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E.U. Leaders to Meet in Wake of Election Setbacks E.U. Leaders to Meet in Wake of Election Setbacks
(about 2 hours later)
BRUSSELS — European Union leaders are set to meet in Brussels on Tuesday evening under intense pressure to reform the way the bloc is run after populist upstart parties on the right and left surged in four days of legislative elections ending at the weekend. BRUSSELS — European Union leaders are set to meet in Brussels on Tuesday evening under intense pressure to reform the way the bloc is run after upstart populist parties on the right and left surged in four days of legislative elections ending at the weekend.
Many of the groups that handed a drubbing to mainstream rivals in the voting for the European Parliament are seeking to diminish, or even dismantle, the six-decade effort to integrate the Continent.Many of the groups that handed a drubbing to mainstream rivals in the voting for the European Parliament are seeking to diminish, or even dismantle, the six-decade effort to integrate the Continent.
The dinner will be the leaders’ first meeting after four days of balloting, ending Sunday, that boosted upstarts in Britain, Denmark, France and Greece. Insurgent groups from the far right — and, in Greece’s case, also from the radical left — badly rattled the established political parties.The dinner will be the leaders’ first meeting after four days of balloting, ending Sunday, that boosted upstarts in Britain, Denmark, France and Greece. Insurgent groups from the far right — and, in Greece’s case, also from the radical left — badly rattled the established political parties.
Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain and President François Hollande of France are among those under the greatest pressure to retake the initiative from populist parties that emerged strengthened and self-confident from the elections.Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain and President François Hollande of France are among those under the greatest pressure to retake the initiative from populist parties that emerged strengthened and self-confident from the elections.
Mr. Cameron spent much of Monday on the telephone to his counterparts, including to Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, to push for new leadership of the European Commission, the bloc’s main policy-making arm. Mr. Cameron is promoting a streamlined version of the union in hopes of countering the threat from the U.K. Independence Party, led by Nigel Farage, which won the British part of the European poll.Mr. Cameron spent much of Monday on the telephone to his counterparts, including to Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, to push for new leadership of the European Commission, the bloc’s main policy-making arm. Mr. Cameron is promoting a streamlined version of the union in hopes of countering the threat from the U.K. Independence Party, led by Nigel Farage, which won the British part of the European poll.
The dinner on Tuesday seems to be a venue for the kind of conversation that often makes little progress through the maze of conflicting national agendas that often confounds European decision making. But Mr. Cameron intended “to show it cannot be business as usual,” according to British government officials. The dinner on Tuesday seems to be a venue for the kind of conversation that often makes little progress through the maze of conflicting national agendas that often confounds European decision-making. But Mr. Cameron intended “to show it cannot be business as usual,” according to British government officials.
In France, after his Socialist Party finished third, far behind the far-right National Front, which rails against immigration and promises to zealously guard French national sovereignty, Mr. Hollande took to the airwaves on Monday night to blast the European project for having become “remote and incomprehensible.”In France, after his Socialist Party finished third, far behind the far-right National Front, which rails against immigration and promises to zealously guard French national sovereignty, Mr. Hollande took to the airwaves on Monday night to blast the European project for having become “remote and incomprehensible.”
Mr. Hollande also said that he wanted a Europe that would “withdraw from where it is not necessary.”Mr. Hollande also said that he wanted a Europe that would “withdraw from where it is not necessary.”
Another leader arriving in Brussels in a weakened position is Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt of Denmark, where victory by the anti-immigrant Danish People’s Party challenged her Social Democrats, who have traditionally supported closer integration with Europe.Another leader arriving in Brussels in a weakened position is Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt of Denmark, where victory by the anti-immigrant Danish People’s Party challenged her Social Democrats, who have traditionally supported closer integration with Europe.
The outcome across Europe reflected a toxic mix of resentments at issues including immigration, the austerity budgets imposed since the financial crisis of 2008 and widespread unemployment, as well as a broader disaffection with the once unchallenged orthodoxy that Europe should aspire to “ever closer union.”The outcome across Europe reflected a toxic mix of resentments at issues including immigration, the austerity budgets imposed since the financial crisis of 2008 and widespread unemployment, as well as a broader disaffection with the once unchallenged orthodoxy that Europe should aspire to “ever closer union.”
The fringe forces will now have a broader platform to promote their hostility to the bureaucracy in Brussels and to immigrants in their home countries.The fringe forces will now have a broader platform to promote their hostility to the bureaucracy in Brussels and to immigrants in their home countries.
