Groups, committees, and plenary. All the dates for the establishment of the new European Parliament

Brussels – As the delegations of the different national parties are in turmoil for the start of the 10th term of the EU Parliament and are intensifying contacts within the groups to be formed, it may help to take stock of the crucial dates to define what will be the composition and offices of the only EU institution directly elected by the citizens of the 27 member countries.

With the Conference of Presidents convened on Tuesday (June 11) by the President of the EU Parliament, Roberta Metsola, and the first meetings of the seven political groups held over the past two days, the work of the new legislature has unofficially begun in Brussels. And it is precisely the political groups that are the players of this first post-election phase, with their eyes on the constituent meetings starting next week. According to the provisional calendar, the first will be of the European People’s Party (EPP) group on June 18, followed on June 19 by the Greens/Ale, and the following week four more: on June 25 both of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) – in which the Democratic Party should take the leadership – and that of the Left, while on June 26, of Renew Europe and the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR). The Identity and Democracy (Id) group will close on July 3 with its constituent meeting, with the big question mark over the re-admission or exclusion of Germans from Alternative für Deutschland (AfD).

In any case – according to article 33 of the EU Parliament’s rules of procedure – the deadline for the constitution of the groups will be on July 15, the day before the formal inauguration of the 10th legislature with the plenary session in Strasbourg. With the yet-to-be ruled-out scenario of the possible constitution of a new formation even further to the right than ECR and ID (23 MEPs are needed from at least a quarter of the member states, so seven), the political groups will have to notify the EU Parliament Presidency of their name, composition, and political declaration. Once this process is completed, the 10th legislature will officially get underway on July 16 in Strasbourg with the taking office of the newly elected MEPs and the start of work until July 19 for the election of the President, 14 Vice-Presidents, and five Quaestors. At the inaugural plenary session, the numerical (and potentially nominal) composition of the standing committees and subcommittees of the EU Parliament will also be voted on. Finally, during the week of July 22-25, all parliamentary committees will meet to elect their respective Presidents (Chairs and Vice-Chairs).

 With the constitution of the new EU Parliament complete, Parliamentarians will also be called upon to elect the new Presidency of the European Commission, appointed by the heads of state and government of the 27 member countries meeting at the European Council. Ahead of the first informal discussion of EU leaders scheduled for Monday (June 17), the possibility of a rapid confirmation of the current President of the EU executive, Ursula von der Leyen, is looming with increasing force. If the European Council indicates as early as the June 27-28 summit that it will give the green light to a second von der Leyen term, the Conference of Presidents could set the date of the election of the Commission Presidency during its inaugural session on July 16-19 – without having to wait for the first one after the summer break (September 16-19) – also considering that the pro-European Popular-Social-Democratic-Liberal majority (with the possible entry of the Greens) will be confirmed to the European Parliament and will have no problem endorsing a new cabinet of the German. Based on Rule 124 of the Rules of Procedure of the EU Parliament, the candidate proposed by the European Council presents his or her political program for the legislature to the MEPs, with a plenary debate to follow and election by an absolute majority (361 out of 720) by secret ballot. Should the majority fail, the European Parliament Presidency will invite the European Council to propose another candidate within a month.

The last institutional task in the first months of the legislature will be to review and confirm the designated European Commissioners, in agreement between member countries and the Commission Presidency, and appointed by the European Council. First, the legal committee will review each commissioner-designate’s declaration of financial interests. Then, each parliamentary committee will examine them with written questions and in public hearings based on their area of competence.  The assessment must be completed within 24 hours, and the letter forwarded to the Conference of Presidents within another 24 hours so it can prepare a draft resolution to be voted on in the plenary when, by a simple majority, Members must approve the appointment of the entire College of Commissioners for the five-year term. If in July there is already von der Leyen’s name as President of the Commission, the time frame for confirmation of the Commissioners may be brought forward between September and October.