Tensions in the European centrist bloc: halt to negotiations on corporate sustainability
The European Parliament rejects the negotiating mandate, highlighting internal divisions. The future of the regulatory simplification packages is uncertain
From our correspondent Beda Romano
BRUSSELS - Signs of tension are multiplying in the centrist bloc that supports the European Commission. The latest indication came on Wednesday when the European Parliament in a secret vote rejected the mandate by which Strasbourg was to negotiate an agreement with the Council on the revision of two directives relating to the social and environmental sustainability of companies. The risk is that in the future other simplification packages could be the cause of similar political splits.
The subject of the debate on Wednesday was the legislative package proposed by the European Commission at the beginning of the year and aimed at a simplification of two texts known by their English acronyms CSDD and CSRD. The legal affairs committee had drawn up a negotiating mandate, which was then rejected in plenary with 318 no votes, 309 yes votes and 34 abstentions. As mentioned, the vote was secret, but it later emerged that the majority was obtained thanks to the votes of popular, nationalist and even socialist MEPs.
According to information gathered in parliamentary circles, 31 Socialist MEPs warned on Tuesday evening that they would oppose the negotiating mandate, betraying the understanding reached by the centrist bloc, made up of Populars, Socialists and Liberals. The choice shifted the needle of the scales, leading to the rejection of the text. The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, commented today, Thursday 23 October: 'Among the MEPs, there are those who wanted a more incisive mandate and those who wanted it less incisive.
The affair highlights the tensions in the centrist bloc. This is not the first time this has happened. In the past, similar situations have arisen in the areas of the budget or immigration. In this case, however, the choice of some socialists is significant because it reflects a betrayal of the political understanding reached at parliamentary group level. At this point, the text of the mandate will be voted on in the plenary, amendment by amendment. The final outcome is very uncertain.
Today, at a press conference, President Metsola was reassuring: 'Parliament is fully committed to the regulatory simplification agenda. It intends to fulfil its task. We have no time to lose (...) Many national leaders I have spoken to recognise that they have a role to play in bringing Members of Parliament who belong to their governing majority into line, not least because we have very sensitive legislative proposals before us'.
