MEPs return to their work after the summer break facing a packed agenda in Strasbourg this week.
One of the first tasks is the ongoing discussions about the new College of Commissioners.
On this, the leader of one of the leading mainstream groups in the parliament says they will not give a “blank cheque” to commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
Spanish MEP Iratxe Garcia Perez, who leads the Socialist grouping, pointed out that they voted in favour to support von der Leyen “because she committed to our main key demands.”
But she warns, “Our support is not a blank cheque.”
She said the proposal for the College of Commissioners “should be in line with the political guidelines of the European Commission and should fully respect the pro-European agreement between pro-European and democratic forces.”
The MEP added, “Full respect to the spitzenkandidat process, gender balance, a strong focus on social rights and the fair distribution of executive vice-president positions reflecting the majority in the European Parliament – this is what we have been asking for.”
She said the S&D group was ready to do their job.
Negotiations are still ongoing and the process of hearings for the Commissioners-designate will be key, she says.
“All candidates should demonstrate their commitment to European values and progressive priorities.”
Presentation of Hungarian presidency priorities for the remainder of its term will also come under the spotlight in the French city.
Hungary is halfway through its presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The S&D’s Iratxe Garcia Perez said, “Unlike Orbán, this Parliament does respect the treaties and democracy. This is why he will be invited to the European Parliament and given the same courtesy as all other member states holding the rotating Presidency.”
“At a time when we are defining our strategic policies for the next five years, and while at our immediate borders the war continues in Ukraine and the conflict between Israel and Gaza is still growing, we require commitment and responsibility from the rotating presidency.”
She noted, “Instead of assuming this role, Orbán is making the Hungarian presidency a disgrace, shaking hands with hostile enemies of our Union, openly defying EU law and using his veto to prevent important decisions. The EU is not a cherry-picking exercise. As a member, and in particular as lead of the Council, you must act as an honest broker, representing the views and positions taken jointly, not run a one man show.”
The continuing bitter war in Middle East will also be under discussion by members in Strasbourg.
On this, Nacho Sanchez Amor, S&D spokesperson in the EP committee on foreign affairs, says, “There are no more words to describe the disastrous state in Gaza which show the worst levels ever seen of food security, lack of shelter, clean water, sanitation … all the elements of basic human dignity.”
The MEP added, “Even worse, day after day we wake up to news of recurrent massacres of civilians and humanitarian workers perpetrated by the indiscriminate and criminal actions of the Netanyahu government.”
He continued, “We cannot tolerate this situation becoming the new normal. This must stop now. The international community can no longer accept this bloodshed in Gaza. It is about respecting international law and if the EU does not speak together about this, who else in the world will? We must make use of all the instruments at hand to exert the necessary pressure to stop this man-made catastrophe.”
