Policy impact
Foreign policy - Russia and the ‘near neighbourhood’
Although the European Parliament does not have official power over foreign policy issues, it can influence the development of an EU view on external policy challenges.
During the last Parliament, issues relating to Russia and Europe’s ‘near neighbourhood’ were high on the agenda. The Parliament is likely to have a more robust approach to Russia over the next five years, with the Dutch and German centre-left parties, who often tempered criticism of Russia in the last parliament, significantly reduced. Likewise, the strong performance by Poland’s Civic Platform (and the centre-right in general) could lead to a more critical line being taken with regard to Moscow. However, the moderate success of Italy’s People of Freedom party (PdL) could be important, given Silvio Berlusconi’s previous support for the Russian government. The choice of the EPP candidate for Parliament president – the Italian Mario Mauro or the Pole Jerzy Buzek – could be crucial.
With regard to Ukraine, the increase in Polish influence within the EPP and the strength of the Law and Justice party in the new Conservative grouping will ensure a strong pro-Ukraine presence in the new Parliament, as Kiev looks towards EU membership.
Robin Koch - Manager, Burson-Marsteller Brussels
The new Environment Committee
The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety is the Parliament’s legislative powerhouse - and is likely to remain so in this parliament.
Despite the departure of many of its leading members, such as John Bowis (EPP-ED, UK), Jules Maaten (ALDE, the Netherlands), Dorette Corbey (PES, the Netherlands), Georgs Andrejevs (ALDE, Latvia), Anders Wijkman (EPP-ED, Sweden), Hiltrud Breyer (Greens/EFA, Germany), Avril Doyle (EPP-ED, Ireland) and Adamos Adamou (GUE/NGL, Cyprus), there remains a lot of expertise on the Committee, including big-hitters such as Karl-Heinz Florenz (EPP, Germany), Dagmar Roth-Behrendt (Socialists and Democrats, Germany), Chris Davies (ALDE, UK) and Françoise Grossetête (EPP, France).
One of these remaining members could well take the Chair of the Committee, depending on the workings of the d’Hondt system within the Parliament and the Groups. (Miroslav Ouzky (Czech Republic), whose party joins the new European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group, is unlikely to stay on that post.)
Click the buttons below to read more Insights into the three main policy areas covered by the ENVI Committee, and watch the slideshow to look at the likely make-up of the new ENVI Committee, potential new alliances and a list of departing and returning members.
Energy
Energy is becoming an increasingly important area of EU policy. Click here to read the Burson-Marsteller Brussels Energy team’s Insight into the likely evolution of this policy in the new European Parliament.