Commission goss confirmed by our @anupriyadatta.bsky.social
Posts by Owen Morgan
Macron and Starmer launch 'permanent' HQ in Paris for the coalition of 31 countries looking to provide post-ceasefire security guarantees for Ukraine
A step towards formalising a body that today met via videocall
But how 'permanent' is an HQ that will 'rotate to London after the first 12 months'?
And here’s the roll call.
Striking are the 🇮🇪 breaking ranks. Ciaran Mullooly the sole Renew group member to vote to bring down von der Leyen.
Two big names abstaining. Development committee chair Barry Andrews, and the only Irish socialist Aodhán Ó Ríordáin.
Both are fierce VdL critics on Gaza.
The motion was signed by 77 MEPs initially - so they've generated more support, almost entirely from the two large far-right groups.
553 votes in total, out of 720 MEPs. So quite a few no-shows
CENSURE: As expected, vote on censure of von der Leyen Commission fails:
For: 175
Against: 360
Abstain: 18
Interesting to see where those 18 came from...
VdL’s censure has been (rightly) dismissed as political theatre. So let’s talk about how the show looked and sounded.
It was exciting. My most head-in-the-sand mates texted me about it. People noticed this happened.
So, what can pro-EU MEPs learn from their dalliance with drama?
For @euractiv.com
Sneak peak at the much-anticipated European Competitiveness Fund via @wulffwold.bsky.social and @nicolettaionta.bsky.social
“Ursula von der Leyen is being hauled to the podium today to answer to a far-right MEP whose boss can't get over having lost the Romanian election.
You could get 72 MEPs to agree on just about anything”
Clarity ahead of the absurdity set to unfold in Stras in an hour - via @eddywax.bsky.social
Sorry Brussels Playbook but the US and China are not "Europe's two biggest trade partners" if that means the EU, not even close. Bit closer to home you'll find an EU trade relationship €200bn larger than that with China.
Given their dominance around the Council table, the EPP's pre-summit meetings – where they align and strategise – are arguably as consequential as the main summit.
But there's a familiar figure exerting himself there – and not everybody's thrilled.
Via our Berlin head honcho Nick Alipour 👇
The EU’s 2040 #climate goal is likely to affect Europeans’ wallets – and those of the companies they work for. But whether a 90% cut in Europe's greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 will bring net costs or benefits depends on how #EU leaders choose to implement the target.
Struggling to follow the MFF debate? Here’s how the EU's current €1.2 trillion budget is spent, and how it may (radically) change for 2028-2034
www.euractiv.com/section/econ...
Bonding over the fact they both still have to explain on foreign trips that their name isn't 'Michael'
Leaked by the WSJ last week, denied by the EU's top US trade official earlier this week, not really brought up by EU leaders yesterday.
Then, Trump suggests today DMA/DSA enforcement could be on the table as EU-US trade talks tick towards 9 July deadline.
w/ @magnuslundnielsen.bsky.social
@euractiv.com EUCO liveblog www.euractiv.com/section/poli...
Blockbuster edition of the Capitals today
- Huawei-gate scoop
- Interview with EU rightwing chief Manfred Weber
- An ECR attempt to bring down the Commission
- and we tee up the EUCO summit today
@nicolettaionta.bsky.social
www.euractiv.com/section/poli...
Blogging all day from the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels
Migration, Middle East, and Merz on debut
Tune in 👇
NEW: An investigation by @euractiv.com (with De Standaard & Le Vif) unveils the testimony given to police by the lobbyist at the centre of Huawei’s cash-for-influence scandal in the EU Parliament.
Via @nicolettaionta.bsky.social and our new Chief Brussels Correspondent @elisabraun.bsky.social
Curious timing for this message after weeks of reluctance to back this Sunday's Budapest Pride...
Socialist leader Iratxe Garcia met von der Leyen today, and reportedly wanted reassuring of VdL's centrist pro-European chops amid the anti-greenwashing law debacle.
Is this an olive branch? 👀
Sandeel row latest via @maria-simon.bsky.social
🚨 A post-Qatargate lobbying crackdown is causing major rifts in the EP. S&D, Greens, Transparency Int'l & UN experts warn it echoes “foreign agent” laws in Russia, Georgia & Hungary - threatening civil society, but centre-right EPP group is ready to push it through. W/ @eddywax.bsky.social
Meanwhile, top UK and EU officials met in Brussels for a Specialised Committee on citizens' rights - their twice-yearly check in and the first post-'reset' summit.