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Younous Omarjee (GUE/NGL) was elected Vice-President of the European Parliament on Tuesday, July 16, the first ethnically diverse MEP from the most marginalized regions, with the goal of bringing marginalized voices to the heart of European institutions.
Omaghi first became an MEP in 2012, but was elected Vice-President of the European Parliament in the second round of voting with 311 votes out of 609.
Originally from Reunion Island, he is a key figure on the French left within European institutions and has supported Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France Indomitable (LFI), since the early 2010s.
In an interview with Euractiv, the MEP confirmed that his “political positions are completely different from Ursula von der Leyen’s” but that he is ready to “work with her to defend the interests of French and European citizens.”
Omaghi, who chaired the Regional Development Committee during the previous term, stressed that he had secured a commitment from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was re-elected for a second term on July 18 with 401 votes out of 720.
“For years I have been working to push for a convention on the sea and Ursula von der Leyen has assured me that this will be implemented during her new term. She will announce the contents of the plan soon.”
At a time when nationalist parties hold more seats in the European Parliament than ever before, Omaghi has also made safeguarding the cohesion fund one of his priorities, as there is a strong tendency to reduce the budget allocated to the EU’s poorest regions, which risks “making European policy incoherent”.
Cohesion policy accounts for one third of the EU budget, with €351.8 billion allocated between 2014 and 2020 and €337.8 billion between 2021 and 2027.
Omaghi continued: “The purpose of the cohesion policy is to compensate for the distortions in the development of the Union and to reduce territorial divisions within the member states.”
“Europe must maintain this solidarity, even if it requires simplifying the procedures for allocating and monitoring these funds. Brussels controls too much, monitors too much and punishes too much.”
Omaghi’s election marks France’s return to the post of Vice-President of the European Parliament, following the departure of Sylvie Guillaume (PS/SD) in 2019.
This is also the first time that an MP from France’s overseas departments and territories has been appointed vice president, which is “a matter of great pride for the citizens of these regions.”
(Edited by Alice Taylor）
Read more by Euractiv
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