Latest news with #European Parliament
France 24
4 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
We could withdraw from the von der Leyen coalition: Renew chief Valérie Hayer
"I want a strong commitment on common policies, and I want a better cooperation, both between the Commission and the European Parliament, and also within the European Parliament, between the EPP and the pro-European groups, which is not the case yet," Hayer asserts. "If we don't have any strong commitment, any willingness from the EPP group that they want to work together with the pro-European agenda, and if we don't have any commitment from Ursula von der Leyen, then of course we will have to take decisions. And that could indeed be not to take part any more in this coalition." We put it to Hayer that the EPP has not sided with the far right in the great majority of votes over the past year. "But when you look at the most important files in the European Parliament, they decided consciously to make a deal with the far right. I can give you lots of examples," Hayer responds. "Nothing can be achieved with the far right, because the far right just wants to undermine Europe," she adds. We ask Hayer how France is going to deal with its huge public debt, while at the same time increase its defence spending by €3.5 billion in 2026. Is it not a contradiction to spend more money while also making austerity cuts? "We have to push for more investment at the national but also at the European level," Hayer responds. "We are under threat with disinformation, cyberattacks and so on. And President Macron had also a very pro-European stance when he decided and announced this increase in defence spending. So I think we don't have any other choice." On the subject of public spending, the EU Commission has now made its proposal for the next big seven-year EU budget, and it represents an increase on the current 2021-2027 budget, which Hayer helped to negotiate. "We want to have a strong competitiveness fund to support our industries," Hayer says. "We also want to have a 'European preference' with local content [in strategic investments]. And a key demand from our group is that we want a strong commitment vis-a-vis the rule of law, especially with the smart conditionality, which means no euros going to autocrats and governments who don't respect our common rules. But on the ground, mayors and NGOs should still benefit from [EU] money." Hayer also talks about US President Donald Trump and his stated intent to impose 30 percent tariffs on EU imports on August 1. "First of all, nobody has any interest in this trade war. Nobody. Neither the EU, nor the US," she answers. "Now, the unity of Europe is absolutely key. Of course we should support the Commission strategy and leave the political space for negotiation. But if on the 1st of August we don't have enough in the negotiations, let's not be shy. We are a power. We have a huge market that is interesting for US companies, and we should have these countermeasures to convey the message to Donald Trump that we will not be fooled."
News.com.au
10-07-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
EU chief von der Leyen comfortably survives confidence vote
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday comfortably saw off a no-confidence vote in the European Parliament -- but the rare challenge has exposed frictions between her backers and complaints about her leadership style. Lawmakers in Strasbourg rejected the censure motion -- launched by the far-right over the European Commission president's handling of Covid vaccine contracts -- by 360 to 175 in a widely expected result. "In a moment of global volatility and unpredictability, the EU needs strength, vision, and the capacity to act," von der Leyen, who wasn't at the parliament for the vote, wrote on X afterwards. "As external forces seek to destabilize and divide us, it is our duty to respond in line with our values. Thank you, and long live Europe." Addressing parliament earlier this week, von der Leyen had dismissed the initiative as a conspiracy theory-laden attempt to divide Europe, slamming its supporters as "anti-vaxxers" and "apologists" for Russian President Vladimir Putin. She had urged lawmakers to renew confidence in her commission arguing it was critical for Europe to show unity in the face of an array of challenges, from US trade talks to Russia's war in Ukraine. The no-confidence motion was initiated by Romanian far-right lawmaker Gheorghe Piperea. He accused von der Leyen of a lack of transparency over text messages she sent to the head of the Pfizer pharmaceutical giant when negotiating Covid vaccines. The commission's failure to release the messages -- the focus of multiple court cases -- has given weight to critics who accuse its boss of centralised and opaque decision-making. That has also been a growing refrain from the commission chief's traditional allies on the left and centre, who largely backed von der Leyen, but used the vote to air their grievances. - 'Not unconditional' - One major complaint from her critics is that von der Leyen's centre-right camp has increasingly teamed up with the far-right to further its agenda -- most notably to roll back environmental rules. Iratxe Garcia Perez, the head of the centre-left Socialists and Democrats, said the group's support did not "mean that we are not critical of the European Commission". Its shift towards the far-right was "a major cause for alarm", she added. "The motion of censure against the European Commission has been overwhelmingly rejected," centrist leader Valerie Hayer wrote on X. "But our support for von der Leyen is not unconditional." "Pfizergate" aside, Romania's Piperea accused the commission of interfering in his country's recent presidential election, in which pro-European Nicusor Dan narrowly beat EU critic and nationalist George Simion. That vote came after Romania's constitutional court scrapped an initial ballot over allegations of Russian interference and massive social media promotion of the far-right frontrunner, who was barred from standing again. Piperea's challenge was supported by some groups on the left and part of the far right -- including the party of Hungary's nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban. But Piperea's own group, the ECR, was split on the question. Its largest faction, the party of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni that did not back the motion.
CNN
10-07-2025
- Business
- CNN
EU's von der Leyen survives parliament confidence vote brought by far-right
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen survived a no-confidence vote in the European Parliament on Thursday, brought by mainly far-right lawmakers who alleged she and her team undermined trust in the EU through unlawful actions. As expected, the motion failed to get the two-thirds majority it needed to pass. Only 175 members of parliament backed the motion, while 360 voted against and 18 abstained. Romanian nationalist Gheorghe Piperea, the lead sponsor of the motion, had criticized among other things the Commission's refusal to disclose text messages between von der Leyen and the chief executive of vaccine maker Pfizer during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'The decision-making has become opaque and discretionary, and raises fears of abuse and corruption. The cost of obsessive bureaucracy of the European Union such as (tackling) climate change has been a huge one,' Piperea told the parliament on Monday. During the debate on her leadership, von der Leyen defended her record in parliament, rejecting criticism of her management of the pandemic and asserting that her approach ensured equal vaccine access across the EU. Although the censure motion had little chance of success, it was a political headache for von der Leyen as her Commission negotiates with US President Donald Trump's administration to try to prevent steep US tariffs on EU goods. It was the first time since 2014 that a Commission president has faced such a motion. Then President Jean-Claude Juncker also survived the vote.
