All the zingers, winners and losers from EU fight night

13 mins read

April 30, 2024 7:16 am CET

EU ELECTION CAMPAIGN HEATS UP AS TOP CANDIDATES DEBATE

FIGHT NIGHT: Last night, Ursula von der Leyen squared off in a debate against seven other candidates vying for the European Commission presidency. And — surprise, surprise — they put on a show! Von der Leyen faced a hot grilling from the co-moderators (including POLITICO’s own Barbara Moens) and her fellow candidates, and delivered an impassioned defense of her program. It was a fiery contrast to her usually staid appearances in the European Parliament or after summits.

Political instincts: Rather than hurting von der Leyen, her opponents’ attacks appeared to help the front-runner sharpen her profile. What we saw on the Maastricht stage last night was not a detached Teflon President, but an experienced campaigner who clearly enjoys trading barbs with her opponents.

TOP LINES …

— The Greens’ Bas Eickhout: “Clean up your own house” before lecturing others, Eickhout told the far-right’s Anders Vistisen, referring to allegations of Russian and Chinese influence in the latter’s Identity and Democracy grouping.

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— EPP’s von der Leyen: “We will not allow that you destroy the European Union,” the Commission chief told Vistisen. “We are stronger than you, and we will fight your interference with all means.”

— ID’s Vistisen: “Brussels has become a swamp … we will begin by firing 10,000 bureaucrats in Brussels, and I would like to start with you, Ursula von der Leyen,” Vistisen parried.

— Socialists’ Nicolas Schmit: “Either you can deal with the extreme right because you need them, or you say clearly there is no deal possible,” Schmit told von der Leyen, referring to questions about potential tie-ups after the EU election.

— Liberals’ Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann: “If you travel through Ukraine and see what happens there, then you would know we have to learn to work together … we have to stand together and create a common defense plan.”

— Christian Political Movement’s Valeriu Ghilețchi: “I was born and grew up in the Soviet Union. … Looking back and realizing that I’m here tonight, I can say that even in my wildest dreams, I couldn’t see that a former Soviet soldier would stay tonight in Maastricht in this free debate. But this proves that our dreams can become reality. And I would encourage you to care for your fundamental freedoms.”

— European Free Alliance’s Maylis Roßberg: “The European Union has become hostage to its member states. But for me there’s a simple solution for that: Strengthen the European Parliament.”

— Left’s Walter Baier: “You are rightly putting sanctions on Russia for committing the war crimes which it does. But when will you put sanctions on Israel?”

WHO WON: Eickhout was out ahead in our viewer poll as the debate came to a close (and judging by the applause, the Green had plenty of fans among the students in the room, as Karl Mathiesen reports). But an hour later, von der Leyen came out on top in the poll. Was that the result of a flurry of late ballots cast by undecided viewers … or party apparatchiks?

The case for VDL: As one person in the audience said, von der Leyen was “clearly the adult in the room,” displaying competence and experience. She had a big advantage as the incumbent and best-known face on stage. But she also landed some serious zingers, firing up against the far-right’s Vistisen and delivering an impassioned defense of the Green Deal. Von der Leyen engaged her opponents, and managed to avoid gaffes — which, as another viewer noted, is a win in itself for a frontrunner.

The case for Eickhout: The Green landed some heavy hits on Vistisen (a relatively easy target, given the scandals that have hit his grouping of late). But Eickhout also took aim at von der Leyen over her flirtations with Giorgia Meloni and her hard-right allies, forcing the Commission chief into giving her clearest signal yet that she is ready to cooperate with the Euroskeptic ECR. Eickhout also landed a blow when he accused von der Leyen of abandoning her own climate program.

Bas fans: The Dutchman revelled in the adulation of what felt like a home crowd, he told reporters in the pub after the debate. “It’s because of you that Europe acted on the Green Deal,” Eickhout told the young audience at Maastricht University, imploring them to vote in June.

WHO LOST: Schmit failed to showcase the Socialists’ priorities or present a strong alternative program to von der Leyen’s. Plus, he didn’t land any big blows against the Commission president. Meanwhile, Strack-Zimmermann, who is known to have a sharp way with words in the German Bundestag, found herself somewhat lost in translation, struggling to convey her views in English.

OTHER KEY TAKEAWAYS …

Banning TikTok in Europe is an option, von der Leyen said — a bombshell that comes on the back of a streak of bad news for the Chinese video-sharing app. Schmit was on the same page, calling his position “quite American” after the debate. Pieter Haeck has more.

On Israel sanctions: Eickhout asked von der Leyen whether she would impose sanctions on Israel if it invaded Rafah. Von der Leyen said that while she “never” draws red lines, an invasion of Rafah would be “completely unacceptable,” and the EU “would sit down with our member states, and act on that.”

CATCH UP: You can watch the debate in full here and relive the highlights via our live blog.