Even so, in terms of political arithmetic, the rise in support for populist groups has not broken the grip of mainstream coalitions on the 751-member European Parliament. With a low average turnout of around 43 percent, the outcome favored protest votes in a way that national elections generally do not.Even so, in terms of political arithmetic, the rise in support for populist groups has not broken the grip of mainstream coalitions on the 751-member European Parliament. With a low average turnout of around 43 percent, the outcome favored protest votes in a way that national elections generally do not.
In Britain, voter participation was even lower — around 36 percent — while Slovakia seemed supremely indifferent, with voter participation at about 13 percent. In Britain, voter participation was even lower — about 36 percent — while Slovakia seemed supremely indifferent, with voter participation at about 13 percent.
Ms. Merkel is in a stronger position than her chastened French and British colleagues since her Christian Democrat party came in comfortably ahead of all challengers in the vote, with about 35 percent.Ms. Merkel is in a stronger position than her chastened French and British colleagues since her Christian Democrat party came in comfortably ahead of all challengers in the vote, with about 35 percent.
“The point is to win those voters back,” Ms. Merkel said, referring to the populist trend in other countries.“The point is to win those voters back,” Ms. Merkel said, referring to the populist trend in other countries.
Another leader arriving in Brussels in a relatively strong position is Prime Minister Matteo Renzi of Italy, whose center-left Democratic Party won more than 40 percent of the vote in a robust victory over both the Five Star Movement led by the actor and comedian Beppe Grillo and the center-right Forza Italia led by Silvio Berlusconi.Another leader arriving in Brussels in a relatively strong position is Prime Minister Matteo Renzi of Italy, whose center-left Democratic Party won more than 40 percent of the vote in a robust victory over both the Five Star Movement led by the actor and comedian Beppe Grillo and the center-right Forza Italia led by Silvio Berlusconi.
The leaders are expected to spend some time on Tuesday evening discussing the outcome of elections in Ukraine — but the main issue is likely to be a discussion of policy priorities following the election and the choice of a new president of the European Commission to replace the departing José Manuel Barroso.The leaders are expected to spend some time on Tuesday evening discussing the outcome of elections in Ukraine — but the main issue is likely to be a discussion of policy priorities following the election and the choice of a new president of the European Commission to replace the departing José Manuel Barroso.
For the first time, the leading parties in the European Parliament have formally put forward their own candidates for the job. One of those is Jean-Claude Juncker of the center-right European Peoples’ Party, which won 213 seats. Mr. Juncker is expected in coming days to try to form a majority. The runner-up group in the polls was the center-left Socialists & Democrats, with 190 seats.For the first time, the leading parties in the European Parliament have formally put forward their own candidates for the job. One of those is Jean-Claude Juncker of the center-right European Peoples’ Party, which won 213 seats. Mr. Juncker is expected in coming days to try to form a majority. The runner-up group in the polls was the center-left Socialists & Democrats, with 190 seats.
The attempt by the Parliament to name the European Commission’s president marks a break with the past, when it was assumed that government leaders would assign the top European Union jobs behind closed doors.The attempt by the Parliament to name the European Commission’s president marks a break with the past, when it was assumed that government leaders would assign the top European Union jobs behind closed doors.
But there are deep misgivings, particularly in Britain, about whether Mr. Juncker can deliver the kind of change that would enable Mr. Cameron to convince voters to keep Britain in the union in a promised national referendum on the issue in 2017.But there are deep misgivings, particularly in Britain, about whether Mr. Juncker can deliver the kind of change that would enable Mr. Cameron to convince voters to keep Britain in the union in a promised national referendum on the issue in 2017.
Government leaders must only take “into account” the result of the election when naming their candidate, and the parliament can only “elect” that candidate once government leaders make their nomination, according to European Union rules. Government leaders must only take “into account” the result of the election when naming their candidate, and the Parliament can only “elect” that candidate once government leaders make their nomination, according to European Union rules.
As in the past, the leaders will probably agree on the nominee by consensus, but that could take time.As in the past, the leaders will probably agree on the nominee by consensus, but that could take time.
One expected outcome of the dinner on Tuesday evening is that leaders will give Herman Van Rompuy, the head of the European Council, the body that represents government leaders, a mandate to negotiate with the leaders of the main parties in the Parliament to find an acceptable president of the commission.One expected outcome of the dinner on Tuesday evening is that leaders will give Herman Van Rompuy, the head of the European Council, the body that represents government leaders, a mandate to negotiate with the leaders of the main parties in the Parliament to find an acceptable president of the commission.
That process is also likely to determine other top jobs, including replacements for Mr. Rompuy himself and a new chief of European Union foreign policy to replace Catherine Ashton of Britain.That process is also likely to determine other top jobs, including replacements for Mr. Rompuy himself and a new chief of European Union foreign policy to replace Catherine Ashton of Britain.