All posts tagged: MEPs

AfD, Vox mingle with ex-US Border Patrol chief, white nationalist leader at ‘remigration summit’  – POLITICO

AfD, Vox mingle with ex-US Border Patrol chief, white nationalist leader at ‘remigration summit’  – POLITICO

Two years later, a confident Sellner made himself available to journalists for interviews at the remigration summit, dwelling on concepts that he says are now going mainstream. “We have a very neurotic relationship to our own ethnicity, our own ethno-cultural identity and I think we need to overcome that,” Sellner told reporters at the summit, calling on Europeans to overcome their “guilt complex” and “self-loathing” stemming from “post-war consensus.” At least three AfD politicians attended the event, including Kay Gottschalk, a member of the Bundestag and one of the party’s cofounders. Gottschalk said he was there “to listen” as “a visitor.” Lena Kotré, an AfD member and representative in the Brandenburg state legislature, spoke on stage with Sven Tritschler, a member of the North Rhine-Westphalia parliament, also in attendance. Vox MPs Rocío de Meer and Carlos Quero featured on the summit’s speakers list. Activist Sammy Woodhouse, a supporter of U.K. right-wing party Restore Britain, was also among the speakers. Tensions emerged when reporters who had been accredited to cover the event were not allowed in …

Brussels watchdog moves to ban Alternative for Germany’s EU party – POLITICO

Brussels watchdog moves to ban Alternative for Germany’s EU party – POLITICO

The ESN political group doesn’t face sanctions, and the only effect that AfD MEPs would feel would be the lack of a political party to provide support in future EU elections or to coordinate policy with like-minded factions. The ESN party and ESN group were founded by Alternative for Germany in the wake of the 2024 EU election, and include Bulgaria’s Revival, France’s Reconquest (led by Éric Zemmour), Poland’s Confederation, Czechia’s SPD, Hungary’s Our Homeland Movement, the Netherlands’ Forum for Democracy, and Slovakia’s Republic Movement. In 2026 it is slated to receive over €2 million in subsidies from the European Parliament. The watchdog — the Authority for European Political Parties and Foundations — said it had found evidence that “cast doubt on the compliance” of the ESN party with EU values, the director of the authority, Pascal Schonard, wrote in a letter. The missive was addressed to the Council of the EU — comprising representatives of national governments — and was seen by POLITICO on Wednesday. The watchdog’s process was launched on Friday. The watchdog monitors whether …

French poll sees far-right Bardella winning, far-left Mélenchon surging in 2027 election – POLITICO

French poll sees far-right Bardella winning, far-left Mélenchon surging in 2027 election – POLITICO

Mélenchon qualifying for the two-candidate runoff next year is seen as a nightmare scenario by most of France’s political center-right and center-left, because polling predicts he would lose heavily to the far right. The Odoxa poll showed the leader of France Unbowed winning 16 percent of the vote in the first round, up from 12 percent in a similar poll conducted last month. The poll placed him virtually level with Philippe, who slipped to 17 percent from 21 percent. Mélenchon was also the most popular left-wing politician among left-wing voters, ahead of rivals such as former President François Hollande and MEP Raphaël Glucksmann. Some 49 percent of left-wing voters supported Mélenchon, compared to 43 percent for Hollande and 36 percent for Glucksmann, the poll said. “For Édouard Philippe, this poll in May is sounding alarm bells, with a double hit … that shows him dropping behind Bardella in the second round and within range of Mélenchon,” wrote Odoxa head Gaël Sliman. An Odoxa poll published in November projected that the National Rally leader would beat …

Influencer MEP Fidias Panayiotou turns down Cypriot seat to stay in European Parliament – POLITICO

Influencer MEP Fidias Panayiotou turns down Cypriot seat to stay in European Parliament – POLITICO

The center-right Democratic Rally party scored the most votes in Sunday’s elections, which saw the ultranationalist National Popular Front double its share of seats in the 56-member parliament. “Fidias,” as Panayiotou styles himself, has gained some 2.6 million subscribers on his YouTube channel since he began posting in 2019. The 26-year old influencer shot to fame after embarking on a mission to hug tech billionaire Elon Musk, and in 2024 launched a successful bid to become a lawmaker in the European Parliament. Since his election, Panayiotou has raised eyebrows with a visit to Russia and caused uproar by referring to paralympians with intellectual disabilities as “loonies.” He created the anti-establishment Direct Democracy party six months ago, and in the lead up to Sunday’s vote he regularly campaigned wearing a clown nose. Panayiotou’s group ultimately finished in sixth place, securing four seats. “We could’ve done better but we’re happy with what has happened, this is a small victory,” he said. Yiannis Laouris, a neuroscientist considered by some as Panayiotou’s ideological mentor — a label he rejects — …

Manfred Weber’s trusted circle shrinks as chief of staff resigns – POLITICO

Manfred Weber’s trusted circle shrinks as chief of staff resigns – POLITICO

STRASBOURG — The right-hand man of European People’s Party leader Manfred Weber, Tom Vandenkendelaere, resigned Wednesday to take a private-sector job in Belgium, he told POLITICO.   Vandenkendelaere will leave EPP headquarters at the end of May with no successor yet lined up, leaving vacant the powerful chief of staff job — which involves overseeing the party’s day-to-day operations. He quit in order to spend more time with his family, according to two people with knowledge of the decision who were granted anonymity to speak freely. The EPP is both a pan-European political party, which is where Vandenkendelaere worked, and a group in the European Parliament. Weber leads both. Source link

