Conservatives look to close sustainability law with far-right support in Parliament vote
Any link-up would mark a major escalation in collaboration between the centre ground and the Patriots for Europe
The dealmaking behind the scenes would mark a major escalation in collaboration between the centre ground and the far-right Patriots for Europe, after the EPP ditched talks with the socialists on Wednesday. A compromise between centrist groups failed to secure a majority when Parliament voted in a secret ballot last month.
The likely text will force companies to report their impact on human rights and the environment once they are more than 5,000 employees and with revenue of €1,5 billion.
Under the landing zone with centrist and right-wing votes, companies with more than 1,750 employees and turnover of more than €450.000 would need to meet the EU’s sustainability requirements – up from 1,000 in the compromise rejected last month.
EU lawmakers reject deal to simplify sustainability rules in major upset
Just nine votes blocked a deal between the EU centre-right, liberal, and centre-left parties on…
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Centrist defections
However, the EPP together with far-right groups only barely poses a majority in the chamber.
To make up for potential losses on the right, liberal lawmakers could fill the gap. Dutch and German lawmakers are looking to defect from the liberal line, supporting the EPP amendments, according to parliamentary sources.
Left-wing and centrist groups have been scrambling to find a compromise with the EPP’s lead negotiator Jörgen Warborn for weeks but without success.
“I am preparing the vote under the presumption that we will not find a compromise with EPP between now and tomorrow,” S&D negotiator, Rene Repasi told Euractiv on Wednesday, adding they are “still open for finding a compromise”.
The Greens negotiator Kira Marie Peter-Hansen earlier criticised the EPP for rejecting a pro-European compromise, avoiding talks with the three democratic groups for weeks, and opting instead to form an alliance with the far-right.
Warborn’s office did not respond to Euractiv’s request for a comment on the matter.
Anders Vistisen, chief whip for the far-right Patriots for Europe group, says he expects most of the group to support the amendments. A week ago, Vistisen said Warborn would have to go public on the EPP’s cooperation with the far-right in order to be able to rely on support. That is no longer a red line.
“It’s clear to us that it’s our amendments they’re submitting. It’s a recognition that it’s our compromise they’ve had to accept,” Vistisen told Euractiv.
(jp)
