ENVI and ITRE: Many familiar faces, but some big names relegated to backbenches

4 months ago 11

Draft committee arrangements of the European Parliament’s biggest groups, seen by Euractiv, show that some heavyweight lawmakers surprisingly secured only substitute status due to the high demand for seats in the environment (ENVI) and industry (ITRE) committees.

Despite the much-discussed backlash against nature protection, ENVI remains one of the most desirable committees for MEPs to join, although its attractiveness may also stem from MEPs who wish to work on the committee’s health sub-group.

Meanwhile, ITRE has been expanded to 90 members, reflecting the Parliament’s cross-group desire to seize decarbonisation as an opportunity to strengthen Europe’s industrial competitiveness.

Parliament watchers will recognise many returning big names to both Committees.

From the socialists (S&D), both Cesar Luena and Mohammed Chahim have kept their ENVI seats, while Niels Fuglsang, Jens Geier, and Nicolas Gonzalez Casares remain in ITRE.

For the liberals (Renew), former Committee chair Pascal Canfin, as well as Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy and Emma Wiesner will retake their seats in ENVI, while in ITRE, Christophe Grudler and Bart Groothuis will return.

The greens are set to reappoint Jutta Paulus and Tilly Metz to ENVI, and Michael Bloss to ITRE. Ville Niinistö will keep his ITRE seat but must relinquish his spot on ENVI.

The lists did not specify who would chair each committee, but two names are being discussed most widely.

ITRE will be chaired by freshly elected Polish EPP lawmaker Borys Budka, whose previous task entailed the restructuring of Polish state enterprises under Prime Minister Donald Tusk, several sources say.

Meanwhile, the Italian socialists have staked their claim to the ENVI chair position, a high-ranking socialist source said, noting that the experienced MEP Alessandra Moretti – in ENVI since 2019 – might be best placed for the job.

Big name substitutes

The greens’ loss of seats means that some big names have taken substitute MEP status, including co-lead candidate Bas Eickhout, who will no longer be a full member of ENVI.

Similarly, lead candidate for the French greens, Marie Toussaint, will only be a substitute in ITRE.

In spite of his background, former environment commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius is not on the ENVI Committee and is a substitute within ITRE. He will be a full member of the Transport Committee.

Substitute MEPs can still play a role in committees when their full member counterpart is not present. Substitute MEPs can also lead negotiations on files, so they may use their standing within their respective groups to play a larger role than their substitute status would suggest.

Finally there a few ‘big name’ politicians on the substitute list – both former Belgian prime minister Sophie Wilmès and liberal lead candidate Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann are substitutes in ITRE. It remains to be seen what role, if any, they will play in daily committee work.

New blood

Newly elected S&D lawmaker Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, who is already very familiar with EU energy policy, will take a seat on ITRE, while Sigrid Friis Frederiksen, who replaced Morten Petersen on the Danish liberal’s ticket, will also take his seat on ITRE.

The well known Austrian climate activist Lena Schilling will sit on the ENVI Committee for the greens, who are also shifting the high-profile Belgian MEP Sara Matthieu to ITRE. In the previous term she sat in the Parliament’s Social Affairs committee.

The centre-right EPP’s list shows established lawmakers Christian Ehler, Hildegard Bentele, and Sean Kelly returning to ITRE.

“Mr ETS” Peter Liese remains in ENVI, alongside newly re-elected Parliament President Roberta Metsola, who will take a full seat in the popular committee.

The full final list of Committee members is expected on Thursday morning, and Committee chairs should be elected on 23 July.

*Additional reporting by Paul Messad and Nikolaus J. Kurmayer

[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]