European Parliament further delays approval of new EU Commissioners

The political tension has led to the decision to postpone votes on the approval of the new Commission. This has serious consequences, as the current European Commission’s mandate is soon expiring.

The confrontation apparently centers mainly on the (re)appointment of the Hungarian candidate commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, and on the vice-presidency for the Italian candidate Fitto. He is seen as a candidate from the political group of the ECR-Conservatives. Várhelyi, nominated by the pro-Russian Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, faces significant opposition from Members of the European Parliament.

The Christian Democratic EPP party leader Manfred Weber insists on approving the Hungarian candidate. However, this meets substantial resistance from the Social Democratic S&D and the liberal Renew group. In response, the EPP has brought into question the imminent approval of a Spanish candidate endorsed by S&D.

S&D group leader Iratxe García accused the EPP of holding the European Union hostage by insisting on the controversial Hungarian candidate. According to her, this threatens to undermine the legitimacy and functioning of the new Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen (EPP). “The EPP is risking the EU’s credibility for political interests,” García said.

In the background, it plays a role that on Thursday the EPP brought amendments to a vote in the European Parliament aimed at further delaying and substantially weakening the introduction of the European Deforestation Law. This reversed earlier agreements with S&D and Renew for a technically, not substantively, delayed implementation of one year. The EPP secured these weakenings with support from conservative, nationalist, and far-right groups—the ‘right-wing majority in the EU’.

Earlier, Ursula von der Leyen said upon her reappointment that she would not govern ‘over the Right’. Yet on her wishlist is the controversial Hungarian candidate, and the EPP group leader in the European Parliament is indeed doing business with the right wing.

Meanwhile, concern is growing about the effect of this political deadlock on the functioning of the European Union. Analysts point out that prolonged delays could hamper decision-making and the implementation of important EU policy measures. “If the political impasse continues, it could seriously damage the EU’s credibility both at home and abroad,” experts said.