Taoiseach Simon Harris has said he will be “engaging” with Irish MEPs ahead of a key vote to confirm Ursula von der Leyen’s second term as European Commission President after she was nominated last night by a majority of EU leaders.
Ms von der Leyen needs the support of a majority in the European Parliament and there are indications that she may struggle to win enough votes.
Four Fianna Fáil MEPs have indicated that they will vote against her in the secret ballot due to take place in mid-July.
The Government has nominated Minister for Finance Michael McGrath as Ireland’s next Commissioner and there is unease within the Coalition that a bloc of Government MEPs voting against Ms von der Leyen could damage Mr McGrath’s chances of securing a senior economic portfolio.
Mr Harris said he would not be lobbying the MEPs but added it was important that “we get behind Michael McGrath’s nomination”.
“I’ve no doubt that President Von der Leyen will want to talk to MEPs. That would be an appropriate thing to do and certainly, I’ll be engaging with Irish MEPs on the basis that we have now put forward Michael McGrath to be our Commissioner,” he said.
The Taoiseach said MEPs would take their vote very seriously and now that the European Council, which comprises 27 EU leaders, had provided clarity on the nomination, there was a period of time “for people to decide how they will vote”.
He added that there was a three-way coalition at EU level of the centre-right European People’s Party, of which Fine Gael is a member, the Socialists and Renew, of which Fianna Fáil is a member.
Mr Harris said the coalition would now provide a working majority in the European Parliament.
