The calendars in the offices of the European Parliament are governed by a four-color code. Days marked in red refer to plenary sessions, the moment of greatest legislative frenzy. A shade lower, in mauve, parliamentary committee days are indicated, where the bulk of the negotiation takes place. Weeks marked in blue are reserved for the work of political groups, and green ones for action in local constituencies. Teams, assistants, and officials organize their months trying to surf as many waves as possible to distribute the workload.
However, there is a Spanish woman in Parliament who must face each one of them, almost without the possibility of dodging them. Every week ends up practically turning red. Iratxe García (1974) is the president of the group of the Socialdemócratas en la Eurocámara, the second political force of the institution, with 135 MEPs from 25 different countries of the Unión Europea. The captain is responsible for defining political priorities, coordinating parliamentary activity and, above all, representing the group in the Conferencia de Presidentes, the governing body of the Chamber where it is decided what is debated in the plenary sessions, as well as the legislative calendar.
García attends to Demócrata at a particularly relevant moment, not only in the geopolitical sphere due to the escalation of tension in the Middle East, but also due to his group's position regarding the major legislative files currently being processed. He defends his collaboration and negotiation with the Popular Party as the only way to move the continent forward: “The PP must understand that this is the dynamic to follow, but it cannot decide alone on which points agreements are reached, and, in other areas, dismantle legislation such as the green agenda with the far right”.
Q. Has the majority of Von der Leyen died?
R. The majority Von der Leyen continues to be necessary to guarantee the stability of Europe and its institutions, but it is true that there is a reality of double majorities at this time in this legislature. We have insisted from the group of socialists and democrats on many occasions that the Popular Party has to decide.
Today the Popular Party has the possibility of creating two very different majorities that define a very different Europe for its future. One is the pro-European majority, or there are also numbers for another different majority, which is that of the PP with the far-right. This poses great risks and problems for the Europe we know today, the one that has been built to guarantee peace, stability, economic progress, and social equality. Therefore, it will possibly be the most decisive in this legislature.
If the PP understands that only with those of us who defend the European project from differences can we guarantee that future for Europe, or if it has completely and unashamedly opened a line that is dangerous for Europe, which is that of the alliance with the far right.
Q. Your group has increased its criticism in Parliament plenary sessions against the Commission. Does it still have your confidence?
A. Constructive criticism is a positive element and one that can improve the European project. There are two types of strategies on how to erode or how to attack the European Commission.
One is that of the far right, which is proposing no-confidence motions practically every month, and another is that of those of us who want this European Commission to undertake important changes to guarantee the future of Europe.
Iratxe García:“Constructive criticism is a positive element and can improve the European project”
One can be critical, as we socialists are being with this European Commission, with respect to relations with the United States, with respect to the geopolitical scope of international policy, where we consider that Europe is in a position to accept complacency and silence, accepting these double standards. I believe that this criticism contributes to the necessary changes actually happening.
Q. We have also seen the clash with the popular party, with their counterpart Manfred Weber. Is it viable to continue waiting for consensus on legislative files between socialists and popular party members?
A. More than viable, it is necessary. It is the only way to guarantee that Europe continues working both with legislation, with directives, and with the plans that are currently being implemented.
Let's give a very clear example: the multiannual financial framework. We social democrats can say that we do not agree with renationalizing policies, which we consider that the Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy need to continue being clearly European policies.
We can say that the European Social Fund is fundamental for structuring social cohesion in Europe. And we do it negotiating with the Popular Party a position as Parliament. What is the alternative? There is no alternative, because the far right will never support a community budget.
The PP has to understand is that this is the dynamic to follow, but that it cannot decide alone on which points agreements are reached and in other senses dismantles other types of legislation such as the green agenda with the far right.
Q. Speaking of the budget, your position goes beyond what the Commission was asking for. What are your expectations for the negotiation in the Council?
A. The first thing we have to expect is a position from the Council, which as of today does not exist. There are those who want to make a more restrictive budget, there are those who want to focus on increasing competitiveness and defense policies, there are those who defend European policies.
