The coalition of Ursula von der Leyen in the European Parliament is holding up, but it is looking increasingly fragile. Centrist, Socialist and Green members of that coalition are deeply troubled by what they see as an alignment between the conservative European People's Party (EPP) and the far right. And they say they want the EU Commission president to get a grip on the EPP. The entire coalition did come together to see off a vote of no-confidence in von der Leyen on July 10. But that support came at a price. Party group leaders insist their backing of the Commission chief is not unconditional and that they want to see a change in policy direction. That is exactly the line taken by our guest, Valérie Hayer, who is the leader of the centrist Renew bloc in the EU Parliament and a French MEP since 2019.
"I want a strong commitment on common policies, and I want a better cooperation, both between the Commission and the European Parliament, and also within the European Parliament, between the EPP and the pro-European groups, which is not the case yet," Hayer asserts. "If we don't have any strong commitment, any willingness from the EPP group that they want to work together with the pro-European agenda, and if we don't have any commitment from Ursula von der Leyen, then of course we will have to take decisions. And that could indeed be not to take part any more in this coalition."
We put it to Hayer that the EPP has not sided with the far right in the great majority of votes over the past year. "But when you look at the most important files in the European Parliament, they decided consciously to make a deal with the far right. I can give you lots of examples," Hayer responds. "Nothing can be achieved with the far right, because the far right just wants to undermine Europe," she adds.
We ask Hayer how France is going to deal with its huge public debt, while at the same time increase its defence spending by €3.5 billion in 2026. Is it not a contradiction to spend more money while also making austerity cuts? "We have to push for more investment at the national but also at the European level," Hayer responds. "We are under threat with disinformation, cyberattacks and so on. And President Macron had also a very pro-European stance when he decided and announced this increase in defence spending. So I think we don't have any other choice."
On the subject of public spending, the EU Commission has now made its proposal for the next big seven-year EU budget, and it represents an increase on the current 2021-2027 budget, which Hayer helped to negotiate. "We want to have a strong competitiveness fund to support our industries," Hayer says. "We also want to have a 'European preference' with local content [in strategic investments]. And a key demand from our group is that we want a strong commitment vis-a-vis the rule of law, especially with the smart conditionality, which means no euros going to autocrats and governments who don't respect our common rules. But on the ground, mayors and NGOs should still benefit from [EU] money."
Hayer also talks about US President Donald Trump and his stated intent to impose 30 percent tariffs on EU imports on August 1. "First of all, nobody has any interest in this trade war. Nobody. Neither the EU, nor the US," she answers. "Now, the unity of Europe is absolutely key. Of course we should support the Commission strategy and leave the political space for negotiation. But if on the 1st of August we don't have enough in the negotiations, let's not be shy. We are a power. We have a huge market that is interesting for US companies, and we should have these countermeasures to convey the message to Donald Trump that we will not be fooled."
Programme prepared by Perrine Desplats and Isabelle Romero
English (US) · 