BRUSSELS — Ursula von der Leyen is encountering her most significant challenge as President of the European Commission after several political factions indicated their intention to retract support due to her controversial decision to revoke climate-friendly legislation.
Valérie Hayer, chair of the liberal Renew Europe group, expressed her concerns, stating, “We are on the brink of an institutional crisis.” This sentiment highlights the precarious position von der Leyen now finds herself in, especially considering that although the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) is the largest in the European Parliament, its success heavily depends on the backing of the Socialists and liberals.
Withdrawal of landmark environmental law
The European Commission made headlines on Friday by announcing the withdrawal of the Green Claims directive, a pivotal piece of legislation aimed at holding companies accountable for unsubstantiated environmental claims. This directive had already navigated numerous legislative hurdles before its abrupt cancellation, which was reportedly requested by the EPP.
This decision received applause from right-wing factions like the European Conservatives and Reformists and the far-right Patriots for Europe, associated with notable figures such as Marine Le Pen of France and Hungary’s Viktor Orbán. Hayer articulated the gravity of the situation, declaring, “If the Commission withdraws the text, we at Renew consider this act as seriously jeopardizing the platform of the pro-European majority.”
Growing tensions among political factions
Critics from the Socialist and liberal factions have accused von der Leyen of capitulating to far-right elements within the Parliament, who have been vocal in their desire to dismantle EU green policies. This shift is seen as a betrayal of the commitment she made when she was elected with their support.
Although formal coalitions do not exist in the European Parliament, the EPP, Socialists, and liberals have generally collaborated in the past and even formalized a cooperation agreement in November. However, the EPP has increasingly allied itself with right-wing groups to advance its agenda, often at the expense of environmental legislation. This week alone, the EPP played a key role in dismissing a report on financing development projects, along with two significant bills concerning artificial intelligence and patents.
The withdrawal of the greenwashing legislation may have crossed a line for the Socialists and liberals, who have expressed frustration over von der Leyen’s handling of other matters, including the so-called Pfizergate incident. In this situation, the EU court ruled against the Commission for failing to release text messages between von der Leyen and the head of Pfizer during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The debate on Pfizergate, we protected her from it; if this continues like this, we will stop protecting her,” a senior official from Renew commented.
This growing dissatisfaction could lead the Socialists and liberals to reconsider their support for von der Leyen, which may obstruct the EU’s legislative machinery. The senior official underscored that the Commission now appears to cater more to the alternative right-wing majority rather than the centrist bloc.
In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for the EPP welcomed the Commission’s decision, arguing that the ongoing negotiations surrounding the directive were likely to result in a “bureaucratic nightmare for companies.” Additionally, both centrist parties are expressing their outrage not only at the cancellation of the proposed law itself but also at the perception that the EPP and von der Leyen are circumventing the EU’s established legislative procedures.
As the situation evolves, a Socialist official articulated the potential for reevaluating the entirety of their support for von der Leyen, stating, “If she really goes through with this, that would be seen as breaching the platform; there is no platform left.”
Iratxe Garcia, chair of the S&D group, emphasized the significance of maintaining robust alliances and adherence to commitments. Meanwhile, Commission spokesperson Stefan De Keersmaecker remarked on the Commission’s ongoing dedication to combatting greenwashing and ensuring that consumers receive accurate information. He reiterated that the Commission aims to simplify the legislative process for businesses, particularly smaller enterprises.