The N-VA once again chooses to join the ECR Group in the European Parliament

The N-VA will again be part of the European Conservatives and Reformists ( ECR The N-VA is a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), a conservative, eurorealistic parliamentary group in the European Parliament. The N-VA shares their realistic view of the European project and also advocates for the correct and intensive application of the subsidiarity principle. For example, we must not be afraid to ask ourselves if it would be better to leave certain European initiatives to the Member States. The N-VA also identifies with the emphases that the ECR places on the social-economic issues. Since the 2014 elections, the ECR has become the third largest parliamentary group in the European Parliament. ECR ) Group in the European Parliament in the coming legislature. The N-VA chose the ECR group after a carefully considered analysis. This choice was officially confirmed today. “The aim was to give the N-VA the greatest possible clout in parliament,” says Johan Van Overtveldt.

Johan Van Overtveldt was the leader of the European list for the N-VA and was then given the mandate after the elections on 9 June to investigate with which group the party best aligned. It was important to ensure that the N-VA delegation had as strong a position as possible in the European Hemicycle. In that capacity, Van Overtveldt initiated discussions with various political groups and delegations in the parliament. That process led to the N-VA joining the ECR group again in consultation with the delegation and the party. The party was also part of this group over the past five years. “We wanted the guarantee that we would be able to present our programme and our positions in complete freedom and independence, and that we would have influence with the necessary political weight,” says Van Overtveldt. “Within the ECR Group, soon to be the third largest group in parliament, these conditions are heard and honoured.”

A productive delegation

As a relatively small delegation, the N-VA has already shown itself to be particularly productive within the group over the past legislature. It has also received recognition for that. For example, a report by KU Leuven a few months ago showed that the N-VA delegation was by far the most active Flemish delegation in the European Parliament in terms of legislative initiatives. “That is the way we want to work in the Hemicycle: active, constructive when possible, critical when necessary. And we will continue to do so for the next five years,” says Van Overtveldt. Membership will be formally ratified this month by the N-VA party council.