Nordzucker Post 3/2024 - 25 July 2024

European elections 2024: New balance of might in the European Parliament

In Germany, 64.74 per cent of eligible voters exercised their right to vote, while the figure for the EU as a whole was 51.05 per cent, a small increase compared to the 2019 election.

The ‘European People’s Party’ (EPP), led by Ursula von der Leyen, strengthened its position in the European Parliament, while the ‘Greens’ and the liberal ‘Renew Europe Alliance’ suffered losses. The EPP, Social Democrats (S&D), Liberals and also the Greens stood together in favour of Ursula von der Leyen’s re-election as EU Commission President on 18 July. In contrast, the French Republicans and also the MEPs of the Fratelli d’Italia of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke out against von der Leyen.

The Commission President had emphasised ‘prosperity and competitiveness’ as the direction for the next five years before the plenary session of Parliament. The Green Deal would become the ‘Clean Industrial Deal’, with ‘technological neutrality and innovation’. Although the phase-out of combustion engines will be scrutinised again, the goal of climate neutrality by 2050 remains unalterable. It remains to be seen what concrete effects this will have on European legislation and the filling of important EU posts. The new Commission should be confirmed by the end of the year at the latest.

Fundamental legislation in areas such as environmental and energy policy, as well as economic and industrial policy, will be decided in Europe and will affect our companies in the Nordzucker countries. The new Common Agricultural Policy from 2027 is of particular importance: the framework conditions for sugar beet cultivation and the level playing field between the EU member states depend on it.

Peace, freedom and the common internal market as the basis of prosperity are the great achievements of the European Union. Nordzucker will continue to work to preserve these values and represent their interests in realising the corporate strategy of sustainability, excellence and growth.