Welcome to Better Europe’s weekly update on EU Affairs.
NO HOLIDAYS FOR OMNIBUS NEGOTIATORS
Companies voted for legal certainty and deregulation. But it’s not what they are getting — at least not right now. An easy majority vote in the Parliament on the “Omnibus” corporate reporting negotiation position this week turned into yet another confidence vote in the Ursula von der Leyen majority, and this time, she lost it with a narrow nine vote margin thanks to the decision of the extreme-right to make it a secret ballot. Even if it’s just a slap in the face and not a formal decision on the future of the coalition, it shows the disapproval with how deals are made since “simplification” started earlier this year. In a press conference together with Parliament’s president Roberta Metsola – showing the institutional relevance of the decision – the rapporteur blamed the result it on the 31 social-democrats who agreed to challenge the negotiation mandate in plenary, and therefore must have voted against the agreement. But given the numbers, several MEPs from the liberals and his own EPP probably did the same, showing increasing disagreement with the way deals are made between the leaders of the political groups. As the first trilogue planned for today is cancelled, no holiday break next week – instead, we’ll see three more weeks of frantic lobbying by NGOs, industry and foreign “friends”, while MEPs try to find a new compromise ahead of a final vote.
SOCIALISTS DOUBLE DOWN ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Also in Strasbourg, Ursula von der Leyen presented her work programme for 2026, which she described as a master plan to reboot Europe’s economy and restore its global competitiveness. The new regulatory framework for businesses, the Savings and Investment Union, and investments in AI and clean technology will all help Europe catch up. Unsurprisingly, her own EPP in the debate expressed their support for the greater competitiveness drive and called for fewer rules to support SMEs and strategic industries, expecting the ongoing deregulation drive to go even further. Others in the hemicycle insisted that growth must not increase Europe’s social divisions. S&D President García stressed that economic ambitions cannot ignore social rights. ‘Housing is not a luxury, it’s a right,’ she told fellow MEPs, calling for legislative measures on quality employment, the protection of workers’ rights in the face of the rise of artificial intelligence. Their congress in Amsterdam last weekend confirmed that addressing affordable housing is an important part of the socialists’ strategy to fight the extreme right. The Dutch general elections next Wednesday will be a first litmus test, where housing is high on the agenda and polls put Timmermans’ GroenLinks-PvdA second after Wilders’ PVV.
COP30: BIG GOALS, BIGGER CONTRADICTIONS
With the start of COP30 in Belém in just over two weeks, the EU is working hard to present a united front on climate finance. The Council and Commission have set out the bloc’s priorities, which include scaling up climate finance, accelerating adaptation and mitigation efforts, and speeding up the global energy transition. The Council conclusions emphasise the importance of mobilising $1.3 trillion by 2035 to support developing countries, align financial flows with the Paris Agreement and encourage collaboration among all stakeholders. The importance of transparency, accountability and equity in financing is also emphasised. The Danish Presidency has sounded the alarm, insisting that the EU must leave COP30 with a concrete roadmap if the 1.5°C target is to remain attainable. Beyond financial contributions, the Council emphasises the importance of forming partnerships that blend public and private resources to deliver tangible results. However, it is hard not to notice the incongruity between these ambitious goals and the ongoing dismantling of environmental safeguards. Cognitive dissonance, anyone?