RULE OF LAW

TODAY — MINISTERS PLAN STRONGER RULE-OF-LAW SAFEGUARDS: EU affairs ministers meeting at the General Affairs Council today will discuss plans to better protect the rule of law both within the Union, and in countries that are seeking to join the club.

Berlin’s pitch: Germany’s Anna Lührmann has set out proposals in the form of a so-called non-paper, my Berlin Playbook colleague Hans von der Burchard reports. The draft document argues that “financial conditionality” is the most effective “incentive” to force EU countries to shape up.

Milestones are back: Remember the pay-for-performance plan which set out “milestones” Poland had to hit for the EU to release tranches of its post-pandemic stimulus money? Berlin proposes applying a similar approach to the EU’s regular budget funds. That would make it harder for Hungary, for example, to get its hands on EU taxpayer money, if it doesn’t respect EU standards on the rule of law.

Berlin’s other proposals: The German paper also proposes speeding up the process of the Article 7 infringement procedure that’s used against member countries that have committed fundamental rights violations, as well as other measures. The problem is, such changes must be made unanimously — good luck with that.

BANKS

DEBANKING RUSSIA: The European Central Bank is tightening the screws on the last significant banking presences in Russia, in an attempt to starve the country of Western capital and expertise as it wages war on Ukraine. But it’s slow going, as my colleague Geoffrey Smith explains.

EIB WANTS TO BIN HISTORIC LENDING RULES: The head of the European Investment Bank wants to scrap rules that limit the amount of cash it can lend, my Financial Services colleagues report in today’s newsletter.

Remove the shackles: EIB chief Nadia Calviño told an event in Brussels that the lender’s so-called gearing ratio — which limits the percentage of EIB funding that can come from borrowing and has not been changed since the 1950s — is outdated. And she insisted: “We can increase our ability to invest without any impact on Europe’s taxpayers.”

EIB to the rescue? The bank’s support could help fund climate and defense projects, after capitals signaled little appetite to put more money into the EU’s seven-year budget. Calviño is touring European capitals to convince finance ministers to support the move — but Germany is expected to oppose it.

**Berlin Playbook, the newest addition to POLITICO’s Playbook family, launched! Täglich informieren wir Sie darüber, was am vor Ihnen liegenden Arbeitstag wirklich zählt. Die aktuellsten Ereignisse aus Kanzleramt, Bundestag und den politischen Zentren der Welt. Mit nur einem Klick anmelden.**

IN OTHER NEWS

TODAY’S TOP READ — FAR RIGHT SURGE IN PORTUGAL: In the Algarve, the EU feels far away. But the disgruntled voters in the city of Portimão illustrate a broader shift toward far-right parties across Europe, writes my colleague Victor Jack in the latest dispatch by POLITICO reporters on the mood ahead of the June EU election.

Chega country: Almost one in three Portimão locals voted in the recent national election for the anti-establishment party Chega, which means “enough” in Portuguese and has played on public concerns about rising prices, perceptions of increased migration, and a longstanding feeling that the state cares little for the area. “The government thinks only about tourists,” in the words of one 55-year-old health care worker who spoke to Victor. Read his full report here.

ICYMI — SÁNCHEZ STAYS: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced Monday he wouldn’t resign.

BEIJING VS. THE HOF: MEP Guy Verhofstadt, a former Belgian prime minister, was a victim of a Chinese state-linked espionage campaign targeting officials working on an inter-parliamentary committee focused on China, my colleague Antoaneta Roussi reports.

RUSSIA’S NORTH KOREAN HELPERS: The debris from a missile that landed in Kharkiv on Jan. 2 was from a North Korean Hwasong-11 series ballistic missile, in violation of the arms embargo on Pyongyang, U.N. sanctions monitors told a Security Council committee in a report seen by Reuters.

STOLTENBERG SLAMS ALLIES FOR LACKLUSTER KYIV SUPPORT: Ukraine’s allies have provided an unprecedented amount of military aid, but constant delays of actual deliveries have enabled Russia to make battlefield gains, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in an unannounced visit to the Ukrainian capital on Monday. Veronika Melkozerova has the details.

HOW TO BEAT PUTIN’S MARITIME MENACE: Russia’s uninsured shadow fleet is menacing Sweden. Elisabeth Braw has some ideas about how the EU can help.

POLISH BORDER BLOCKADE ENDS: Polish farmers dismantled their last remaining blockade of border crossings with Ukraine, ending a months-long protest that disrupted trade between the two countries.

TUSK TAKES ON ANOTHER PiS GOLDEN BOY: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk opened fire Monday against Daniel Obajtek, the former CEO of state oil company PKN-Orlen and one-time golden boy of the former PiS government, accusing him of losing 1.6 billion złoty (€370 million) in a botched energy deal and calling for an investigation. Wojciech Kość has the details.