EU strikes deal on Trump trade pact – POLITICO

EU strikes deal on Trump trade pact – POLITICO

The European People’s Party — the largest group in the chamber — is keen to get the trade deal on the books, and negotiators hope a majority will back it. Zeljana Zovko, the EPP lawmaker representing the center-right group in the negotiations, told POLITICO that the deal “will save our businesses and give them breathing space to continue trade with our most important trading partner.”  Failure by the Parliament to ratify the compromise would humiliate Bernd Lange, the chair of the chamber’s trade committee and the Parliament’s chief negotiator. Lange declared himself satisfied with the result despite the concessions. “We are ensuring stability and security for European manufacturers, fully aware that we cannot, of course, always guarantee that the U.S. will abide by the agreement,” he said. The German Social Democrat had assembled a broad coalition of lawmakers to demand that extra conditions be attached to the accord to shield the EU from Trump’s periodic attempts to coerce America’s longtime allies. But it remains to be seen whether the text can command a majority in the …

UK must drop ‘red lines’ for real EU reset, Brussels warns – POLITICO

UK must drop ‘red lines’ for real EU reset, Brussels warns – POLITICO

Moving target The latest round of negotiations, which come almost a decade after the U.K. voted to leave the EU, center around a landmark summit between the two sides set to be held this summer. While July is considered the most likely month, two officials expressed frustration that the date is still unconfirmed and plans have fallen through several times. The European Commission has indicated it is open to making progress on a number of technical issues. “We have a shared interest in a stronger cooperation that delivers for our security, our economies and our citizens,” said a spokesperson. “In view of the next Summit, we are working to conclude the key files of last year’s Common Understanding: an SPS [agricultural standards] agreement, [Emissions Trading System] linkage, and a Youth Experience Scheme, and to advance work on electricity trading,” the Commission spokesperson said. Despite the skepticism, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola told POLITICO that the momentum is genuinely in favor of closer ties. | Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty Images A British government spokesperson said future …

Commission pushes to simplify EU cross-border rail travel with single-ticket plan – POLITICO

Commission pushes to simplify EU cross-border rail travel with single-ticket plan – POLITICO

A second proposal would significantly strengthen passenger rights for multi-operator rail journeys by introducing a new category of “single ticket,” covering journeys booked in one transaction even when they involve multiple operators and separate transport contracts. Passengers who miss a connection because of delays or cancellations on earlier legs of the trip would have the right to be rerouted, and request reimbursement, assistance and compensation for the entire journey, even if later legs are with other operators. To prevent circumvention of the rules, railway undertakings, ticket vendors and tour operators would be prohibited from artificially splitting journeys into separate bookings when they could technically be sold under a single ticket. The Commission also wants rail tickets to go on sale earlier. Railway operators would be required to make tickets available at least five months before departure. Alongside the rail-specific measures, the package includes a third, broader regulation on so-called multimodal booking, covering digital platforms across rail, air, bus and waterborne transport. That proposal would impose “neutral display” obligations on major booking platforms, requiring them to …

Former PM Philippe launches presidential campaign to take on far right in France – POLITICO

Former PM Philippe launches presidential campaign to take on far right in France – POLITICO

Philippe has in recent weeks faced accusations he was being too quiet and running an overly low-profile campaign. According to early polling, he looked to be comfortably the best-placed centrist candidate to beat the far right in the next presidential election. But more recent polling suggested his lead over former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and conservative leader Bruno Retailleau was narrowing. Both been campaigning hard to overtake Philippe. During his hour-long speech in Reims, Philippe sketched out his aims for the campaign, hitting several conservative hot-button topics: lowering taxes on turnover for French companies, slashing red tape, rebalancing the state pension system and fighting crime and drug trafficking. According to party officials, one of Philippe’s short-term objectives will be to unite the center right around his candidacy, and particularly the conservatives, before trying to widen his appeal.  “I came from the right … I’m not going to apologize,” said Philippe, who is a former member of the conservative Les Républicains party. “And I know where I am, at the head of a rightwing party, and the mayor …

Hungary, EU split over how much of its €10B funding it should get – POLITICO

Hungary, EU split over how much of its €10B funding it should get – POLITICO

But despite the good intentions, Brussels and Budapest are at odds over how much money Hungary should get from the post-Covid fund allocation, according to the officials, who have knowledge of the negotiations and were granted anonymity to discuss the confidential talks. The Commission recommended requesting only the grants, while Hungary wants to claim the full amount. “We are very optimistic about releasing all the blocked funds,” said Kinga Kollár, an MEP from Magyar’s Tisza party. The allocation is split between €6.5 billion in grants, which would not need to be repaid, and €3.9 billion in loans, which need to be paid back at a favorable interest rate. Magyar’s incoming administration has until Aug. 31 to formally request the money, while the Commission has a deadline of Dec. 31 to make the payments. The Commission is arguing there isn’t enough time to release the full €10.4 billion, since payouts are contingent on Hungary meeting specific reform targets. Funds in the form of loans would also add to Budapest’s strained public finances, with debt already hovering around 75 percent …