Bloomberg
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
EU's Von Der Leyen Wins Confidence Vote Over Pfizer Texts
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen survived a no-confidence vote over text messages she sent to Pfizer Inc. Chief Executive Officer Albert Bourla during the Covid pandemic. The European Parliament voted against the move with 360 lawmakers voting against the motion, 175 voting for and 18 abstaining. The censure motion required a two-thirds majority to pass.
Coin Geek
10-07-2025
- Business
- Coin Geek
ECB pushes ahead with digital euro amid stalled legislation
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde has hinted again at the Bank's preference for launching its long-planned central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital euro, to sit alongside cash. In a June 30 speech at the opening reception of the ECB Forum on Central Banking 2025, Lagarde spoke of uncertainty dominating the current narrative and the impact on inflation of uncontrollable events, such as tariffs and supply disruptions. In her speech, the ECB president said the Bank's strategy assessment has been an exercise in 'evolution, not revolution' and that 'even as the world changes around us, we know our purpose. And we will do whatever is necessary to deliver on it – ensuring price stability for the people of Europe.' While she didn't specifically mention the digital euro, the language was reminiscent of how Lagarde has previously spoken of the ECB's mooted CBDC. Earlier in June, in an interview with Xinhua News Agency, Lagarde again spoke of uncertainty— her favorite catchphrase of the moment —but also gave the strongest indication that the ECB is hoping to get the necessary support from the European Parliament for the digital euro. When asked about the ECB's exploration of a digital euro and whether it could cooperate in the future with the People's Bank of China (PBOC)—which launched its own CBDC, the digital yuan, in 2022—Lagarde said: 'Both the PBOC [People's Bank of China] and the ECB are working on a digital currency. China was ahead; it started earlier. We started six years ago, and we are getting to the point where, if the legislature supports the proposal, we should be ready to launch.' She added that the ECB wants 'to make sure that we have a European offer that is available, so that within the entire euro area there is a means of payment and a solid currency that can help you transact both online, peer-to-peer, business-to-business, and that's the purpose of the digital euro.' Lagarde also explained the reasons behind the ECB's decision to plough ahead with the preparations for a CBDC: 'Because of client demand, to put it very simply. Because many Europeans – not all, but many – like to pay electronically, digitally, without cash.' However, Lagarde did qualify this by stating that 'many Europeans still like cash. I like cash. So we will continue to have cash… but we need, as a sovereign expression on the financial stage, to be able to respond to the demand of our customers, Europeans.' She added that 'if they want cash, we should be able to print secure banknotes. If they want digital cash, we should be able to offer a digital euro.' In other words, there is a public demand for a digital euro. The ECB has been developing it for many years, and it is now ready to go. In Lagarde's opinion, it is in the interests of all to launch it. The only missing ingredient is the legislative framework, which the European Parliament must establish. Awaiting legislation Ultimately, the ECB will decide whether to launch a digital euro, and it appears clear which way it is leaning in this regard. However, the decision requires the approval of a regulation establishing a legal framework for a digital euro. Thus, in 2023, the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, put forward a digital euro package to regulate the main aspects of a digital euro in order to ensure the same rules and conditions are applied throughout the euro area when using it. This package was referred to the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) in the European Parliament. On February 9, 2024, a draft report on the package and the ECB's digital euro investigation phase was tabled, but as yet no vote on this draft report has taken place. Therefore, the ECB remains without the necessary legislative framework to launch the digital euro, no matter how much it wants to. The insistence with which Lagarde extols the merits of the digital euro, along with the ECB's repeated assertions about its readiness to launch it, could be read as a sign of impatience with the EU parliament dragging its feet on regulation. This was made explicit on April 8, 2025, when Piero Cipollone, Member of the ECB Executive Board, presented to the ECON Committee an update on the developments of the digital euro project, and at the same time urged members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to make progress on the legislative file. Digital euro's development In 2021, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the accompanying dramatic drop in physical cash payments, the ECB launched an investigation phase into a Eurozone CBDC to be used by citizens and businesses for retail payments. This lasted for two years, after which the central bank began the digital euro 'preparation phase,' in November 2023. After positive progress, in November 2024, the ECB called for partners to test conditional payments in a CBDC simulation to start in February 2025. When February rolled around, the ECB announced it was expanding the initiative to settle transactions between institutions with a wholesale CBDC payment system. A month later, Lagarde reaffirmed the ECB's commitment to the project, saying that the team behind the digital euro was 'focused on accelerating the pace,' as well as highlighting how they were campaigning to get other stakeholders, like the EU Parliament and European Commission, on board. Lagarde also said that the 'testing phase' of the digital euro is scheduled to end this October. After that, the ECB will publish a final report and decide whether to issue a CBD, pending the necessary legislation. More recently, on May 5, the ECB announced that it had established an 'innovation platform' with 70 participants to collaborate on testing the digital euro project. According to the central bank, the platform simulates the envisaged digital euro ecosystem, 'in which the ECB provides the technical support and infrastructure for European intermediaries to develop innovative digital payment features and services at European level.' This brings us to the current state of limbo, with the ECB continuing tests but apparently already decided and united behind a digital euro, while the necessary regulation— as is often the case —plays catch-up. Watch: CBDCs are more than just digital money title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
