European Parliament Poised for Active Role in Electing Next Commission President, Asserts President Metsola at EU Council Meeting

European Parliament poised for action, says President Metsola to European Council

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President Metsola underscored the Parliament's unwavering dedication to facilitating a seamless process for electing the new Commission President.

During today's informal leaders' gathering in Brussels, Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament, emphasized the following points:

Results of the European Elections

“It has been just over a week since the election of the 720 Members of the European Parliament, who will serve the people of Europe for the next five years. The key point is that the pro-European centrist coalition remains strong.”

Voter Participation

The voter turnout for the 2024 European elections was the highest it has been in more than three decades. Additionally, 14 out of the 27 EU Member States saw an increase in participation compared to the 2019 elections.

Future actions

Last week, the heads of political groups in the European Parliament gathered for the Conference of Presidents to evaluate the results of the recent European elections. Most of these leaders endorsed the Lead Candidate process. It was unanimously acknowledged that, based on the election outcomes, the European People’s Party remains the biggest political group in Parliament. This dominant group also reaffirmed their support for their current lead candidate to continue as the next Commission President.

The President of the European Council has received an invitation to join the upcoming session of the European Parliament's Conference of Presidents on Thursday, June 20, and once more on June 26, for a concluding discussion before the European Council meeting scheduled for June 27-28. If a consensus is reached regarding a nominee for the next President of the European Commission, the leaders of the political groups would be prepared to engage in a dialogue with the nominee on July 2.

"The goal of this procedure is to identify the candidate who can secure the required majority support in Parliament to be appointed as the next Commission President. We are prepared to advance the process promptly once the European Council presents its nominee."

Statement from the people of Europe

The election outcomes indicate that most of our population wants to uphold our values and prioritize security. We must persist in supporting Ukraine. It is crucial that the dual transitions benefit everyone. The Green Deal should propel economic growth without additional burdens or excessive bureaucracy. We need to shift from a crisis-focused mindset to long-term planning, leveraging our greatest asset—the single market—and enhancing the EU's competitiveness. This approach will solidify Europe's global standing.

Summary

The European Parliament is dedicated to fully cooperating and committing to a seamless process for electing the President of the European Commission. We have already begun our work on this and will keep pushing forward.

Background: the legal responsibilities of the European Parliament in the selection process for the next President of the European Commission

According to Article 17(7) of the Treaty on European Union, the European Parliament is responsible for electing the President of the Commission, requiring a majority vote from its members. Prior to this election, the European Council must consider the results of the European Parliament elections when suggesting a candidate.

Declaration 11 attached to the Lisbon Treaty asserts that the European Parliament, in collaboration with the European Council, is responsible for facilitating the process of electing the President of the European Commission by engaging in the required discussions.

You can read the entire speech delivered by President Metsola here.

Contact Information:

Jüri Laas

Antti Timonen

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