The Greens almost on board. The call for European unity against those who, like Viktor Orban, want to destroy that Europe. The non-belligerence pact to be signed with Giorgia Meloni in a phone call that, in terms of content and timing, remains shrouded in mystery. Ursula von der Leyen is preparing for the week which, barring any sensational twists, should bring it back to the head of the EU.
The strategy of inclusion seems to have paid off. Faced with the trap of the snipers in the EPP, Socialists and Liberals, von der Leyen responded by widening the perimeter of the majority, with a shift towards the finalization of the Green Deal that convinced the Greens and even opened a channel with the Left. The only thing left for the president of the Commission-designate is the meeting with the Conservatives, scheduled for Tuesday morning.
It is likely that in the meeting von der Leyen will emphasize one of the topics dearest to Ecr, migration. The goal of the former Minister of Defense is to find common ground, not stable allies. “There will be no structural cooperation with Ecr”, reiterated von der Leyen to the M5S during the meeting with The Left. There is, however, a parallel negotiation awaiting the President of the Commission, and that is the one with Giorgia Meloni. The expected phone call between the two was confirmed again by European sources.
It is not a given that it will take place before the meeting between von der Leyen and the group. And it is not a given that it will lead to an official position of Fratelli d’Italia favorable to von der Leyen. Indeed, in the corridors of the Eurocamera there are those who are ready to bet that, in the end, the Melonians will abstain. At the moment in that group Ursula can count on the yes of the Belgians of N-Va and the Czechs of Ods. The rest of the delegation – not counting Fdi – could vote against, even if among the Poles of Pis an unprecedented possibilism filters through. Another matter is what will happen in the secret ballot: in that case, in the choice of the MEP or the delegation, it will not only be the priorities of the program for the next five years that will count. What will count, much more prosaically, will be the seats. It is about the program, however, that von der Leyen spoke in the meeting with the Left. The draft of her speech on Thursday morning consists of about thirty pages. “Prosperity, democracy and security” will be the three pillars. To the Left, von der Leyen assured that she wanted to keep the “straight course” on the 2030 and 2050 objectives of the ecological transition. And, at the same time, she drew a line of demarcation between the Patriots group, the Europe of sovereign nations group and all the others. With the first two, led by Orban, Lega, Marine Le Pen and Afd, there will be no dialogue. With all the others, yes.
“If we are united as an EU we can overcome mountains”, von der Leyen stressed, indicating, among the key dates in the future of Europe, the American elections in November. Von der Leyen, during her meetings, designed her interventions depending on the interlocutor. She explained to everyone that she wants to create a single defense market and appoint a commissioner for the sector. And she promised to address the issue of the housing emergency, also in this case opening up to an ad hoc delegation to the Berlymont Palace. She also underlined the great attention that the Commission will have to the agricultural sector where, she explained, a generational change is necessary. The Left concluded the meeting by maintaining its ‘no’ for Thursday’s vote but, certainly, there will be no barricades. The 53 votes of the Greens, on the other hand, for Ursula are almost certain. Immediately afterwards the Greens will ask for a written document to certify their entry into the majority. Much could also depend on how decisive their votes are. But according to the latest calculations, this time it could be the ecologists who save von der Leyen. The one who won’t need help is Roberta Metsola: tomorrow she will be president of the European Parliament again with a very solid majority.