European Parliament elections 2019

[Zanza]

A pretty cool map that shows how the various European regions voted:
https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2019-07/european-election-municipalities-eu-states-results-analysis-map

[Valmy]

Orban's corrupt nationalist xenophobic party is apparently "center-right" according to that map. I would hate to see a far right party in Hungary. They probably promise blood sacrifices of Romanians, Gypsies, and Refugees.

In East Germany you are either extreme left or extreme right. I see they are nostalgic for the old times.

[The Larch]

Orban's corrupt nationalist xenophobic party is apparently "center-right" according to that map. I would hate to see a far right party in Hungary. They probably promise blood sacrifices of Romanians, Gypsies, and Refugees.

In East Germany you are either extreme left or extreme right. I see they are nostalgic for the old times.

It's based on party affiliation in the European parliament. Fidesz, Orban's party, is part of the European Popular Party, which is labelled center-right. They're currently suspended or something, though, although I doubt they'll finally be expelled.

[celedhring]

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48841980

Ursula von der Leyen: Merkel ally nominated for EU top job

Ursula von der Leyen's name is unlikely to have cropped up in early conversations as European leaders wrangled over the best candidate to replace Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

But after proposed compromise deals collapsed, Germany's defence minister has emerged from the shadows as their nominee for the top job.

If successful - her nomination requires parliamentary approval - Ms Von der Leyen would be the first woman to take on the Commission presidency, with responsibilities including proposing new EU laws, enforcing the bloc's rules and handling trade deals.

Born in Brussels, her family moved to Germany when she was 13. She studied economics at London's LSE and medicine in Hanover before going into politics.

A close ally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, she has been a member of Mrs Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) since 2005.

Now 60, Ms Von der Leyen is the mother of seven children, highly unusual in a country where the average birthrate is 1.59 children per woman.

She is seen as a staunch integrationist, backing closer military co-operation in the EU and highlighting earlier this year the "potential Europe has to unify and to promote peace".

Her appointment as German defence minister in 2013 was unexpected and followed three months of coalition talks between the CDU and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD).

From that moment, she quickly grew in popularity among the German public. As defence minister in the EU's most industrialised and populous country, she has argued for Germany to boost its military involvement in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato).

However, her tenure in the defence post has not been without its failures.

In recent years, a litany of stories have exposed inadequacies in Germany's armed forces, from inoperable submarines and aircraft to shortages of personnel.

A report published last year highlighted the shortfalls, saying they were "dramatically" hindering Germany's readiness for combat. It said that no submarines or large transport planes were available for deployment at the end of 2017.

Last week, two German air force jets were involved in a mid-air collision during a military exercise over north-eastern Germany.

While her appointment was initially seen as a fresh start for a Germany ministry beset by problems, Ms Von der Leyen was last year questioned as part of an investigation into spending irregularities.

Her defence department was accused of awarding questionable private contracts to consultants that were said to be worth millions of euros.

She later admitted that a number of errors were made in allocating contracts and that new measures were being implemented to prevent it happening again.

Eh, what...? Not a big fan. She relied way too much on consultants and could not really change the mess that is the Ministry of Defence, the Bundeswehr and military procurement in Germany to the better. I would not consider her a successful politician in her current role - which she had six years. I guess she's experienced in ministerial jobs (she's been in all of Merkel's cabinets) and also a staunch European federalist, but really... her as EU commission chief. Bizarre. Let's see if the EP confirms her tomorrow.


They also named Christine Lagarde, current head of the IMF as next ECB president. I consider that a very good choice as she obviously has the experience and I had a positive impression of her over the last decade or so beginning with the Euro crisis.

Lagarde was very good news for us, probably cared more for who got the ECB job than anything else.

Josep Borrell has been proposed as HR. I love the guy; he's extremely smart, a staunch European federalist, a Catalan despised by separatists, but there's something he's not, and that's a diplomat. He's got a really strong character that sometimes gets the best of him and he's prone to the odd faux pas.

[celedhring]

Will be sad to see Donald Tusk go, btw. He seemed the kind of politician we lack in this day and age; a principled dude that seeks the best possible outcome for everybody instead of GOTCHA! - always thought he was the most sensible head when talking about Brexit.

[Solmyr]

That's an odd map. Backwater Finland is listed as "liberal", when in fact the biggest party there is the Center Party, which is pretty conservative (basically the farmers'/country folk's party).

[Maladict]

That's an odd map. Backwater Finland is listed as "liberal", when in fact the biggest party there is the Center Party, which is pretty conservative (basically the farmers'/country folk's party).

