Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1445232
11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 23 JANUARY 2022 NEWS NICOLE MEILAK THE European Parliament's 'Big Three' groupings – the centre-right EPP, socialists S&D, and liberals Renew – signed a midterm agreement the night before Roberta Met- sola's big win in Strasbourg. The S&D were first to reveal the backroom deal on Twitter, saying the agreement will en- sure a stable working majority until 2024 elections. The document lays out the political priorities of the three groups until 2024, the most glaring of which is the safe- guarding and promotion of women's rights – including sexual and reproductive health – across Europe. Inclusion of such a statement as its first point was a guaran- tee required to have Metso- la, who has repeatedly voted against documents and clauses referring to abortion as a right, elected. This was the sticking issue in an otherwise straight- forward campaign to become president. Socialist MEPs in particular were concerned about her con- servative views on abortion, as well as a cohort of French MEPs. Monday's agreement allowed Metsola to secure the presi- dency with an absolute major- ity in the first and only round of voting. S&D, and likely many French MEPs, agreed to back Metsola only after the Big Three committed themselves to the priority areas outlined in the deal. When Metsola was elect- ed EPP candidate for the role, S&D president Iratxe Garcia Perez warned that the socialists would be demanding political balance inside the European institutions. On one hand, the S&D had to respect a rotational pact to split the EP presidency between the two major political blocs. On the other hand, foregoing the presidency means that the EPP enjoys representation at the helm of two major EU insti- tutions – the European Com- mission and European Parlia- ment – while liberal Renew has Charles Michel as president of the European Council. S&D were not left completely empty-handed. The socialists secured five from 14 vice presi- dential posts, the chairmanship of the Conference of Commit- tee Chairs, and the presidency of a COVID committee. Among the other priority are- as outlined by the Big Three is the fight for rule of law, specif- ically by making sure that the EU's Conditionality Regula- tion, which allows for the sus- pension of EU funds to mem- ber states that breach rule of law, is activated without delay when needed. The EP had in fact submitted a lawsuit against the European Commission for its failure to apply the Conditionality Reg- ulation in the Court of Justice. All three parties further agreed to supporting the im- plementation of the OECD agreement on taxation while working to develop an inno- vation culture, trying to match the US in cultivating compa- nies like Apple, Google, and Facebook. On foreign affairs, the three groupings seem set on build- ing a European Defence Union and a strong partnership with NATO. One clause insists on an upgraded mandate and re- sources for Frontex, Europol and other security entities. The same section also calls for a new Security Pact to provide for better coordination among Member States. Unsurprisingly, all three agreed to conferring more powers onto the European Par- liament, specifying that it be given the right to initiate leg- islation. They want Ursula von der Leyen to uphold her com- mitment to initiate legislation whenever a legislative initiative report is adopted, while ensur- ing transparency standards and democratic control over inter- national negotiations. nmeilak@mediatoday.com.mt A presidency with strings: what the three EP groups agreed to for Metsola's win creaky boys' club that turns its nose up to female aspirants for power. The only variable is assuming the leadership – how and when. She could already be chang- ing the Nationalist Party, by force of her role – the chief European among Europeans as it were. Her election by 74% of the EP's plenary reflects a pow- er-sharing deal between Chris- tian democrats, socialists and liberals. Metsola is no longer "a Maltese MEP" proudly wav- ing a tattered flag of Catholic 'exceptionalism' on matters like reproductive rights. She now represents the Eu- ropean Parliament's positions entirely, a force that no con- fessional badge of identity can resist – hence her assent to sign Renew's Simone Veil pact guaranteeing abortion rights to women, announced the day after her election in a press conference with French president Emanuel Macron, whose party En Marche is part of Renew. As a politician who credits herself as having always stood for "fact-based not identity politics", Metsola's Europe- anist destiny could free her up from the provincial shack- les that make Maltese politics such a confrontational arena. In Brussels, where it is the strength of the argument that counts, Metsola built major- ities across various parties. To return to Malta and settle for its zero-sum power game would undermine the talent that has made her such a force of nature in Brussels. But Metsola could well teach the Nationalists, who saw EU accession as the island's 'Man- ifest Destiny', that rather than use it as cudgel against the forces of progress, conserva- tism can also be courageous, enlightened, and cooperative – something that is often lacking in the Maltese political scene. Successful careers: Ukko Metsola (right) is a public affairs consultant for Royal Caribbean, as vice-president government relations. He had ran for MEP in 2009 after a stint inside the office of the Finnish prime minister (Photo: Roberta Metsola/Facebook) Family first: Roberta Metsola's stellar career inside the European Parliament proceeded on its upward trajectory, campaigning first in 2009 with two sons on tow, and bringing up her lovely family of four boys in Belgium (Photo: Roberta Metsola/Facebook)