Monday

2nd Oct 2023

Stakeholder

Restoring trust and confidence in the European Parliament

  • Stevens wants to end the so-called 'G5' backroom dealings and give all MEPs a 'megaphone' for their causes.

For the first time in a decade it looks like there may be a genuine election for the Presidency of the European Parliament. Instead of the usual backroom deal it seems that a number of candidates will put their names forward and, after a robust debate, MEPs will get to decide themselves who has the best ambition, character and priorities to take this parliament forward in a time when we must all pull together and look to the future.

I got into politics to bring about positive change - particularly for people with disabilities. I chose the European Parliament because it is the venue where I could do the most good for the largest possible number of people. Day-in, day-out I see the hard work that other MEPs are putting in to make their regions, countries and the Continent a better place to live, work and travel.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

  • Stevens: I might be deaf but I believe one of my greatest strengths is that I'm a very good listener. (Photo: Helga Stevens)

Yet our voters don't often see this. The day-to-day work is drowned out because the European Parliament has lost the trust and confidence of too many people.

Restoring trust

I am standing because I want to restore that trust and bring this parliament back closer to the people it represents.

The best way to achieve this goal is to make sure that every voice matters. From left to right, north to south, big to small, each MEP represents electors who want to be heard, and their representatives must all get a say in our Continent's future.

The outgoing President Martin Schulz achieved a great deal for the institution. You don't have to be his biggest fan to acknowledge that the parliament stands much taller today than when Mr Schulz took office in 2012.

Yet the extra power of our parliament has not been dispersed into the hands of all 751 MEPs who represent the diversity of Europe. Instead, it has been centralised into the hands of only five men from just four countries who gather in a closed room and decide the fate of Europe, away from any public scrutiny.

Ending 'G5' backroom deals

The so-called 'G5' of Juncker and Timmermans from the commission, meeting with Schulz, Weber and Pittella from the parliament, was intended to hold together the 'Grand Coalition' that guarantees a working majority can automatically be found by just these five men deciding every major issue.

However, the very notion that all important decisions are made in this manner risks feeding the arguments against the EU: namely that it is elitist, remote and not respectful of the pluralism and diversity of our Continent.

As a consequence of this power play, the causes that other politicians entered politics to promote have to take a back seat. They fight for air time against the demigods who make news simply by turning up to a hotel once every few weeks, and then leaking or briefing out the discussions.

When we think back to the EU's 'founding fathers', they had a vision, they had a determination to see the EU succeed to the benefit of citizens across Europe.

Can we honestly say that we see that today? Or do we see our leaders desperately trying to cobble together the lowest common denominator with little expertise or understanding about the important issues?

European citizens deserve better than this, and the mandates that voters give to MEPs deserve more respect.

Enabling all 751 MEPs

This is why I'm running - to make the parliament a place of open, transparent debate once again. A place where the President seeks to give all Members' noble causes a megaphone.

Yes, electing a deaf woman will send out a strong signal about equality and opportunity to others. But I hope that we can also send a stronger signal that we want the European Parliament to reform and change so that it can better engage with voters and reflect their concerns.

This is not only imperative for the future of the European Parliament, but to the future of the whole European Union. The President cannot single-handedly change the future of the EU, but she can start by showing the people that who they elect matters, and that their representatives have an institution and a President that will listen to them. Ironically, I might be deaf but I believe one of my greatest strengths is that I'm a very good listener!

The G5 backroom dealing cannot be broken apart by a president from the groups that act as its main protagonists. We can go on as we have been, to dark consequences, or we can use the opportunity of this election to choose someone who wants to see the parliament become a place of open democratic debate again.

A parliament that succeeds not for the sake of a political project, but because it enables its 751 MEPs to deliver real results that restore the faith of those people who look to us to deliver them a better quality of life.

Author bio

Helga Stevens is a Belgian member of the ECR group in the European Parliament.

Disclaimer

This article is sponsored by a third party. All opinions in this article reflect the views of the author and not of EUobserver.

EUobserved

Schulz: the end of a one-man parliament

Martin Schulz has been widely credited for raising the profile of the European Parliament during his terms at its helm. But he didn't do much to raise transparency and political accountability of the EU institutions.

Populists blame Juncker for 'same old' ideas

Mainstream parties defended Juncker's ideas on how to win back people's trust, but populists blamed the EU Comission chief for dishing up "more of the same".

An opportunity to help shape a better future for Europe

Political events of the last 18 months have prompted much soul searching and debate over the future of Europe. Romanian MEP, Laurentiu Rebega, believes that the European Conservatives and Reformists Group will best serve his constituents.

Trust is 'gold' in digital age

Trust is perhaps the most important resource and the key to building successes, but new Nordic research indicates that challenges may lie ahead in the digital age.

US senators, MEPs call to keep fossil-fuel lobbyists out of COP28

We, the undersigned members of the US Congress and the European Parliament, address this letter to the president of the United States, the president of the European Commission, the secretary-general of the UN, and the executive secretary of the UNFCCC.

Latest News

  1. European Political Community and key media vote This WEEK
  2. Is the ECB sabotaging Europe's Green Deal?
  3. The realists vs idealists Brussels battle on Ukraine's EU accession
  4. EU women promised new dawn under anti-violence pact
  5. Three steps EU can take to halt Azerbaijan's mafia-style bullying
  6. Punish Belarus too for aiding Putin's Ukraine war
  7. Added-value for Russia diamond ban, as G7 and EU prepare sanctions
  8. EU states to agree on asylum crisis bill, say EU officials

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  2. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators, industry & healthcare experts at the 24th IMDRF session, September 25-26, Berlin. Register by 20 Sept to join in person or online.
  3. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  4. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  5. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators & industry experts at the 24th IMDRF session- Berlin September 25-26. Register early for discounted hotel rates
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of Ministers20 June: Launch of the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations
  2. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  3. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
  4. World BankWorld Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersThink-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us