Fidesz party does a volte face, it’s not a vaccine passport it’s a digital pass, and the conference on Europe will have too much top brass
This episode is supported by the European Round Table for Industry – ERT, more about them later on.
The big news this week is that Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party has left the #EPP faction in the European Parliament, after years of disagreements with the conservative group, which was preparing to vote on their suspension. Will they now join #ECR asked Alexandra Brzozowski.
🇭🇺🇪🇺 #Hungary's #Fidesz left the #EPP faction in the European Parliament, after years of disagreements with the conservative group, which was preparing to vote on their suspension. Will they now join #ECR? | More details with @VMakszimov for @EURACTIV https://t.co/mkMYOTGyS5
— Alexandra Brzozowski (@alex_owski) March 3, 2021
Very possibly given the love letter the ECR wrote on hearing about the breakup.
The ECR just swiped right on #Fidesz joked MEP Assistant.
The ECR just swipped right on #Fidesz. #Orban https://t.co/2dRDPYagSJ pic.twitter.com/5YSroRLHku
— mepassistant (@mepassistants) March 3, 2021
Hungarian Minister for Families, Katalin Novák, tweeted that Fidesz has decided to leave the Group because they could not allow MEPs to be silenced or limited in their capacity to represent voters.
We will not let our MEPs be silenced or limited in their capacity to represent our voters. Tackling the pandemic and saving lives remains our number one priority. Therefore, following the adoption of new rules in the @EPPGroup, #Fidesz has decided to leave the Group. pic.twitter.com/WSx1PmtKQ8
— Katalin Novák (@KatalinNovakMP) March 3, 2021
No mention of the fact that the Group was on the brink of expelling them.
EPP MEP Róża Thun for one was not sorry to see them go.
Adieu Fidez, I will not cry, she said.
Adieu #FIDESZ from @EPPGroup! I will not cry.
— Róża Thun (@rozathun) March 3, 2021
Veronica Orrù took the opportunity to share of of Jean Claude Juncker’s greatest moments.
EU mood of the day#Fidesz #Orbán #EPP pic.twitter.com/xEDodjJ0VR
— Veronica Orrù (@verocrok) March 3, 2021
Not the first time a Fidesz MEP has jumped from a party in Brussels recently, snarked Luke James.
Not the first time a Fidesz MEP has jumped from a party in Brussels recently https://t.co/TmhDUveTrx
— Luke James (@LEJ88) March 3, 2021
Indeed Luke, no one has forgotten that little snafu.
In fact here’s a meme that’s currently being shared on Hungarian social media.
So here’s a meme that’s currently being shared on Hungarian social media. pic.twitter.com/Km5C8ttRNJ
— Maria Udrescu (@UdrescuMaria) March 3, 2021
Also this week, when is a vaccine passport not a vaccine passport?
When it’s a Digital Green Pass of course!
Ursula von der Leyen was keen to emphasis that the proposed pass will respect data protection, security and privacy and is simply proof that a person has been vaccinated with results of tests for those who couldn’t get a vaccine yet and info on COVID19 recovery.
We'll present this month a legislative proposal for a Digital Green Pass. The aim is to provide:
•Proof that a person has been vaccinated
•Results of tests for those who couldn’t get a vaccine yet
•Info on COVID19 recoveryIt will respect data protection, security & privacy
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 1, 2021
The EU’s digital vaccine certificate is already coming under public pressure and it was only just announced 2 hours ago, noted Jack Parrock.
The EU’s digital vaccine certificate is already coming under public pressure and it’s only just been announced about 2 hours ago that a proposal is forthcoming later this month. https://t.co/XLzAztwBwo
— Jack Parrock (@jackeparrock) March 1, 2021
By Wednesday:
The Commission is quietly downgrading its “digital green pass” plan due later this month. It’s no longer going to be called a “pass” but merely a certificate commented Mehreen Khan.
Commission is quietly downgrading its "digital green pass" plan due later this month. It's no longer going to be called a "pass" but merely a certificate as member states question what whether vaccines like Sputnik should be considered valid for travel https://t.co/KDxwGSF0Pw
— Mehreen (@MehreenKhn) March 4, 2021
Le Chou revealed leaked images of how it thought the “pass” would look.
LEAKED: Images Of EU's Vaccine Passport pic.twitter.com/Ve6COmtp5s
— Le Chou (@LeChouNews) March 1, 2021
Simon Brodkin imagined vaccine passport holders arriving in Ibiza… yes, we get it, they’re all over 65.
Vaccine passport holders arrive in Ibiza pic.twitter.com/PaUqYeVFSt
— Simon Brodkin🎤🚌 (@SimonBrodkin) March 2, 2021
This week we are supported by ERT. Find out about their companies’ actions for inclusion, diversity and voluntary targets for women in leadership. The report is out on 5 March. Follow the hashtag #EmbraceDifference.
CEOs & Chairs of leading industrial companies @ert_eu support gender equality and #EmbraceDifference.
Find out about their companies’ actions for #Inclusion & #Diversity + our “Voluntary Targets for Women in Leadership” report out on 5 March. https://t.co/PEYG5vS0KM #IWD2021 pic.twitter.com/v7AXHzVhTo
— European Round Table (@ert_eu) March 4, 2021
Finally this week, the European Parliament gave its green light to the Conference on the Future of Europe.
The @Europarl_EN gives green light to the Conference on the Future of Europe. A great opportunity to work for a new Europe together with citizens. #CoFoE pic.twitter.com/jP2TwCXa72
— David Sassoli (@EP_President) March 4, 2021
After months of haggling over how many presidents it would have. For anyone who still cares, they abandoned the idea of a single president in favour of having 6! Three honorary presidents and three executive presidents.
Christoph Schmidt reckons every citizen will be asked to be vice president at this conference.
Every citizen will be asked to be vice president at this conference. https://t.co/aSvHf7HQ0i
— Christoph Schmidt (@trouwschmidt) March 4, 2021
Anthony Zacharzewski said that’s one of the problems of the conference: Too many presidents. Too little time. But it can still make a positive difference to the emerging European Democracy.
Too many presidents. Too little time. People have been pretty hard on the leaked plans for the Conference on the Future of Europe #CoFoE – but it can still make a positive difference to the emerging European Democracy.
— Anthony Zacharzewski (@anthonyzach) March 3, 2021
Second thoughts lads, how about we make it the Videoconference on the Future of Europe, said Martini Seltzermayr.
Second thoughts lads, how about we make it the Videoconference on the Future of Europe
— Martini Seltzermayr (@mseltzermayr) March 1, 2021
Luckily Zoom doesn’t set a limit on the number of co-hosts, everyone can be a president, laughed Pepijn Bergsen!
Luckily Zoom doesn’t set a limit on the number of co-hosts, everyone can be a president!
— Pepijn Bergsen (@pbergsen) March 1, 2021
In conclusion, the danger is high that we end up with the EU institutions putting on a show, handing a report to the Council and there is much ado about nothing, in the end harming rather than strengthening the EU and its legitimacy said Nicolai von Ondarza.
In conclusion, the danger is high that we end up in a scenario where the EU institutions put on a show for #COFEU, hand a report to #EUCO and there is much ado about nothing, in the end harming rather than strengthening the EU and its legitimacy.
— Nicolai von Ondarza (@NvOndarza) March 1, 2021