Renew Europe: Liberals in the EU are leading the EU in Νew Political Directions

After the EPP and the Socialist group, Renew Europe is the third largest political group in the European Parliament. It is strategically located in the center and the center-left, so it plays a key role in shaping the majority in the European Parliament.

Renew Europe has a greater influence on European developments than the EPP, despite the fact that the latter has the most MEPs.

This is explained by the fact that Renew Europe relies on the conciliation of the President of France, Macron, and the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Rutte. The former recently secured a second five-year term as president of the French Republic, and the latter has completed ten years as prime minister of the Netherlands, making him the most experienced pro-European liberal politician to play a leading role.

The parties of Renew Europe also include the Prime Ministers of Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg and Estonia.

On the contrary, the EPP, after Merkel’s departure from the chancellery and the defeat of the German Christian Democrats in the parliamentary elections, has run out of powerful prime ministers with a leading role in European developments. The EPP parties include the Prime Ministers of Greece, Austria, Lithuania, Romania, Latvia, Croatia and the President of the Republic of Cyprus.

With the Austrian People’s Party politically injured after the scandal that led to the resignation of Chancellor Kurtz – “star” of the EPP – the strongest representative of the European center-right in power is Prime Minister Mitsotakis.

Bulgaria’s newly reformed new Prime Minister, Kirill Petkov, also recently joined Renew Europe, surprising the election and ending the political rule of Borisov, whose party is part of the EPP. Bulgaria’s turn from the EPP to Renew Europe is of particular importance because it is considered one of the most corrupt EU countries. Until 2021 it was the country with the worst ranking in the EU. of “27” on issues of media freedom, based on the ranking of the annual report of Reporters Without Borders.

Renew Europe Direction: More Europe

The key position taken by the European Liberals and the French “Renaissance” party, which backs President Macron, is in favor of most of Europe. They believe that in order to have European solutions to all major issues, we must move in the direction of European integration. Common policy in Defense, Energy, Health and other areas of strategic importance.

This does not eliminate the differences and contradictions between the leaders and the parties of Renew Europe. For example, Macron and his supporters in France are pushing for a more relaxed fiscal policy and an increase in European budget resources. On the contrary, the Liberal Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Rutte, is considered the leader of the so-called “sparing”, who are in favor of a stricter fiscal policy and are currently opposed to efforts to increase European budget resources and for an additional common European budget. to meet the financial needs of the European Recovery Fund.

Macron and the ending French presidency of the Council also strongly support the revision of the Treaties so that the EU can respond. challenges, while the Netherlands opposes changing the Treaties.

France and the Netherlands played a leading role in the rejection of the European Constitution in 2004, the adoption of which would have paved the way for a political union in Europe and a more effective common approach to the problems we face today.

A particularly positive development at the Liberal Congress in Dublin was the formalization of the central Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin’s shift in favor of the revision of the Treaties. More generally, there is a dynamic in favor of most of Europe even in countries that to date have been extremely cautious to hesitant in their European policy. The example of Denmark, which had previously excluded itself from joining the euro and the common European defense, is typical. There has been a dramatic shift in Danish public opinion due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and its participation in the common European defense was approved by a referendum and a two-thirds majority.

Denmark’s European pro-European turn is led by European Commission Vice-President Vestager, one of Renew Europe’s top politicians. Her keynote address was enthusiastically received at the European Liberal Congress.

The big issues and the new directions

The big issues discussed at the European Liberal Congress in Dublin were:

1. The war in Ukraine and Putin’s offensive strategy in general and how it should be responded to. President Zelensky’s party has joined the European Liberals, while the EPP’s party includes former President Poroshenko, one of Ukraine’s oligarchs.

In solidarity with the European Liberals and Democrats, there are no limits to the government and people of Ukraine and they are strong supporters of the country’s accession to the EU. The Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Olga Stefanisina spoke at the conference, presenting the urgency of the situation and thanking the approximately 900 delegates for the practical solidarity of the governments and their parties.

2. The energy crisis and how it can be tackled at European level with the help of accelerating the green transition.

3. Issues of media freedom and respect for European rule of law. European Liberals give absolute priority to the qualitative, participatory dimension of Democracy. They are waging a fierce political battle against European governments moving in the opposite direction, such as the Conservative governments of Hungary and Poland.

4. Τhe refugee-immigration related to the war in Ukraine. More than 5 million Ukrainians have taken refuge in neighboring countries, while 4-5 million Ukrainians have moved inside Ukraine in search of security.

Poland sets an example of the good reception of refugees. Hundreds of thousands of refugees have been welcomed into Polish homes as guests, and local government is helping – and with EU funding – meet the immediate needs of the estimated three million Ukrainians in Poland.

5. Euro-Atlantic relations. President Biden’s policy on Ukraine’s defense and EU security in general against Russia, was assessed very positively. Europeans, however, need to do more for our defense and security because the political landscape in the United States is changing.