In exchange for supporting Italy’s hard-right commissioner nominee Raffaele Fitto, which the socialists initially refused to do, S&D and Renew demanded that the EPP commit to sticking with the centrist mainstream majority, rather than turning to a right-wing majority in the Parliament.
But the agreement falls short of that, and does not add a new dynamic to the relationship among the three groups.
The watered-down declaration merely focuses on broad objectives for the coming five years, drawing from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s June investiture speech.
The three groups “agree to cooperate,” and “reaffirm” their “pledge to work together with a constructive approach.”
There are no formal coalitions in the European Parliament, as the government — in this case the Commission — does not depend on the support of a majority of lawmakers to stay afloat.
While the three centrist groups have kept the EU stable in recent years, often coming together to pass legislation, majorities in the Parliament are decided on a case-by-case basis, depending on the issue at hand.