They are part of ALDE, so the map is correct. It's about the European parties, not the national ones.

[mongers]

Will be sad to see Donald Tusk go, btw. He seemed the kind of politician we lack in this day and age; a principled dude that seeks the best possible outcome for everybody instead of GOTCHA! - always thought he was the most sensible head when talking about Brexit.

Exactly.

The British really need some like him during this unfolding brexit disaster.

Now that he's out of a job, maybe in mid-2020 the broken British regions can ask him to help bring them back into the EU?

[Maladict]

Now that he's out of a job, maybe in mid-2020 the broken British regions can ask him to help bring them back into the EU?

Barnier didn't get the job either, he would be even better. 

[mongers]

Now that he's out of a job, maybe in mid-2020 the broken British regions can ask him to help bring them back into the EU?

Barnier didn't get the job either, he would be even better. 

Yeah we'd deserve that, being forced to take the medicine, whilst being gently reminded of our past failings. 

[Iormlund]

The UK has plenty of reasonable voices in Parliament (eg. Stewart, Bercrow). The problem is the country itself (and with it both main parties) are torn in two.

[Zanza]

The election is today, just ongoing, no result yet.

What is the European Commission?

The European Commission is the institution of the European Union that is responsible for proposing new EU laws, representing the EU internationally, and ensuring that EU law is being followed by Member States. It is headed by a body of 28 College of Commissioners, 1 per Member State, which provide the political leadership of the institution.

The President of the European Commission heads the institution, helping to steer it in a certain political direction. They also represent the EU internationally such as at G7 and G20 summits.
How does the election work?

On the 2 July 2019, the European Council nominated Ursula von der Leyen to become President of the European Commission.

During this session of the European Parliament Ursula von der Leyen will set out her goals as commissioner and there will be a subsequent debate by MEPs.

Ursula von der Leyen has to receive an absolute majority of the European Parliament to be confirmed, which currently corresponds to 374 MEPs (as 4 MEP seats are currently missing).

MEPs will be voting by secret ballot, so it cannot be determined how individual MEPs voted.

The vote starts at 18:00 CEST and the result should be known between 19:00 and 20:00 CEST.
Who is the candidate?

Ursula von der Leyen is the current German defence minister. The European Council nominated her as President-designate on 2 July 2019. She would be the first female President of the European Commission, and the 2nd German President. She would also be the 3rd consecutive EPP President.

Von der Leyen was not designated as a 'lead candidate' (Spitzenkandidat) by a European political party, meaning she did not campaign in the elections or take part in debates.

Regardless of the outcome of the vote, she will resign as the German defence minister as of Wednesday.
Where do the political groups stand?

Political groups are groups of MEPs that share a political affiliation and priorities in the European Parliament.

    European People's Party - for

    Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats - for

    Renew Europe - for

    Greens/European Free Alliance - against

    Identity and Democracy - against

    European Conservatives and Reformists - no formal decision yet, but less likely to support the nominee because the ECR candidate for the Employment and Social Affairs committee was rejected

    European United Left/Nordic Green Left - against

As the vote is a secret ballot, it cannot be determined if MEPs actually followed their party line. Therefore, there may be rebels.

Her proposed policies:

Commitments

In meetings with political groups, von der Leyen has made various commitments and promises as to what she would do with her Presidency. She will also provide a set of Political Guidelines that will be the Commission's programme for the next 5 years.

The known proposals and suggestions are listed here:

Climate Policy:

    Making the EU climate-neutral by 2050, with this ambition being put into law within the first 100 days of her mandate

    The EU's targets for CO2 reduction for 2030 should be at least 50% compared to 1990 levels

    A commitment to put forward a "comprehensive plan" to increase the EU's target to cut emissions "towards" a 55% reduction by 2030. This plan would be published by 2021.

    The extension of the Emissions Trading System to include aviation and transport, with a consideration of including traffic and construction

    The introduction of a Carbon Border Tax

    Support for transitioning regions through a "Just Transition Fund"

    Parts of the European Investment Bank to be turned into a European Climate Bank

    The introduction of a Sustainable Europe Investment Plan

    The monitoring of the EU's climate trajectory by an independent council of scientists

Economic Policy:

    Continuing to use the flexibility within the Stability and Growth Pact to support a "more growth-friendly fiscal stance in the euro area while safeguarding fiscal responsibility"

    Helping to deliver a "Budgetary Instrument for Competitiveness and Convergence" in the euro area, some form of Eurozone budget.

