Welcome to Better Europe’s weekly update on EU Affairs.
STATE OF THE DISUNION
In what has become a ritualized political spectacle, Ursula von der Leyen addressed the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday, laying out her priorities for the year ahead. She touched on topics ranging from competitiveness to Gaza and the housing crisis to climate change. However, by trying to speak to everyone, she may have satisfied no one. EPP leader Manfred Weber accused the left of sabotaging trade deals, while S&D’s leader Iratxe García Pérez in return branded him the “main enemy” of von der Leyen’s fragile coalition. Caught in the middle, Renew rolled its eyes at what Valérie Hayer dismissed as a “pathetic spectacle,” urging the Commission President to step up as referee before her majority crumbles. Adding to the drama, two new no-confidence motions are circulating: The far right is attempting again after failing in July, and the left is trying for the first time…although everyone knows the result is already done. Amid this chaos, Von der Leyen’s call for unity was intended to demonstrate strength…but it revealed disunity instead.
PUBLIC PROCUREMENT: BUY EUROPEAN, NOT SUSTAINABLE
The Parliament laid the groundwork for the 2026 revision of the EU’s public procurement directives by voting on Piotr Müller’s (ECR) own-initiative report. Though the report was adopted by a large majority (432 in favour, 95 against, and 124 abstentions), it was largely disregarded by the Socialists and other left-leaning parties, some of whom abstained. Why? The report prioritizes simplification and SME participation over sustainability and social criteria. During the debate on the eve of the vote, the report’s “Buy European” approach was criticized for not prioritizing sustainability. Rather, it signals a security-minded focus that gives precedence to strategic sectors such as energy, cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence. ECR and EPP members welcomed the tone, while the progressive parliamentarians criticized the lack of binding social standards shown by the conservative alliance. As Green internal market committee chair Anna Cavazzini put it: “This report is the lower limit, not the upper limit.”
HOW GEOPOLITICS CAUGHT UP ON SUPER MARIO
It’s one year after Mario Draghi’s report, and what a year it has been. But not for Super Mario, who made a long list of recommendations, only 11% of which have been implemented. Don’t believe us, believe EPIC (“busy making plans but not delivering them“) or Deutsche Bank (“need for speed“). In other words, Draghi’s competitiveness drive is the alibi for whatever the Commission and Member States want to do anyway. Or, as former Commission staffer Marco Buti explains: the EU has been enthusiastic on the narrative of Draghi’s report, but the translation of his proposals into policy action has been limited beyond the omnibuses… “where the line between simplification and deregulation blurred”. OK, so perhaps the Parliament can help? Commenting on her own report that was adopted in plenary this week, French socialist Aurore Lalucq suggested Member States need to build on Parliament’s momentum and move forward on “joint supervision or support for sustainable investment”, two points on which national interest has been painfully lukewarm for the past year.