Uncomfortable bedfellows: Cracks widen between Fine Gael and EPP
Migration Epp's Stance Eamonn Uk Farrell Varadkar Policy Similar Leo Picture: Denied Is Rwanda To
Fine Gael has found itself in a difficult position with its partners in Europe.
At the annual congress for the European People’s Party (EPP), of which Fine Gael is a member, MEPs were questioned about the EPP’s apparent shift to the far-right. They played down suggestions Fine Gael is no longer feeling at home in the EPP but recent events suggest the opposite.
That sentiment increased when all five Fine Gael MEPs voted in favour of the Nature Restoration Law in the European Parliament, something the EPP sought to derail.
Speaking to the , MEP Seán Kelly said the EPP was not happy with Fine Gael’s position.
CLIMATE & SUSTAINABILITY HUB
The Nature Restoration Law aims at rehabilitating the EU's land and sea areas by 2030 and all degraded ecosystems by 2050.
The law will create obligations and targets such as farmlands, rivers, forests and urban areas to gradually reverse the environmental damage caused by climate change.
The law, first presented by the European Commission in June 2022, gained further significance after the landmark biodiversity agreement sealed at Cop15.
However, the law became the target of an opposition campaign by conservatives, particularly within the EPP. President of the EPP Manfred Weber of Germany led that campaign in a bid to stop the landmark biodiversity legislation, teaming up with the hard far-right.
His fear was the EPP would appear too green, which would lead to further unrest with farmers ahead of the European Parliament elections in June.
“We got a lot of hassle after the first vote, we got none after the second vote... while they were annoyed, the final one is the one that will be adopted and become law, they have accepted now,” Mr Kelly said.
However, Fine Gael MEPs have suffered as a result of their position on the law, including Mr Kelly.
The Ireland South MEP was not appointed to go to Dubai last December to attend Cop28 despite being rapporteur for the EPP group to lead a directive that seeks to modernise EU buildings to make them fit for a greener and more digital society. Although it cannot be proved, it is believed he was not sent due to his voting record on the NRL.
There have also been suggestions Fine Gael MEPs' position on the Nature Restoration Law played a part in Ireland losing out on the chance to be the HQ for the EU’s new anti-money laundering agency in recent weeks. The sense in Brussels is that Fine Gael and the EPP, while not at odds, are not naturally comfortable bedfellows.
Just weeks ago, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, along with the Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez, wrote to president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, urging her and the commission to take further steps regarding Israel’s war on Gaza. Ms von der Leyen belongs to the EPP family.
Both men called for an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations and asked for the commission to propose appropriate measures be taken by the EU if it considers Israel is in breach of the agreement. It was a clear signal from both leaders that more needed to be done in relation to Israel's war on Gaza.
EPP party members are increasingly cosying up to the far-right in a bid to claw back support, as evidenced in its manifesto published this week ahead of the European elections.
It wants a series of deals with non-EU countries with a view to deporting migrants for asylum processing in “safe” third countries. It has been described as similar to the UK’s Rwanda policy. Mr Varadkar insisted this was not a fair comparison but it is hard to agree with him.
He told reporters the EPP was willing to work with more radical parties in Europe, if “they respect European values and the rule of law fundamentally”.
“I don’t want to create the impression that we’re open to working with the far right and far left. But we have found it possible,” Mr Varadkar said.
“For example, Alexis Tsipras, who was elected as a very radical left prime minister of Greece actually turned out to be somebody we could work with.”
However, the Taoiseach ruled out any possibility the EPP could work with Hungary’s Viktor Órban — whose Fidesz party left the Parliamentary group in 2021 — or the far-right members of Poland’s delegation.
When asked if parts of the EPP manifesto were too right for his liking, the Taoiseach said Fine Gael was on the progressive wing of the EPP and voted for the manifesto after some changes were made.
He said this included “very clear language” on migration, respect for Ireland’s neutrality, and strong language around LGBTQ+ rights as well as violence against women.
That being said, the cracks are evident and they’re expected to deepen.