    Proposing a European Unemployment Benefit Reinsurance Scheme

    Work towards completing the banking union

    The European Semester system of budgetary coordination to be refocused to take the UN's Sustainable Development Goals into account

    Supporting a common consolidated corporate tax base

    The "taxation of big companies" as a priority, working to turn the current Commission proposals into EU law

Social Policy:

    An action plan for the "full implementation" of the European Pillar of Social Rights

    A "legal instrument" that would ensure every worker in the EU has a "fair minimum wage that allows them a decent living in the country they work in"

    A "European Child Guarantee" to be established, which would "help ensure every child in Europe at risk of poverty or social exclusion has the most basic of rights"

    The European Social Fund to be more focused on supporting childcare

    The Youth Guarantee to be turned into a permanent instrument to fight youth unemployment, with additional budgetary resources and regular reporting on its progress

    Improving the conditions of platform workers

    "Revitalising" the European anti-discrimination directive

Gender:

    Proposal for an EU gender equality strategy, including measures to introduce binding pay transparency measures

    Working towards an unblocking of the "Women on Boards" Directive, which would introduce quotas for gender balance on company boards

    The formation of a gender-balanced College of Commissioners

    All levels of Commission management to have gender balance by the end of the mandate

    Supports the EU joining the Istanbul Convention

    Proposal to add violence against women on the list of EU crimes defined in the Treaty

Rule of Law:

    Supporting an "additional comprehensive European Rule of Law Mechanism", with EU wide scope and "objective annual reporting"

    Attempting to ensure a greater role for the European Parliament in the mechanism

    Focus on "tighter enforcement, using recent judgements of the Court of Justice showing the impact of rule of law breaches on EU law as a basis"

    Support for the Commission's proposal to link MFF funds to adhere to the rule of law

    Frans Timmermans, the current First Vice President of the European Commission, to keep the Rule of Law portfolio if he wants to

Migration:

    Proposal of a "New Pact on Migration and Asylum", with a "relaunch" of the Dublin system and a "new way of burden sharing"

    Supporting the Frontex standing corps getting 10000 border guards by 2024 instead of 2027

Trade:

    Every new trade agreement agreed in her mandate to have a dedicated sustainable development chapter which respects "the highest" climate, environmental and labour protections and does not tolerate child labour

    Appointment of a Chief Trade Enforcement Officer to improve the compliance and enforcement of FTAs, and reports back to the EP

    Commission to propose that the provisional application of FTAs only takes place once and if the EP has given its consent

    Ensuring Commissioners debrief the EP at all stages of international negotiations

EU Enlargement:

    Reaffirms the "European perspective" of the Western Balkans

    Standing behind the proposals to open accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania

Democracy and Institutional:

    The establishment of a "Conference on the Future of Europe", which would start in 2020 and last for 2 years. It should be well prepared with a defined scope, agreed between the EP, Council and Commission. It should bring together citizens, civil society, and European institutions

    A commitment to follow up on the main issues of the Conference, including potential Treaty change and legislative action

    Supporting a "right of initiative for the European Parliament", where if an absolute majority of MEPs adopt a resolution asking the Commission to propose something, the Commission will respond with a legislative act, "in full respect of proportionality, subsidiarity and better law making principles"

    Proposal to broker talks between the European Parliament and the European Council

    Address the issue of transnational lists

    Improve the Spitzenkandidaten system to make it more visible to the wider electorate

    The Conference on the Future of Europe should come forward with legislative and other proposals on these matters by no later than summer 2020

    Commission to follow up these proposals where it has the competence and will support the EP in amending the electoral law and securing the agreement in the Council, with new rules in place for the 2024 elections

    Supporting a movement towards full co-decision powers for the EP and away from unanimity voting in the Council for climate, energy, social and taxation policies

    Support for the extension of qualified majority voting to external relations

    The College of Commissioners to consist of "two executive vice presidents", in addition to the High Representative, with a First Vice President who will replace the President in their absence.

    A less hierarchical College with more inclusive leadership and work culture, with more transparency

Brexit:

    Supports the backstop in the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and EU

    Would be in favour of a further extension to the Article 50 process if more time is required and "good reasons are provided"

As a convinced Euro-federalist, I broadly support her policies presented here.

[Zanza]

The EU parliament confirmed Ursula von der Leyen as president of the European Commission with 383-327 votes (majority needed was 374 votes). She will lead the EU Commission - basically the executive and administration of the EU - for the next five years.

[Maladict]

I hope she's serious about the climate plans. Otherwise it all looks fine to me.