#EUNews - Let’s talk about what the EU actually does 🔊 Council on Brexit, Groupnews from ALDE and EPP
📌Prolonging Brexit: May’s request could jeopardize the legality of the EP
📌Brexit effect: the redistribution of the seats in the EP has happened, and some are counting on it
📌TeamEurope: ALDE is entering the EP2019 race with a pack of 7
📌 Hungary: Fidesz suspended from EPP, EP discussing state of the rule of law
Prolonging Brexit: May’s request could paralyze the EU lawmaking process
➡️PM Theresa May has asked for an extension of the Brexit process. An extension stretching past the 22nd of May would under EU law require the UK to elect MEPs, yet May has ruled out Britain’s participation in the EP elections. Should the deal be accepted, or Brexit be revoked, or the exit period extended for even longer - the UK would be a full member without elected representatives, which would open any decision taken to legal challenge.
🔜 If needed, another summit could be held on March 28th. The timing is getting tight...
Brexit effect: the redistribution of the seats in the EP has happened, and some are counting on it
➡️Under the assumption that Brexit would happen on March 29, the number of seats in the EP has been redistributed amongst the remaining 27. 14 countries, which would get more seats if the EU leaves are in need to organise their elections soon - but under which condition? In countries where people vote in constituencies, or in which expats need national voting booths set up on foreign soil to be able to participate, officials remain clueless as of how, if and when to organize the necessary measures.
TeamEurope: ALDE is entering the EP2019 race with a pack of 7
➡️ The Alliance for Liberals and Democrats’ in Europe (ALDE) announced their list of lead candidates for the European elections today. With a mix of different nationalities, the party is positioning itself against the lead candidate procedure, while trying to give a European and transnational aspect to their campaign as well. Macron’s La Republique En Marche has not nominated a member for the team, though party representatives were present at the ALDE conference. Might they try to form a new group in the EP after the elections?
Hungary: Fidesz suspended from EPP, EP discussing state of the rule of law
➡️ After fierce discussion on whether or not the Hungarian party Fidesz should be excluded from the EPP family, the group now found a middle ground through suspension. Fidesz will have to meet various conditions and judgement whether the party is acting in accordance with the EPP's rules and values. On top, MEPs discussed the developments in Hungary since last September’s request to determine whether Hungary is posing a systemic threat to the European Union’s founding values. Judicial independence, freedom of expression, corruption, rights of minorities, and the situation of migrants and refugees were key concerns behind the September request.
🔥 If you want to be updated, too, we suggest the European Parliament's press service http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room and the European Commission's news room https://europa.eu/newsroom/home_en