The fact that the left has a coalition with the PO does not translate into votes in the European Parliament, where PO and left-wing politicians belong to different factions. The coalition agreement does not apply to votes in the European Parliament, Dariusz Wieczorek, secretary of the Left Club, told PAP about the vote on the resolution on changes to EU treaties.
In a resolution adopted in Strasbourg on Wednesday, the European Parliament supported amending the EU treaties. During the vote, 291 Members of the European Parliament were in favour, 274 against and 44 abstained.
READ ALSO: Nine MEPs from Poland voted in favor of amending the EU treaties. Among them Thun, Spurek, Miller and Cimoszewicz
List of shame
Polish MEPs supporting the resolution included nine people – Róża Thun, Marek Balt, Marek Belka, Robert Biedroń, Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz, Łukasz Kohut, Bogusław Liberadzki, Leszek Miller and Sylwia Spurek – who served in the EP in 2019 were chosen from the European (PO, PSL, SLD, N., Zieloni) and Spring Coalition lists by Robert Biedroń. These MEPs represent the Socialists and Democrats and the Renew and Green groups. The remaining Polish Members of the European Parliament – representing PiS (belonging to the European Conservatives and Reformists – EKR in the EP), as well as the Civic Coalition and PSL (belonging to the European People’s Party – EPP in the EP) – were against the resolution.
MP Wieczorek was asked by PAP about the statement of Donald Tusk, who said at Tuesday’s press conference that all Polish MEPs working with him will vote against the adoption of the report with amendments.
Just because we are against progressive integration is not the reason for some of the comments, proposals and pace
– Tusk explained.
According to Wieczorek, the fact that the left has a coalition with the Civic Platform does not translate into votes in the European Parliament, because PO and left-wing politicians there belong to different factions. Politicians associated with PO belong to the European Conservatives and Reformists – EKR, and politicians from the Polish Left are in the Socialists and Democrats and the Renew and Green factions.
Everyone has the right to vote as he or she wants, these matters are not covered by the coalition agreement
– he pointed out.
Who agreed on the content?
The content of the document adopted by the EP on Wednesday was approved by representatives of five factions: the European People’s Party (EPP), Social Democrats (S&D), Liberals (Renew), the Greens and the Left. It proposes 267 amendments to both treaties – on the European Union (TEU) and on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).
The main changes proposed include abandoning the principle of unanimity in EU Council voting in 65 areas and transferring powers from Member State level to EU level, including: through two new exclusive EU to create powers – in the areas of environmental protection and biodiversity (Article 3 TFEU) – and a significant extension of shared powers (Article 4), which would cover seven new areas: foreign and security policy, border protection, public health, civil defence, industry and education.
gah/PAP
Source: wPolityce