Valérie Hayer on EU Coalition Stability, Trade Wars, and European Defense

EU Coalition Fragility and Policy Demands

• 🇪🇺 The "von der Leyen coalition" in the European Parliament is showing signs of fragility, with centrist, socialist, and green members concerned about an alignment between the conservative EPP and the far-right.
• 📌 Renew group leader Valérie Hayer emphasizes that their support for the EU Commission chief is not unconditional and requires a change in policy direction.
• ⚠️ Hayer stated that if strong commitments on common policies and better cooperation are not met, the Renew group may withdraw from the coalition.

Trade Relations with the US and Trump

• 🇺🇸 Hayer condemned the US decision to impose 30% tariffs on EU goods, advocating for European unity and counter-measures if negotiations fail by August 1st.
• 🛡️ She stressed the importance of the EU's anti-coercion instrument and other tools to pressure the US, while also seeking new partnerships.
• 🌍 Regarding Donald Trump, Hayer highlighted the need for Europe to be stronger together, reinforcing support for Ukraine, advancing European defense within NATO, and improving competitiveness.

European Defense and Budget Priorities

• 🇫🇷 Despite France's national debt, Hayer supports President Macron's plan to increase the defense budget, citing Russian threats and global instability as necessitating greater investment.
• 💰 For the next EU budget (2021-2027), Renew prioritizes a strong competitiveness fund for industries and a "European preference" with local content.
• ⚖️ A strong commitment to the rule of law is demanded, with targeted sanctions against governments that don't respect common rules, while allowing mayors and NGOs to still benefit from EU funds.

Concerns on Greenwashing and Migration

• ❌ Hayer criticized the European Commission's decision to withdraw anti-greenwashing rules as disgraceful and disrespectful of institutional processes, especially after it was in trilogue negotiations.
• 🧐 The Renew group is cautious about lists of "safe countries" for migrant returns, expressing doubts about the safety of some listed nations.

Addressing the Rise of the Far-Right

• 🗳️ Hayer acknowledged the need to identify why Europeans are trusting the far-right and find concrete solutions for citizens' real problems.
• 🌐 She believes that in a globalized world with significant challenges, nationalism alone is insufficient and that Europe's strength lies in unity among the 27 member states.