Conservatives blow opportunity to build Europe-wide democracy

The European Parliament today adopted two reports which will have a direct impact on the forthcoming European elections. The first, on the composition of the parliament and adopted on 23 January in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, provided for the 73 seats opened up by Brexit to be redistributed between underrepresented states (27 seats), future countries joining the EU (19), and transnational lists (27, fewer than the 50 proposed by the Greens/EFA group). For the Greens/EFA group, the inclusion of transnational lists was a red line, but they were rejected. The second report reaffirms the procedure for Spitzenkandidaten in the European elections.

Greens/EFA co-president Philippe Lamberts comments:

“By burying transnational lists, the European Parliament has missed an historic opportunity. Never before has this idea enjoyed such popularity in the Council. Today, the window to broaden the horizons of European democracy is closing. Unfortunately, the majority of MEPs supported the Conservatives, robbing voters of a fresh perspective in keeping with the spirit of the European Union and confining European democracy to the national level.

“We are pleased to have secured the continuation of the Spitzenkandidaten process, which will help give the forthcoming elections at least some European focus. It is regrettable that this is the maximum that could be conceded by elected representatives whose pro-European credentials are called into question by their timid and unambitious approach."