Mario Draghi appears to have impressed key MEPs with his plans to boost EU economic growth, but not everyone is convinced.
Mr Draghi, former head of the European Central Bank and former Italian Prime Minister, is expected to publish its report on European competitiveness next week, perhaps as early as Monday, but he presented his findings to MEPs yesterday (4 September).
Manfred Weber, leader of the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), told reporters after the meeting: “The big message that Competitiveness is the number one issue…as the business party of Europe, we welcome it very favourably.”
“The last five years have been the years of the Green Deal… based on this [rapport]we are opening the next chapter,” he added.
Mr Weber, who represents the largest political group in the European Parliament, cited the need for European flagship projects such as Airbus and the need to ensure that environmental technologies such as heat pumps and electric cars are produced in Europe rather than in the United States or China.
Mr Draghi’s report, which was originally due in June, was requested last year by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, also an EPP member, and follows a report by former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta.
In April, Mr Letta said he had sounded the “alarm bell” about the growing economic gap with the United Statescalling for reforms of market rules in the areas of energy, telecommunications and financial services.
A cautious welcome
Mr Draghi’s conclusions – which would include specific recommendations for ten key economic sectors, perhaps in the same vein as Mr Letta’s – have received a more cautious reception from other members of Parliament.
“What I really appreciate is that he is very clear in his defence of European values, such as public services and climate change,” said Bas Eickhout, co-chair of the Greens group in the Parliament. “He is very clear in his sounding the alarm.”
“You won’t see in the report any mention of labor costs, because he said that’s not the issue,” Eickhout added, attempting to respond to criticism that the report was being used to justify cutting workers’ wages.
The report will instead examine the “complacency“Europe’s struggle with high energy costs and low productivity in important high-tech sectors,” he added.
Support is more nuanced among left-wing MEPs.
In a statement, Socialist group leader Iratxe García said any economic recovery must be “based on quality jobs and affordable energy”, including a “Buy Green and European Act”.
Others, such as Manon Aubry of the Parliament’s left-wing group, were not impressed by Mr Draghi’s conclusions or his frankness.
“It was a purely formal presentation that didn’t say much,” Aubry told reporters after the meeting, adding that MPs had been “left in the dark”.
“I would like us to talk about competitiveness, but then we would have to question the European trade policy which has sold off our industry… There is at least hypocrisy, if not a fundamental contradiction,” she declared.
“What is Mario Draghi’s democratic legitimacy to write such a report? Did you elect him, or anyone else?” asked Ms Aubry.
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