The Brief – What does it mean to be non-inscrit?

Stars shine but not the space dust that forms them. What is true for space is true for the European Parliament’s constellation of far-right groups which emerged to much media fanfare, while the greyed-out part of hemicycle graphics from which they emerged, otherwise known as the non-inscrits, has remained overlooked – until now.

“Non-inscrit” is a Frenchism imported into the wonderfully accommodating variant of English spoken in Brussels. Translated literally as “non-attached”, the term is a catch-all for MEPs not associated with one of the European Parliament’s political groups.

Beyond that, non-inscrits are defined by what they are not.

The downsides of being a non-inscrit

A spokesperson for the European Parliament explained that while the parliament secretariat is there to support all members, there are several limitations to going alone.

On funding, the budget for secretariat and communications support is split 60:40 with 60% divided per MEP, but the other 40% being distributed by group size, which is out of reach for the non-inscrits.

Sitting outside the group structure also makes tabling amendments and motions in plenary harder as non-inscrits must persuade enough individual supporting MEPs to sign on, instead of calling on group help.

The spokeperson further explained that non-inscrits do not ordinarily participate in fact-finding missions, they can’t ask oral questions to the Commission, and they only have the speaking time remaining after distribution between the party groups has taken place.

The Conference of Presidents, composed of group leaders and President Roberta Metsola, does have a non-inscrit representative, but without a vote.

How have the numbers changed over time?

Since the birth of the European Parliament, the proportion of non-inscrits has trended upward.

This trend has accompanied the EU’s enlargement from nine to 27 countries, and increasing political fragmentation within individual countries. With the establishment of three far-right groups, and some non-inscrits still expected to find a political home, it looks like the new cohort of MEPs will buck this trend.

The number of non-inscrits also tends to increase within a parliamentary cycle, often due to ‘bad behaviour’.

In the 2019-2024 cycle, Hungary’s Fidesz left the centre-right EPP (before it could be expelled), in pursuit of a far-right political agenda. Similarly, the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) was expelled by the ID group after questioning the criminality of the Nazi SS.

Are the non-inscrits a “basket of deplorables”?

To reword Hillary Clinton’s attack on Trump supporters, is non-inscrits simply a label for far-right politicians unable to join with others?

Partly, yes.

Euractiv’s Kjeld Neubert reported that SOS Romania’s two MEPs and one member of Poland’s Konfederacja were refused admission to the Europe of Sovereign Nations group because the dominant party AfD deemed them too anti-Semitic.

The far-left also features among the non-inscrits with Czechia’s Stacilo!, and Greece’s communists (KKE).

Two parties among the non-inscrits have blended left and far-right politics into a new mix unpalatable for all party groups.

Germany’s Bündnis Sahra Wagenkneckt failed to get its own far-left but anti-immigrant and pro-Putin grouping off the ground. Slovakia’s governing Smer party was kicked out of the S&D group and is suspended from the Party of European Socialists due to their opposition to support for Ukraine.

Some non-inscrits may yet join a political group. Euractiv understands, for example, Greece’s far-right party (NIKI) hopes to join Patriots for Europe and a small German party (PdF) may join the EPP.

Finally, there are the satirists: Germany’s Die Partei has two MEPs who may be natural friends of Cyprus’ Gen-Z YouTuber Fidias Panayiotou, who has no political programme and professed no knowledge of the European Parliament.

Better late than never to learn!

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Look out for…

• European Parliament holds its plenary session in Strasbourg.
• European Commission Vice President Dubravka Šuica attends the Strasbourg plenary session of the European Parliament.
• European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič receives Espen Barth Eide, Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, for the first EU-Norway High-Level Dialogue on Fisheries and Ocean Governance
• European Commissioner Stella Kyriakides participates in the Agriculture and Fisheries Council
• European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič receives Nick Thomas-Symonds, UK Minister for the Cabinet Office (Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations).
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[Edited by Rajnish Singh]

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