DEPARDIEU TO STAND TRIAL: French actor Gérard Depardieu will face a criminal trial in October over alleged sexual assaults of two women.

AGENDA

— Informal meeting of the General Affairs Council. Arrivals and doorsteps from 7:30 a.m. … press conference at 3:45 p.m. Full agenda. Watch.

— Ministerial conference on implementation and operationalization of the Pact on Migration and Asylum continues in Ghent, Belgium. Press conference by Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson and Belgian Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration Nicole de Moor at 1 p.m. Full agenda. Watch.

— “European Year of Skills — what comes next?” event. Opening speech by Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager at 9:30 a.m. … closing remarks by Jobs and Social Rights Commissioner Nicolas Schmit at 5:15 p.m. Full agenda. Watch.

— 2nd EU-Japan Digital Partnership Council meeting. Signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Cooperation on Digital Identities … Press conference by the Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton and Japan’s Minister for Digital Transformation Tarō Kōno and Communications and Internal Affairs Minister Takeaki Matsumoto at 1:45 p.m. Watch.

— Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn receives Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva.

— Commissioners Kadri Simson, Virginijus Sinkevičius and Wopke Hoekstra are in Turin, Italy to attend the G7 ministers’ meeting on climate, energy and environment.

**POLITICO is back at the 2024 Milken Global Conference. We’ll again be your eyes and ears at the 27^th Annual Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles from May 5-8 with exclusive daily reporting in our Global Playbook newsletter. Suzanne Lynch will be on the ground, covering the biggest moments, behind-the-scenes buzz and on-stage insights from global leaders. Subscribe today.**

BRUSSELS CORNER

WEATHER: High of 22C, rain.

SPOTTED at the the debate watch party at POLITICO’s Brussels HQ: Tove Ernst from the Cabinet of Commissioner Stella Kyriakides, and her husband Tommy De Temmerman from DG FISMA; Patricia Reilly and Paul Moley, from the Cabinet of Commissioner Mairead McGuinness; Erëza Vela, Energy Community Secretariat; Craig Winneker, European Renewable Ethanol Association; Karl De Meyer, Les Echos; POLITICO’s Jamil Anderlini; Le Monde’s Philippe Jacqué; FTI’s Brian Carroll.

TRAFFIC UPDATES: The Brussels Ring Road’s Leonard Tunnel will be closed to traffic May 8-20, so prepare for delays.

BELGIUM PAYS THROUGH THE ROOF FOR EU BUILDINGS: Belgium’s sovereign wealth fund SFPIM has bought 23 of the European Commission’s buildings for €900 million, the Commission said on Monday. The goal is to transform the EU quarter — a ghost town after working hours and during weekends — into a thriving, greener neighborhood with more families living there, by converting some of the underused/older Commission buildings into sustainable offices, housing, shops and public facilities.

From 2028, about 750 to 800 new flats will be ready for the first residents to move in. The Commission says the plan will help reduce its carbon footprint by regrouping staff into fewer, more energy efficient buildings that are more aligned with the “new hybrid way of working.”

EU, BUT TINY: The Mini Europe park in Heysel is now home to 18 new EU-related miniatures, created in honor of the Belgian Council presidency. Spotted at the unveiling Monday: Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib, former President of the European Council and Belgian PM Herman Van Rompuy, and Tom De Smedt, deputy head of the European Commission Representation in Belgium.

CRICKET FANS: The first indoor cricket training facility in Brussels has just opened at the Institute Saint-Nicolas in Anderlecht.

YOUR CHANCE TO SEE JANET JACKSON: Pop star Janet Jackson will perform at Antwerp’s Sportpaleis during her “Together Again” world tour. Tickets on sale Friday 9 a.m.

VISIT A CASTLE: Twenty-eight castles in Wallonia will open for free on Wednesday as part of the “Family Castle Life” event. You need a reservation to visit some of them though. Program here.

MYTHICAL TANGIER: The Jewish Museum of Belgium hosts a new exhibition of artworks from the Moroccan city. You’ll have until the end of July to see it.

BIRTHDAYS: MEPs Lena Düpont, Dita Charanzová and Annalisa Tardino; Former MEPs Guy Bono and Fernando Maura Barandiarán; POLITICO’s Paul Dallison; Forbes’ Katie Jennings; Professor Alberto Alemanno; Former French Minister Nicolas Hulot; King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden; Former Canadian PM Stephen Harper; U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres.

THANKS to Hans von der Burchard, Gregorio Sorgi, Karl Mathiesen, Playbook reporter Ketrin Jochecová, editor Alex Spence and producer Seb Starcevic.

**A message from Meta: Dr Baid used FundamentalVR and Orbis International’s virtual reality platform for additional training in a hands-on environment. That extra training has helped Dr. Baid perform 300 life-changing surgeries in the last year alone, ensuring hundreds of patients keep their vision. The metaverse is having impact today. Discover other stories.**

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