It is impossible to do more with less. If we need to incorporate new European policies with budget, as is the defense policy, we need a stronger budget.
It is necessary to expand the European Commission's proposal by at least 10%. There is another message for the Council that I believe is important, and it is that of own resources. If the Member States do not want to put more money from the coffers of national budgets, there is only one alternative and it is that of own resources, that of European taxation.
Iratxe García:“Trump unilaterally decides to organize this conflict, this war, and it is the citizens who are paying the consequences.”
In that sense, we have also put on the table different proposals as the European Parliament, such as the carbon border adjustment tax, such as the digital tax, such as the online gambling tax. That is to say, proposals to be able to create a European taxation system that manages to collect money and in that way launch these new policies.
Q. The crisis in the Middle East can affect the legislative agenda.
R. It is true that the geopolitical situation, that the conflict in Iran, is putting us in front of grave difficulties. Trump decides unilaterally to organize this conflict, this war, and it is the citizens who are paying the consequences. This makes everyone reconsider what positions we should take. We, socialists and democrats, have sent a letter to Von der Leyen and António Costa where we ask to act in two areas. One, geopolitics, where we consider that Europe has to be firmer in the defense of multilateralism, in the defense of international law, in not allowing double standards.
Iraxte García:“To defend democracy it is necessary to defend social justice”
And therefore, defend in the same way peace in Ukraine as peace in the Middle East: the rights of Ukrainian children are the same as the rights of Palestinian or Lebanese children.
In addition to these measures in international politics, other measures to support what is an energy crisis that is coming, which we are already beginning to pay the consequences for, but which if this war continues will be much more serious.
There is a lesson we have learned after the start of this conflict in Iran: the green agenda that we social democrats defend was not a threat, but an opportunity. Dependence on fossil fuels today is showing its consequences. Strengthening the green agenda is fundamental: the development of renewable energies, reducing electricity bills, and having a social shield for the most vulnerable families.
Q. In this context, do you share President Von der Leyen's vision of looking at nuclear power again?
R. This is an open debate. From my point of view, returning to nuclear power cannot be the solution right now if we do not address it in a much more complete way.
It is very evident that the development of renewable energies is fundamental. In Spain today we are paying a much cheaper electricity bill than in the rest of European countries. We are an example in Europe of how to move forward. If we ask ourselves why, it is because of the development the country has had in renewable energies.
Therefore, returning to old recipes like nuclear energy, when we have ahead a much more guaranteeing future regarding our energy independence, such as renewables, I believe it is very evident that that is where we have to put the focus, because it is working and should serve as an example in the rest of the continent.
Q. The Prime Minister proposed a tax on the extraordinary profits of energy companies. It does not appear that there is consensus among the Twenty-Seven at the moment. What traction can this proposal have?
R. We continue to insist on it because we believe it is fundamental, because if we are proposing that there must be a social shield from Europe, we need resources.
What better way to have those resources than by incorporating an instrument of solidarity. Solidarity is that those who are today enriching themselves and making money from the consequences of a war will have to contribute to this solidarity mechanism in order to support those who are paying the consequences.
The European Commission does not reject it completely, it suggests that it can be an initiative that each Member State launches, but from our point of view it is important to do it with a European umbrella and that it be a tool throughout Europe.
Q. On the geopolitical level, the Government has also proposed breaking the association agreement with Israel. After the Foreign Affairs Council, the High Representative, Kaja Kallas, said that the circumstances were not met. Are you comfortable with the European Commission's foreign policy stance?
R. It is true that the European Commission, thanks to the work of the Group of Socialists and Democrats, has put this element on the table. Where the decision has to be made, which is in the Council, there is no majority to address it.
I want to remind that on many occasions we have stated that Europe and the European citizenry cannot allow these double standards. We said it last week: it is unacceptable not to hear a single word from the European Popular Group and from President Von der Leyen, for example, with reference to the approval of the death penalty law in Israel against the Palestinians.
