About: Spitzenkandidaten
UK should ‘cool down’, ditch Brexit – Timmermans
Britain should use the next few months to "cool down and rethink" its decision to leave the European Union, the socialist candidate to head the next European Commission, Frans Timmermans, said on Wednesday (17 April).
Timmermans invites EU members to ‘bite the bullet’ on rule of law
The European Commission launched on Wednesday (3 April) a process of reflection about whether member states would agree to be supervised on possible breaches of rule of law. The Commission First Vice President Frans Timmermans said it is now up to the capitals to decide if they want to “bite the bullet”.
EPP has ‘lost all credibility’ after Orbán scandal, Verhofstadt says
The European People's Party has “lost all credibility and moral authority to lead the EU,” ALDE's leader Guy Verhofstadt has said, following the EPP's decision to suspend but not expel Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party.
France targeting Commission presidency over top ECB job
France will push for the presidency of the European Commission rather than the European Central Bank when top EU jobs come up for negotiations later this year, three sources briefed on discussions over the matter said.
Hungary covers posters featuring Juncker during Weber’s visit
The head of the European Parliament's dominant centre-right bloc met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Tuesday (12 March), again calling for the populist leader to apologise for an anti-EU billboard campaign.
The Brief, powered by EUROBAT – Dead on arrival
Let us be honest: Although the Spitzenkandidaten are currently touring Europe like third-rate rock stars in an attempt to make themselves known to voters, most of them deep in their heart already suspect the top candidate process is a dead end. And here's why.
ECR’s Zahradil: Orban is happy where he is in the EPP
European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) will not only survive the loss of their UK MEPs this year but hope to be even stronger after the European elections in May, Jan Zahradil, the ECR's Spitzenkandidat, said during a debate organised by the Union of European Federalists (UEF) in Brussels last week.
Socialists entrust Timmermans to replace Juncker at EU helm
Europe’s socialist parties on Saturday (8 December) chose Dutch politician Frans Timmermans to lead them in May elections and to succeed his boss Jean-Claude Juncker as head of the European Commission. Delegates voted in Timmermans, currently first vice president of the EU’s powerful...
Bulgarian socialist leader snubs PES forum in Lisbon
Kornelia Ninova, the leader of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), announced on Thursday (6 December) she would not attend the Party of European Socialists congress in Lisbon, citing her ideological differences with the PES president, compatriot Sergei Stanishev.
‘Progressive alliance’ moves a step closer ahead of EU elections
The leaders of the Social Democrats (S&D), Greens and leftist group (GUE/NGL) sat for the first time at the same table to discuss the possibility of a common strategy ahead of the EU elections in May to face down the rise of far-right and neoliberal forces.
EU needs ‘Great Review’ of powers, says ECR’s Zahradil
No EU agency can replace the role of member states, said Czech MEP Jan Zahradil, putting a ‘Great Review’ of EU powers at the heart of the manifesto for his European Conservative and Reformist (ECR) party, launched on Wednesday (28 November)
European Greens refuse to march behind Macron’s party
Although the European Greens and La République en Marche! (LREM) share common views on the European project, these should be promoted in a partnership of equals, Greens co-chair Reinhard Bütikofer told EURACTIV in an interview.
ECR puts forward Czech MEP as their Spitzenkandidat nominee
Czech MEP Jan Zahradil will be the lead candidate of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR) to run for the presidency of the next European Commission, party chief Syed Kamall announced on Tuesday (13 October).
Weber wins EPP Spitzenkandidat in landslide victory
German Manfred Weber was crowned Spitzenkandidat of the EPP, the European Parliament's largest party, on Thursday (8 November), after he swept to victory in a contest that saw ex-Finnish Prime minister Alexander Stubb win only 20% of the votes.
Timmermans to be Socialist Spitzenkandidat after Sefcovic withdraws
Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans will be the lead candidate of the Party of European Socialists in next year's EU elections, the party announced on Monday (5 November) after his rival Maroš Šefčovič withdrew from the race and backed the Dutchman instead.
Researcher: After the elections, the Commission will certainly be more colourful
Fears of the populist right seizing control of the European Parliament after the 2019 elections are greatly exaggerated, says Piotr Buras. But the new European Parliament and Commission that will come out of the election will certainly be more colourful, he says.
Salvini gets ready for Spitzenkandidaten battle
Italy's far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini is considering running for the presidency of the European Commission if a coalition of nationalist groups wins the next EU elections, he said in an interview Thursday (18 October).
Timmermans, the right-hand of Juncker, eyes EU throne
Frans Timmermans confirmed on Wednesday (10 October) that he wants to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the European Commission next year, dismissing concerns that he has made too many enemies to stand a fighting chance of succeeding his current boss.
Margrethe Vestager’s uncertain future in Brussels
Four years spent fighting against the monopoly of the US digital giants have given Margrethe Vestager political prominence. But due to a lack of support from Copenhagen for a second mandate, the competition Commissioner is expected to leave Brussels after the elections. EURACTIV France reports.
Stubb: A Macron-style candidate against the conservative Weber
The former Finnish Prime Minister, Alexander Stubb, wants to defend European values within the right-wing, and this approach may split the European People’s Party a bit more. EURACTIV France reports.
Austrian ex-chancellor Kern to run for centre-left Spitzenkandidat
As expected, opposition leader Christian Kern said yesterday (18 September) he would run as top candidate for the Austrian Social Democrats in the European Parliament elections next year, aiming to help build a strong counterweight to growing nationalist forces.
Sefcovic officially enters the Spitzenkandidaten battle
Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič announced officially on Monday (17 September) his candidacy to be the leading candidate of his social-democrat political group in the campaign for the 2019 European elections.
Macron seeks new ‘progressive’ coalition for 2019 European elections
French President Emmanuel Macron wants to shake up the EU political ecosystem, hoping to forge a new progressive alliance at the end of this year for the 2019 European Parliament elections, a source in his office said on Wednesday (5 September).