Addressing the informal leaders’ meeting today in Brussels, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola highlighted the following:
Outcome of the European elections
“It has been a little over a week since Europeans elected the 720 Members of the European Parliament that will represent their interests over the next five years. The main takeaway is that that the constructive pro-European centre holds.”
Turnout
“The 2024 European elections saw the highest voter turnout in over 30 years and in over half of EU Member States (14 to be exact), the participation rate also increased from 2019.”
Next steps
“The European Parliament’s Conference of Presidents met last week to assess the outcome of the European elections. A majority of political group leaders confirmed the Lead Candidate process and we all agreed that following the results of the elections, the European People’s Party is once again the largest political group in the European Parliament. The largest political group also confirmed that their lead candidate for the next Commission President is the incumbent.”
“The EUCO President has been invited to attend the next meeting of the EP Conference of Presidents this Thursday 20 June, and again on 26 June, for a final consultation ahead of the 27-28 June European Council. Should there be agreement on a candidate for the next Commission President, the political group leaders would be available to meet that person for an exchange of views on the 2 July.”
“The aim of this process is to determine the candidate able to form the necessary qualified majority in Parliament to become the next Commission President. We stand ready to move the process forward without delay as soon as the European Council submits its candidate.”
Message of European citizens
“The election results show a majority of our citizens have called for the defence of our values and for security to remain a top priority. Our support with Ukraine must continue. Everyone must benefit from the twin transitions. The green deal needs to be a driver of economic growth without burdens, bureaucracy and red tape. We need to move from being in ‘crisis mode’ to thinking long term, building on our greatest asset, the single market and prioritising the EU’s competitiveness. That is how we cement Europe’s place in the world.“
Conclusion
“I want to reiterate the European Parliament’s full cooperation and strongest commitment to ensuring the smooth running of the process leading to the election of the President of the European Commission. In the European Parliament, our work has already started – and will continue – in that regard.”
Background: the statutory role of the European Parliament in the process of electing the next Commission President
Article 17(7) of the Treaty on European Union states that the European Parliament elects the Commission President with a majority of its component Members and that before that, the European Council has to “take the European Parliament elections into account” when proposing a candidate.
Declaration 11 annexed to the Lisbon Treaty states that together with the European Council, the European Parliament has a duty to ensure the smooth running of the process leading to the election of the President of the European Commission by conducting the necessary consultations.
President Metsola’s full speech is available here.
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