‘Rearm Europe’: the defense strategy name weighs on the von der Leyen no-confidence vote

Brussels –The motion of censure against the European Commission is officially due to the issue of anti-Covid vaccines and the contracts with Pfizer. Now, however, President Ursula von der Leyen risks paying much more. There are those in the European Parliament who believe that this will be the time to challenge the EU’s shift towards militarism. Specifically, insiders say, the decision to attach the name Rearm Europe to the defense strategy raised concerns. It was the term ‘rearm’ that raised eyebrows on both the left and the right, prompting the EU executive to change the name. 

Today, the plan for rearmament has become the “Readiness 2030” strategy, a “rebranding” dictated by the need to correct an overly bold communication. The outcry, in any case, was immediate and unmistakable. The governments of Spain and Italy contested the choice of name for the industrial recovery program: on one side, the socialist Pedro Sánchez, and on the other, Giorgia Meloni, proving that the arms race and war are just as divisive topics on the left as they are on the right.

Not only that. From the benches of the Greens, Spain’s Ana Miranda was the one to declare: “We firmly oppose this militaristic rearmament,” showing how strongly the Greens disapprove of the initiative’s name and intentions. The Left group even organised a campaign to stop Rearm Europe. 

Now, in Parliament, they are ready to bet that von der Leyen’s move, which has practically displeased everyone, can be used against her in this no-confidence vote, which in any case should not spell the end of the European Commission. The Populars (PPP) will rally around von der Leyen, and the Liberals (Re) should not fail to support her. The Socialists (S&D) and the Greens have made it clear that they do not want to support an initiative from the extreme right, especially one that aims at creating havoc. Even though the Socialists might not vote compactly, with members who might increase the list of those who will abstain to send a political message of uncertain support. With the support of the EPP, S&D, Re, and the Greens, the College of Commissioners is likely to remain in place. 

In defense of the Commission, there will also be the votes of Fratelli d’Italia, a delegation in trouble because the motion of censure was initiated by the group of conservatives (ECR) of which the Italian Nicola Procaccini is co-chairman. This initiative, which generates internal discontent within the European People’s Party, poses a problem for the Popular Party, which has been winking at the conservatives since before the European elections. It is also a tricky question for the party of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who nonetheless has von der Leyen as a privileged interlocutor.