The leaders of the two largest political parties in Europe are going out for elegant dinners while trying to repair their deteriorated relationship.
Unlike the governing coalition in Bucharest, where one settles things in meetings and the other declares PSD close almost every time, in Strasbourg, non-combat agreements are concluded in a polite political manner.
Manfred Weber of the European People's Party and Iratxe García of the Socialists and Democrats, each accompanied by 10 deputies, went out for dinner last month in Strasbourg. And more meetings of this kind will follow, as reported by Politico according to five people who were present.
The objective is to stop the attacks between two traditional allies after a complicated year, during which they clashed on all issues, from EU migration policy to the Commission's simplification agenda.
The first dinner took place on February 10 at the four-star Hotel Leonor in central Strasbourg, where a three-course meal can cost 85 euros per person, without wine. The EPP footed the bill.
Why the two sides are meeting
Christophe Clergeau, S&D vice president, who attended the dinner, stated that the event had two main purposes: for the vice presidents to get to know each other better and to express their grievances.
"It was necessary to have an honest and direct discussion... in a diplomatic way," said Clergeau, adding that "there are issues... the game that the EPP is playing with the far right, the Commission's deregulation agenda, the multiple initiatives weakening the Green Deal, and social and environmental legislation."
The dinner "was pleasant, very friendly, and we agreed to convey the message that we are a coalition and... we like each other," said Croatian EPP vice president, Željana Zovko, another participant, who joked that the groups were "flirting."
"Flirtations" come in a delicate context for the relationship between the two political partners.
The EPP and S&D have worked together for decades, voting alongside and sharing top EU functions. But this alliance has started to fracture, as the 2024 European elections have pushed the Parliament towards the right, and the EPP is now voting on laws together with the far-right Patriots group, which includes Viktor Orban from Hungary and Marine Le Pen from France.
There is also personal animosity between Weber and García, dating back to when the S&D leader (and the liberals) told Weber that they would not support his candidacy for the position of President of the European Commission, which was eventually won by Ursula von der Leyen. Manon Aubry, co-chair of the Left group in Parliament, told Politico that the two are like "two toxic former lovers."
The goal of the dinner was to address these issues.
"The exchange of views was productive. We have always maintained that, during this legislature, the pro-European alliance must do everything possible to remain effective. Coordination is essential, and we are committed to continue on this path," said S&D vice president Alex Agius Saliba, who attended the meeting.
Romanian EPP vice president Siegfried Mureșan also attended the dinner. "We aim to explore how we can improve relations and do more things together. We do not set unrealistic goals; rather, there is a general desire to understand each other and cooperate," he said.
"Group therapy" is how another participating parliamentarian described the dinner, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly. He described it as a "ping-pong" game where EPP and S&D members expressed their grievances, but in a friendly manner. "It was something between good people, willing to try to solve the problem," he said.
Some "political accidents"
Where does this need for closeness between the two major political groups come from?
In recent months, the EPP has voted on laws tightening migration policies and reducing environmental legislation, alongside right-wing and far-right groups in Parliament.
In addition, most governments in Europe lean to the right, and the S&D has been increasingly excluded from shaping the EU political agenda. This has led S&D members to sharpen their rhetoric against Weber and von der Leyen - García accusing the Commission chief of "adhering to Trump's agenda" and "zeal for deregulation."
"Some MEPs also feel that if we do not spend more time talking and working together, there is a risk of a political accident in the coming months... because there is a lack of trust between us," said Clergeau.
Such an "accident," Clergeau said, could be a socialist boycott on key issues - such as the EU's long-term budget - or S&D support for a motion of no confidence in the von der Leyen Commission.
The Commission chief has survived all four motions of no confidence submitted in this legislature. However, some MEPs say the arguments for her dismissal remain.
She "practically begs for a vote of no confidence," said Spanish MEP Jonás Fernández, who comes from García's S&D party. He was referring to a speech von der Leyen gave earlier that day, in which she said, "Europe can no longer be a custodian of the old world order, for a world that has disappeared and will not return."
High-ranking S&D legislators have warned that frustration is growing within the groups, and this could mean that the leadership cannot control the MEPs. This has already happened at the end of last year when García and the EPP worked out a compromise on rules to reduce environmental regulations for companies, but many of her MEPs voted against it.
A relationship that will never be the same
Both the EPP and S&D leaders know that their relationship will probably never be the same. EPP MEPs vote without reservation on laws and set the Parliament's agenda with the right-wing majority.
Weber told Politico that no one will stop him from implementing the EPP program and argued that when the group voted with the far right, they did not adopt "radical positions," but reflected the opinions of national governments and the European Commission.
The EPP voted again on Monday with the right-wing bloc on a bill allowing member states to set up deportation centers in non-EU countries, after negotiations failed within the centrist coalition. This is the latest in a series of laws and non-binding reports voted on by the EPP with right-wing and far-right groups.
In these conditions, the S&D is slowly adapting to the new reality. At a group meeting on March 3, officials discussed how to improve internal coordination. The idea is to prevent MEPs from rebelling against the group's line, so García has a strong hand when negotiating with Weber.
The meeting aimed to make MEPs think about "strengthening personal involvement, collective political judgment, internal trust and coordination, and our common ability to act efficiently as a group," according to an invitation letter sent to S&D MEPs, consulted by Politico.
"The emergence of an increasingly stable majority with right-wing inclinations, the shift to modern communication strategies, organized coordination between the EPP and far-right groups, and a more fragmented political landscape have changed both the influence space and the conditions for cooperation. The effectiveness of the S&D Group depends not only on the strength of our political positions but also on how we work together internally," the letter also stated.
Repeat dinner
After the meeting, García's spokesperson, Andrea Maceiras, told Politico that the "immediate next political test for the group will be the future interim report on MFF," referring to the Multiannual Financial Framework - the EU's long-term budget.
The group aims to put pressure on the EPP on issues where the right-wing bloc lacks consensus, such as the MFF, to capitalize on victories, said two S&D officials to the cited publication.
Although trust between the two groups needs to be repaired, the first dinner was considered such a great success by both sides that another one will be organized in April.
This time, it will be the S&D's turn to choose the venue and foot the bill.
T.D.