A speech that was “politically significant in terms of what it has and what it doesn’t have,” that “ignored the problems of families” and was “completely oblivious” to reality, but was still a “mature intervention, by someone who already has a lot of experience with what European life is and what needs to be corrected on the European path” and who “has relaunched the idea of a representative of the European Union (EU) for SMEs”.
The responses are divided by political group, but the theme is common: the State of the Union speech, which Ursula von der Leyen gave on Wednesday at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, on a day when delegates discussed and approved various themes.
In just over an hour, in the last speech of her term, the President of the European Commission reviewed the past year, defined goals for what lies ahead, with 2024 being the year of the European elections, and challenged citizens to respond on the “calling of history”. During the intervention There was some cheering here and there, except for some delegates from more left-wing parties, who on several occasions restrained themselves – or even did not applaud.
But after the speech there were people who preferred to see the glass as half full. This was the case for Paulo Rangel (PSD) and Nuno Melo (CDS). Both MEPs from the European People’s Party (PPE) – which also included the German CDU, a Christian Democratic party to which Ursula von der Leyen belongs – found the Portuguese positive points in the intervention. “I think I brought a lot of new things with me, which wasn’t wise. It was a mature speech, from someone who already has a lot of experience with what European life is and what needs to be corrected,” said Paulo Rangel. Yet Von der Leyen was able to speak for the MEP – and vice-president of the PSD – ‘ I understand that socialists are disappointed due to a lack of knowledge, because they expected a big housing package to come. It does not fall under the competence of the EU. Prime Minister António Costa tried to do something to shift the blame for the housing crisis to the European Commission,” something that, Rangel said, “is a problem” for the government.The silence [sobre o tema] it is a response to this accusation that António Costa wanted to make even before this speech”, he accused, recalling the sending of a letter from the government to the Commission, in which housing was considered a priority.
Nuno Melo, from CDS-PP, opined that the speech “touched on a little bit of everything, but with some note that is relevant”. Such as the focus on small and medium-sized businesses. “The Portuguese industrial reality is essentially made up of small and medium-sized enterprises and therefore the reduction of bureaucracy and the improvement of financing are all important for Portugal.” And although he essentially came together with Paulo Rangel, Nuno Melo, however, stated that the issue of inflation was being addressed as it should be: “The European Commission has paid very particular attention to issues related to inflation and rising interest rates. And we know that there are powers that belong to the European Central Bank.”
Ursula von der Leyen always maintained a very complimentary tone regarding the work done by the European Commission so far and spoke in English, German and French. When he addressed the plenary – which was not full – the President of the Commission nevertheless assumed that this was the case “High inflation” is “a major challenge” for the EU, saying the ECB is “working hard” to get it under control.
Parties on the left criticized this position. The PS, through MEP Pedro Marques, criticized the “total lack of care for those who suffer from the cost of living crisis, those who suffer from the increase in the cost of housing”. “For us, this absence of the social dimension is very worrying.”, said the former Minister of Economic Affairs, who regretted the “missed opportunity”.
On the other hand, the PCP, through João Pimenta Lopes, argued that it was a “speech completely alien” to reality. Given that it was an intervention “very much in line with the interests of economic groups”the communist delegate also criticized the fact that “not a word was said about the deterioration of public services”. The Left Bloc followed the same line. “It was a very smug speech, which ignored most of the economic and social problems facing the European Union.”, said José Gusmão, who regretted that “absolutely nothing was said about the economic and social crisis that families are feeling”.
Speech “facing forward”.
Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, also responded to Ursula von der Leyen’s speech. And as expected, he did not criticize the intervention. “It wasn’t a speech about closing up shop, cleaning up, self-aggrandizement, but rather looking forward, about taking responsibility for what we started so we can finish it well.’ he thought.
It was a speech that “put an end to a past period of successive crises, such as the pandemic, and became a call for the reconstruction of Europe”, in industry and agriculture, and “regained its potential” to tackle climate change to fight.
EC is investigating subsidies for Chinese electric cars
With a cautious speech reiterating support for Ukraine and also the importance of the next European Championships, Von der Leyen also made a surprising announcement: the European Commission will investigate subsidies for electric cars from China, which already account for 8% of represent the market. in the Union, 20% cheaper.
When asked about the sector, “a crucial sector for an ecological economy”, the person in charge said that “global markets are now flooded with cheaper Chinese electric cars”. These prices are achieved “through gigantic state subsidies”. The Commission will therefore “open an investigation into subsidies for electric cars from China”. “Europe is open to competition, not to a race to the bottom,” he emphasized. In response, Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, considered the decision a “brave and daring measure”, but still necessary.
The busy EU day
More mandates
Yesterday, the European Council’s decision to increase the number of Members of the European Parliament (EP) from 705 to 720 in the next parliamentary term was approved. The decision was made on the basis of an EP report, based on demographic changes since the 2019 elections. France, Spain and the Netherlands will each receive two deputies; Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Poland, Finland, Slovakia, Ireland, Slovenia and Latvia are entitled to one more place.
Expansion
The subject was raised by the President of the European Commission himself and seems to be increasingly in the center of attention. Ursula von der Leyen winked above all to the Western Balkans and Ukraine, saying that “it is possible to more quickly create a Union fit for enlargement” without waiting for revised Treaties. Yet yesterday, a group of MEPs presented the main points of a report with proposals to change the European treaties, including ending the veto and strengthening participatory mechanisms.
Stricter rules
The EP also adopted rules to strengthen the integrity, transparency and accountability of Members of the European Parliament. The decision comes in the wake of the corruption scandal that engulfed Qatar and led to the fall of Vice President Eva Kaili, known as ‘Qatargate’. Penalties for breaches of the code of conduct will also become stricter and Members of the European Parliament will also be required to announce the meetings they have.
More sustainable aviation fuels
Legislation was also passed to make aviation fuels more sustainable and increase limits on all pollutants. Under the new rules, which still need to be approved by Member States, at least 2% of aviation fuels will be ecological from 2025, a percentage that should increase every five years.
DN traveled at the invitation of the European Parliament
Source: DN
