European Parliament’s centrist groups cut deal to approve new Commissioners

The centre-right European People's Party (EPP), the Socialists & Democrats and the liberal Renew Europe groups struck a deal on Wednesday to greenlight the six designated European Commission vice-presidents and Hungary's pick for the next commission, Olivér Várhelyi, according to MEPs and European Parliament's sources familiar with the process.

Now the entire college of Commissioners is subject to an approval vote by the European Parliament on Wednesday 27 November, in Strasbourg. If confirmed, the Commission can take office the first of December.

A coalition agreement to unlock the stalemate

The agreement came after a week of negotiations following confirmation hearings for the designated vice-presidents by the European Parliament, and includes a text negotiated by the three groups, labelled as "coalition agreement" by an EP source.

The text, titled "Platform Cooperation Statement" lists nine points reflecting the political guidelines announced by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on 18 July 2024, the day of her re-election.

"The rule of law, a pro-Ukraine stand and a pro-European approach are core aspects of our cooperation," reads the first point. The others are dedicated to sustainable growth, competitiveness, preparedness and digital transition; migration and defence policy; a European social model; food security, water, and a sustainable environment; the strengthening of rule of law; the EU’s role in the world as a global leader; the EU budget and reform of the European Union.

What the agreement does not address is the composition of the new majority in support of the Commission. It did not rule out cooperation with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), which had been an express request of the socialists and liberals.

How controversial commissioners were approved

The deal allows the groups to vote in favour of the seven pending commissioners. The most controversial cases were Spain’s Teresa Ribera, executive vice-president for clean, just and competitive transition, from the socialists and democrats; Italy’s Raffaele Fitto, executive vice-president for cohesion and reforms, from the European Conservative and Reformists, and Hungary’s Olivér Várhelyi, commissioner for health and animal welfare. 

The EPP delayed agreeing to Ribera’s appointment, pending her debate on the consequences of the floods in Valencia in the Spanish Parliament and stressing that she should resign from the Commission in case the Spanish Judiciary accuses her of wrongdoing in the management of the floods.

During her appearance before the Parliament in Madrid on Wednesday, Ribera did not commit to resign. The EPP agreed to greenlight her appointment, but stressed that it will respect the coalition agreement in the event that Ribera resigns in the face of accusations. Her letter of approval was ultimately signed, even if it included minority opinions from the Greens, the Left and a joint opinion from the EPP and Patriots requesting her resignation, MEPs told Euronews.

Fitto was also approved and granted the vice-presidency, despite a declaration signed by socialists and liberals who stood against his appointment, which was attached to his evaluation letter, reports AGI.

Hungary's Olivér Várhelyi was ultimately approved as well, though the Parliament asked to remove the Viktor Orbán nominee's competencies on health preparedness and sexual and reproductive health rights.

Protests from the left and from the right

Meanwhile, the Left group in the European Parliament wrote to the Parliament's President Roberta Metsola denouncing what it described as a "backroom deal", which it considered a “flagrant breach of procedure”.

According to leftist MEPs, the evaluation of designated commissioners should have been done immediately following the hearings, as stated in the European Parliament’s Rules of Procedure.

“The chair and coordinators [of the Parliament's committees] shall meet without delay after the confirmation hearing to evaluate the individual Commissioners-designate,” those rules state.

Rather than evaluating the vice-presidents immediately, the centrist groups agreed on 12th November to approve the vice-presidents in a "package deal" rather than individually, igniting a political tug-of-war over the composition of the next Commission that resulted in today’s agreement.

Furthermore, the nationalist right wing group Patriots for Europe expressed its dismay with the agreement. “This is not a new majority, this is the old majority. This alliance between EPP and S&D is unbearable and will ruin Europe,” its Spanish MEP Hermann Tertsch told Euronews.