European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen seemingly ruled out working with MEPs who are part of a Eurosceptic group.
During a press conference in Brussels that followed a meeting of the European People’s Party, the centre-right group in the European Parliament of which her German party is a member of, the German politician was asked whether she would be willing to work with the European Conservatives and Reformists group (ECR).
Ms Von der Leyen replied she wants to work with “pro-EU, pro-NATO and pro-Ukraine” parties, journalist Jack Parrock reported on X, adding he interpreted these remarks as a “no”.
The ECR is a right-wing and Eurosceptic group currently counting 68 MEPs from 16 nations in the European Parliament.
The right-leaning group was founded following the 2009 European elections at the behest of Lord David Cameron, who at the time was the leader of the British Conservative Party.
In recent years, the group started welcoming MEPs coming from more far-right factions of the political spectrum, including members of the Italian Brothers of Italy party.
If Ms Von der Leyen truly meant she is not willing to collaborate with the ECR, it would see her sidelining the party led by the current Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni.
Brothers of Italy joined the ECR in 2019, three years after quitting the centre-right European People’s Party group.
Spain’s far-right Vox party is also part of the ECR, but only counts 4 MEPs at the moment.
Another important party making up the ECR is Law and Justice, which led Poland between 2015 and December 2023.
The number of MEPs making up the ECR is set to likely change within months, as in June EU citizens will cast their ballot in the European elections.
While the group opposes EU federalism, its members are largely pro-NATO and support Atlanticism.
Similarly, parties included in the ECR can generally be considered pro-Ukrainian in light of the unprovoked invasion of the eastern European country by the hand of Russia.
Ms Von der Leyen has been the European Commission President since 2019, having previously served as Defence Minister in Germany.
During her term, which she is seeking to renew this year, Ms Von der Leyen sought to deepen European integration. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, she has been hugely critical of Vladimir Putin, and is working to boost Europe’s security and defence spending amid fears of further Russian aggression against the continent.
