The European People’s Party (EPP) faces criticism after evidence emerged of negotiations with far-right groups via a WhatsApp chat to secure support for a new EU migration policy.
EPP Negotiates with Extremists
Evidence suggests the EPP, the largest group in the European Parliament, has moved beyond tactical votes and actively engaged with far-right parties, dismantling a previously maintained cordon sanitaire.
German news agency dpa obtained transcripts of conversations between EPP members and representatives from the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), Patriots for Europe (PfE), and the European Sovereign Nations (ESN) factions.
Migration Policy at the Center of the Deal
The EPP sought support from eurosceptic parties for a regulation establishing a common system for returning illegally residing third-country nationals, presented by the European Commission last year.
The new policy aims to improve and increase the number of return operations, addressing the current low rate of successful deportations – only 20 percent.
“Return Hubs” and Loosened Requirements
The proposed regulations allow for the creation of return hubs outside the EU, based on agreements between member states and third countries, similar to the existing arrangement between Italy and Albania.
Individuals denied the right to stay in the EU could be sent to these hubs, even if they have no direct connection to the third country, merely having transited through its territory.
EPP Seeks Votes Amidst Opposition
EPP politicians approached right-wing MEPs after it became clear that securing passage of the return system through the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) required their support.
Socialists and liberals, who form an informal coalition supporting the European Commission, opposed the concept of return centers, threatening the EPP’s majority.
Direct Communication and Collaboration
According to dpa, EPP politicians negotiated with figures like Mary Khan, an MEP from Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) affiliated with ESN, and even accepted one of her proposed amendments.
A meeting involving François-Xavier Bellamy (EPP), Charlie Weimers (ECR), and Marieke Ehlers (PfE) took place shortly after the chat’s creation, leading to the agreement of the regulation’s text on March 9th, with participants thanking each other for “excellent cooperation.”
Calls for Weber to Address the Situation
René Repasi, a German MEP from the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), stated that EPP leader Manfred Weber must clarify whether cooperation with far-right groups is now part of the EPP’s political strategy.
Repasi also highlighted the domestic implications in Germany, where mainstream parties maintain a cordon sanitaire against the AfD.
Criticism from Renew Europe
Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann of Renew and the German Free Democratic Party criticized the EPP, stating that building a majority in the European Parliament should not involve collaborating with forces seeking to weaken Europe.
She accused the EPP of pressuring the democratic coalition of EPP, S&D, and Renew, presenting a choice between alignment or seeking support from the far-right.
Limited Response from EPP Leadership
Weber offered a limited response, claiming he was unaware of the inter-party chat.
Friedrich Merz stated there was no systemic cooperation between the EPP and eurosceptic populists, placing responsibility for clarification and potential consequences on Weber.
This is not the first instance of the EPP relying on votes from PfE or ESN during the current parliamentary term, including votes on the Omnibus I deregulation package and the definition of a “safe third country.”
