The group led by Jordan Bardella is running for the chairmanship of the culture and education committee. Why and what impact could this have on EU cultural policies?
Members of the European Parliament will vote for the chairmanship of parliamentary committees tomorrow (July 23). The far-right Patriots for Europe party is seeking to lead the institution’s culture committee, which may be welcomed but could also give the radicals an opportunity to push some extreme political positions. Find out who’s who in the new list of European Parliament committees here.
The members of the CULT committee of the European Parliament oversee issues related to education policy, media and audiovisual policies (through the Media Freedom Act), the budget of cultural funding programs, such as the Erasmus programs that allow students to study in different Member States. (Creative Europe) and are also active in citizen awareness activities such as the European Capital of Culture or the LUX Prize, European cinema.
“These programs, which develop intercultural skills and tolerance, increase support and confidence in the European Union, and develop European identity, are too important to be left in the hands of self-proclaimed Eurosceptics,” the European Youth Forum said in a statement. NGO representing youth.
What influence does the committee chair have?
The role of the president is particularly important. As the main figure of the committee, he has administrative powers: organizing meetings, setting the agenda and allocating debate time to members. It also decides on the live broadcast of the committee’s debates and the access of journalists.
It is also a symbolic function, as the president represents the commission in front of other European institutions and in meetings with foreign parliaments. He also sits on the desk of the Conference of Committee Chairs, a political body of the European Parliament that coordinates the work of committees and ensures good cooperation between them. This body resolves conflicts related to the powers of the commissions on matters covering several sectors.
Parliamentary committees are mainly where texts are drawn up and approved before they are put to a vote in plenary to become the position of the European Parliament. Pro-European forces (Greens, S&D, Renewal and EPP) have a majority in this committee – 19 of the 30 European Parliaments. The union of these forces within the committee could theoretically overcome the position of the four Patriot deputies. However, the CULT committee is specifically limited by the abstention of members.
What files are expected for the next cycle?
The previous legislature’s biggest issue was the European Media Freedom Act, which aims to ensure media transparency and independence in Europe. This legislature will be partially dedicated to its implementation and monitoring.
Pamela Morinière, head of communications at the International Federation, told L’Observatoire de l’Europe journalists of her fears: “Allowing the Patriots to chair this important group will send a message that it is acceptable to violate the principles of media freedom” for the Patriots who will chair the committee.
A new revision of the European directive on audiovisual media services (AMS) should also be discussed in the committee. This directive aims to control the content that is broadcast, from content considered harmful to children to advertisements.
Other files are planned, notably the revision of the Erasmus+ budget, the Lux Audience Awards and more general reports on education and the identity of Europeans.
Although it is likely that most of the presidential candidates will be accepted tomorrow thanks to the broad centrist coalition of the parliament, it seems unlikely that the newly formed Patriots will be rejected by one vote. sanitary cordon The remaining parties will manage to get the head of the committee. Parliamentary sources told L’Observatoire de l’Europe that if the Patriots’ mission fails, the committee could return to the Greens – most likely with Nela Riehl, MEP from German Volta.
But Parliament is no stranger to surprises, and the Patriot-held CULT committee is sure to make waves.