Rearm Europe, Socialists ready to back emergency procedure. But Schlein criticises the plan

Brussels – Faced with the precipitous turn of events, with Trump threatening to close the U.S. umbrella on Europe and turn his back on Ukraine, the EU plan for rearmament cannot wait for the lengthy legislative process planned in Brussels. Ursula von der Leyen has informed political groups that she wants to use the emergency procedure and bypass the EU Parliament to cut time by negotiating the text directly with EU Council member countries. The president of the Social Democrats (S&D), Iratxe García Pérez, has announced that her group is ready to step aside and work “responsibly” together with the European Commission. But she will have to reckon with the other souls of the Socialist family, starting with the leader of the Democratic Party, Elly Schlein.

In fact, the activation of the article 122 of the EU Treaty, in cases where “serious difficulties arise in the supply of certain products,” is the sole responsibility of the European Commission, which is sovereign in making legislative proposals. Von der Leyen therefore does not need the support of political groups to do so: “I know you don’t like Article 122, but it is the fastest tool provided by the treaties. The intention is not to bypass Parliament, but this is an existential emergency,” she reportedly explained yesterday (March 5) to the Conference of Presidents (COP) of the EU Parliament. However, it remains a move that is likely to be highly unpopular if it does not get the political support of the majority that voted for her.

If populars—von der Leyen’s group—and liberals—group leader Valerie Hayer called the plan “a good first step that demonstrates the unity and readiness of the EU”—enthusiastically welcomed the guidelines presented by the EU leader, some concerns emerged in the S&D ranks. Leaders of the socialist family’s national delegations discussed this morning ahead of the European Council extraordinary meeting on Ukraine and security being held in the EU capital. The Dem secretary “reiterated her criticism” of von der Leyen’s plan: “We believe that a truly common defence is needed, not the rearmament aid of individual nation states,” Schlein attacked, speaking to the press on the sidelines of the meeting.

Among Rearm Europe’s five points, the most debated is the idea of diverting part of the Cohesion funds to military spending: an “unacceptable” proposal, according to the Dems, who in the Socialist group in the EU Parliament are the largest delegation. Not only that. Schlein touched on the sensitive issue of common indebtedness, pointing out that the European Commission’s strategy is “all based on national debts” which risks replaying “The movie seen on state aid during the pandemic,” with “countries with more fiscal margin that can do a lot and countries with less fiscal margin that can do little.”

The Dem leader said she has “also found positive feedback from other socialist forces.” Starting with her French counterpart, Olivier Faure, who warned that even for transalpine Socialists “it is impossible” to accept that cohesion funds could be redirected to defence. Along Schlein’s lines, Faure also suggested that, compared to nation-states, “the European Union itself is not indebted and therefore can also borrow” capital on the financial markets. “Under these conditions, we can respond to the great challenge of strengthening our defence without abandoning the social system and the ecological transition,” Faure said.

Schlein herself spoke about the conditions: “We will continue to build conditionality to change von der Leyen‘s proposals and turn them toward common projects,” she said. The EU Parliament will debate next week during its plenary session in Strasbourg, where a resolution on the Defense White Paper to be presented by the European Commission on March 19 is expected. In the document that is put to a vote, political groups will seek to direct the work of the EU executive in drafting the legislative proposal.

Garcia Perez, S&D group leader, sought to tone down the discussion: “We will support the plan,” Rearm Europe, “but in any case it is important to send the message that the European Parliament wants to be part of this discussion and we are ready to be responsible to work with the emergency procedure,” she confirmed to reporters upon arrival at the Socialist summit.