European lawmakers voiced their irritation as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen failed to attend the presentation of the Commission’s 2025 legislative agenda, leaving Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič to step in.
The Commission’s work programme, unveiled late on Tuesday, outlines plans for “unprecedented simplification” and bold actions to enhance competitiveness, strengthen security, and bolster democracy.
However, the absence of von der Leyen, who was reportedly attending “high-level meetings” with European Council President António Costa and outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, quickly overshadowed the agenda.
Šefčovič, a seasoned Commission official, defended von der Leyen’s absence, noting that the task of presenting the work programme has often fallen to the commissioner for interinstitutional relations in previous years.
I know it quite well because in the past years, it happened to be me.
However, despite his efforts, his presence did little to ease the discontent among MEPs. Renew Europe leader Valérie Hayer expressed disappointment, stating that “the president should have been here.”
Socialists and Democrats MEP Alex Agius Saliba echoed this sentiment, questioning von der Leyen’s priorities and labelling her absence as a sign of “disrespect.” Concerns were also raised about transparency, with some MEPs noting that certain political groups had received more advance information about the programme than others.
Divergent reactions to agenda
While lawmakers from von der Leyen’s European People’s Party (EPP) viewed the programme as aligning with their priorities, other groups criticised its narrow focus. Socialists and Democrats leader Iratxe García Perez argued that the Commission’s emphasis on competitiveness overlooks social issues.
We need a social compass. It’s not enough to look at economic indicators.
The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, however, welcomed the focus on competitiveness, describing it as “an admission of past mistakes.” ECR leader Nicola Procaccini praised the move away from what he called the “green frenzy” of previous legislation.
The sentiment was echoed by the Patriots for Europe, whose leader Jordan Bardella recently called for a halt to the Green Deal. In contrast, the Greens warned against excessive deregulation, with co-leader Bas Eickhout cautioning that it could pave the way for a “Trump-like figure in Europe.”
If we think that competitiveness will be saved by less regulation, this is not a bold and fast vision, but a simplistic one.
Šefčovič sought to reassure MEPs, stating that “simplification doesn’t mean deregulation.” However, the mixed reactions underscored the challenges the Commission faces in balancing competing priorities and maintaining the trust of the European Parliament.
