PES wants Schulz in the Commission and flexibility for the Stability Pact

Socialists want Martin Schulz to have “a strong role in the future Commission.” In a meeting with the press, the outgoing head of S&D group at the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda, said “it’s no secret” that “the key choice would be having him as Commission Vice-President” but “the appointment is up to Angela Merkel.” In the meantime, Schulz will be elected as head of the group, even though it is clear that “it is just a transition phase to allow him to manage the negotiations,” said Swoboda. “It is not a personal battle,” he added, “we just want to acknowledge the role electors gave him.”

“Programs come first,” said the Austrian socialist. A priority shared by the Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi. “We are in touch with him,” Swoboda explained, “because he thinks that greater flexibility to the Stability Pact is precondition for any deal on the European Commission.” Higher flexibility means “some productive public investments should be excluded by deficit accounting” and “more time should be given for reducing it.” An amendment to the Treaty is “impossible, too many countries would not agree,” but it could be softened “and we are working on that.”

It’s no secret that Socialist are very careful in dealing with Italian needs, given the extraordinary result obtained in the European election by the Democratic Party. An occasion for a mea culpa too, because “Renzi is the only Prime Minister who expressed clearly his will to change European policies, while other PMs were ‘softer’,” added Swoboda.

Swoboda was quite optimistic about Jean-Claude Juncker being appointed by the European Council. Then, he will have to get the Parliament’s vote of confidence. To get it “I wouldn’t rely only on S&D and EPP votes,” as Manfred Weber previously said, “in the program we are debating there are several elements that could get the favour of Greens and Liberals,” added Swoboda. This is why “we need a wider cooperation, we cannot give citizens the message that the only groups to find a deal were the biggest ones, people won’t get it.” A “wider cooperation” would be “better for Juncker too.”

The outgoing head of the S&D group has also discussed about the ‘open match’ for the European Council Presidency, saying one of the most favoured names is Helle Thorning-Schmidt. “I cannot say we are supporting her, she’s a possibility,” he said, because Socialists “would rather support someone coming from the euro area,” but Thorning-Schmidt “could be a way to pander to David Cameron’s requests.”