Iratxe García:“The green agenda that we social democrats defend was not a threat, but an opportunity”
That measure alone would deserve to definitively break the association agreement between the European Union and Israel. In any case, we are aware that those circumstances do not exist because there are still governments that are supporting the maintenance of the agreement. And in that sense, we will have to continue applying the political pressure that we social democrats are applying.
Q. And what can the European Union do while there is no consensus in the Council?
R. I believe that we continue to have possibilities for the European Commission to review certain decisions and agreements that are bilateral and in which unanimity of the Council is not needed.
It has to do, for example, with aid in cooperation with universities or with other more concrete and bilateral issues to send warning signals to the Netanyahu Government.
Q. Another of the priorities of this legislature was housing. Are you happy with the results so far?
R. We will be happy when young Europeans see that thanks to European policies, one of the biggest dramas currently existing in Europe has been resolved, and that is not yet the case.
We are satisfied with how the negotiations are progressing, but all of that now has to be finalized.
Iratxe García:“Those who today are enriching themselves from the consequences of a war will have to contribute”
It must be finalized with a budget and legislative reforms, for example in the regulation of tourist rentals, which the city councils are demanding. This is now beginning to be developed and we must continue to insist.
Q. The figure of the European Commissioner was the result of negotiations a couple of years ago. Others are coming soon. Can Roberta Metsola aspire to repeat as President of the European Parliament?
R. Political aspirations are very legitimate for each person. The question is whether we manage to guarantee stability and a pro-European majority in this chamber.
It is evident that the Popular Group reached an agreement with the Social Democratic group and with the Liberals, where it was established that the presidency of the European Parliament would be distributed: the first part for the European Popular Party and the second for the Social Democrats.
I hope that the European People's Party fulfills its commitments and that this change occurs so that social democracy assumes this responsibility.
Q. How do you expect the momentum from the Barcelona Progressive Summit to translate into policies in the European Parliament?
R. The summit of progressives in Barcelona has been a fundamental moment of ideological rearmament and positive energy for progressives, not only in Europe but in the rest of the world. In a context where the attack on international law, human rights, and multilateralism is the roadmap of the far-right, the role of progressivism is more necessary than ever.
There was a very important conclusion: to defend democracy it is necessary to defend social justice. When citizens feel that institutions are not at their service, detachment occurs, and that weakens democracy.
https://youtu.be/rIKCLTiEBIk?si=66T5_WKvcjg83FY6
The cameraman indicates the end of the recording. While the technicians remove his microphone, Iratxe García jokes about the pace of the days in Brussels. In the popular imagination, the "big weeks" are those in which Strasbourg hosts the monthly plenary session. But the days in the EU capital are far from quiet. Beyond Place du Luxembourg, the next stop on her agenda is a meeting with the newly appointed Vice President of the Spanish Government, Carlos Cuerpo, on the sidelines of the meeting of the Economy Ministers of the Twenty-Seven. The Madrid-Brussels connection is, once again, evident.
The conversation takes place just a few days before the community institutions dress up to celebrate Europe Day, next May 9. “We will be attentive when you publish it,” jokes the MEP as she says goodbye. A member of her team finishes with a laugh: “And we will upload it to social media.” It is not a minor phrase. García has consolidated herself as one of the most influential social democratic leaders in Brussels, both within and outside the margins of the hemicycle. Her ability to set political positions goes hand in hand with an increasingly relevant digital presence in the European ecosystem. According to the ranking of Poder Digital, prepared by Vinces, she occupies one of the top positions among political leaders with the greatest impact and influence in the public conversation of the community bloc.
In a legislature marked by parliamentary fragmentation and geopolitical pressure on Europe, García vindicates the role of social democracy as a dike against nationalist retreat and “double standards” in international politics. And he does so from a privileged position: that of someone who spends a good part of his weeks dyed red, between negotiations, votes and impossible balances in the political heart of the European Union.