‘Europeanism wins with

The Huffington Post’s

Only last week, the Commission’s Presidentelect was negotiating with everyone, regardless of political orientation or the degree of Europeanism. What made her change her mind?

Let’s just say that she looked around, listened, understood what she was hearing and clarified her proposals. There was a real negotiation with the Parliament. She met all the political groups, set out the proposals, wrote to them, listened to the priorities of the Europeanist groups and also specified which were her red lines. It was a transparent path, comprised of public statements, assemblies, meetings, Twitter posts, posts on Facebook, interviews – a path in which nothing was secret or confidential.

Finally, Ms von der Leyen chose the Europeanist field. Can we say that the anti-sovereigntists’ ‘cordon sanitaire’ worked?

Parliament has made political choices. ‘Cordon sanitaire’ is a very ugly expression. It is not a question of excluding anyone, but it was a democratic and transparent process, as happens in all the Parliaments of Europe. I do not think that it is done any differently in Montecitorio, or that Italian majorities are achieved in a different way. You are the President if you have the support to be so elected. I think she was very clear in the chamber this morning: she wants to work with the forces that want a stronger Europe. And she rejected the sovereigntists’ votes with a witty remark to the leader of the AfD, Jörg Meuthen MEP.

Will the Europeanist method therefore block the appointment of sovereigntists’ candidates for the team of Commissioners led by Ms von der Leyen?

Today’s vote is not a vote on the Commission, but the start of the Commission’s journey. In September, we expect that names and surnames will be on the table to be auditioned for the position of Commissioner and to form the College. Then Parliament will have the final say on the Commission. Today, we understand that those who are outside the European game play in Serie B. To play in Serie A, you must stay in the Europeanist scheme. In this case that comes out of the election result because the citizens have not rewarded the forces that want less Europe, but the forces that want a stronger Europe, that want Europe to be a key player on the international scene, that faces the structural nodes of European democracy but to make it stronger, not weaker. The ones who participate in this game play in the Champions League. The others play in Serie B.

In the Italian government, the Five Star Movement understood it: they voted in favour of Ms von der Leyen...

I think that Italy should be part of the European dynamic, this is its calling. When Italy plays in Europe, it can also win and assert its ideas. If it pulls back, we have seen that that can become a problem. And this applies to all governments and to all the Commissioners who will come here. They must form a legislature that must begin to make Europe stronger. And I hope my country can do it. Moreover, it is good if more groups come out and join those who want a stronger Europe. Ms von der Leyen said one thing: the start

David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament