s Party (EPP), as well as the allied Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and Renew Europe groups to continue as EC president.
The German politician will now likely have to rely on the support of ECR and Green politicians to reach the 361 MEP votes required to stay in her top job, though both sides have appeared reticent to support her over her willingness to work with their political enemies.
When asked by Brussels Signal what kind of message a rejection of von der Leyen on July 18 would send to her European People’s Party, the Nordic politicians insisted the move would show Europe’s elected representatives could no longer tolerate her left-leaning proclivities.
“The message would be quite clear,” Weimers said. “The EPP needs to negotiate with us. The EPP needs to present a candidate who prioritises strict migration policies, economic growth and to deal with the worst aspects of the Green Deal.”
“That would be a very good signal indeed. That’s why we are hoping for a rejection of Ursula von der Leyen.”
Tynkkynen added that it would also indicate an unhappiness with Von der Leyen’s failure to properly support Ukraine. The Finnish politician accused her of prioritising climate change policy over defending against the threat posed by Russia.
“We look at the numbers, and it seems that the Green Deal is actually a more important project for Ursula von der Leyen compared to supporting Ukraine,” he said.
“We need a Commission President who is a much bigger supporter of Ukraine, not the Green Deal.”
The Left group in the European Parliament will vote against Ursula von der Leyen securing a second five-year term as European Commission President after her meeting with the delegation ended badly. https://t.co/6X3NLI8Lcx
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) July 17, 2024
The July 17 press conference follows an email sent by the Nordic MEPs the day before, urging von der Leyen to better fund the protection of the EU’s external borders.
In the mail, the politicians criticised her Commission for having “refrained from funding physical barriers at the external border” despite “the persistent use of weapons of mass migration by hostile powers to undermine the security of Member States”.
“Considering that a majority of Member States have called on the Commission to lift its moratorium on funding physical barriers at the EU’s external borders the new Commission should immediately heed their call, re-evaluate its prohibition and immediately start funding physical barriers at the EU external border,” they wrote.
Weimers later told Brussels Signal that von der Leyen “did not clearly answer” their petition.
“Our citizens should be worried that she did not clearly answer,” he said.
MEPs are scheduled to vote on Von der Leyen’s future at 1pm Strasbourg time.
Social media influencer-turned-MEP Fidias Panayiotou has let his followers choose whether they want to support Ursula von der Leyen as the head of the European Commission for a second term. https://t.co/2q9U2Oz0gc
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) July 15, 2024
