Greens/EFA group reject Council deal

Today, the leaders of the Heads of State and governments in the European Council agreed on a list of names for top EU positions. The deal agreed in the Council fails to respect the lead candidate process and the results of the European elections, says Ska Keller President of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament:

“This backroom stich-up after days of talks is grotesque, it satisfies no one but party power games. After such a high turnout in the European elections and a real mandate for change, this is not what European citizens deserve.

"We don’t need the smallest common denominator satisfying personal interest and party politics. We need a dynamic for political change in Europe and this is not offered by this package."

Philippe Lamberts, President of the Greens/EFA group, adds:

“The Parliament must decide on its Presidency independently from European governments and not leave this down to a poorly cooked-up compromise in the Council. That's why we stand firmly behind our European Parliament presidential candidate, Ska Keller. The Parliament should not let the council dictate its presidency.

"We are fighting for a Parliamentary democracy. We need a fairer, more social and environmentally friendly Europe that works for citizens and we will fight to ensure that the EU works to achieve this over the next five years.”