Renew Europe Explained

Renew Europe (or simply Renew) is a liberal, centrist to centre-right, pro-European political group of the European Parliament founded for the ninth European Parliament term.^[6] The group is the successor to the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) group which existed during the sixth, seventh and eighth terms from 2004 to 2019, and under a variety of other names in earlier Parliaments. Renew Europe in the European Committee of the Regions is the sister group of Renew Europe.

History

In May 2019, speaking at a debate leading up to the 2019 European Parliament election, Guy Verhofstadt, president of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) group, announced that, following the election, the ALDE Group intended to dissolve and form a new alliance with French President Emmanuel Macron's "Renaissance" electoral list.^[7] During and following the European elections, the group temporarily styled itself "ALDE plus Renaissance plus USR PLUS".^[8]

The new group announced the adoption of its name on 12 June 2019 after it formed an alliance with La République En Marche!. En Marche wanted to avoid the word liberal in the name, though the group continues to also be referred to as the Liberal Group outside of France.^{[9] [10]}

On 19 June 2019, it was announced that Dacian Cioloș, former Prime Minister of Romania and European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, had been chosen as the group's inaugural chairman, defeating Sophie in 't Veld by 64 votes to 42 and thus becoming the first Romanian to become the leader of a European Parliamentary group.^[11] In October 2021, Cioloș resigned to return to domestic politics in Romania.^[12]

Following the resignation of Dacian Cioloş, Stéphane Séjourné announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament and, as he ran unopposed, he was elected by acclamation on 19 October 2021.^[13] On 11 January 2024, Séjourné was appointed minister of Europe and foreign affairs in Gabriel Attal's government and therefore resigned from his position as chair of the Renew group.

On 25 January 2024, Valérie Hayer from French Renaissance party was elected by acclamation as leader of Renew Europe parliament group, as she ran unopposed.^{[14] [15]}

In March 2024, 'New Europeans' was founded as an association under French law, bringing together Macron's Renaissance party and other French, Romanian, Slovenian, Polish and Danish parties that are inside Renew Europe, but that are not affiliated with a European party (ALDE or EDP), for a total of 22 MEPs.^[16]

Renew Europe presented three lead candidates for the 2024 European Parliament election, one for each of the three factions that form the joint group: ALDE (Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann), EDP (Sandro Gozi) and L'Europe Ensemble (Valérie Hayer).^[17]

MEPs

10th European Parliament

See main article: List of members of the European Parliament (2024–2029).

State	National party			MEPs[18]
Austria	NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum German: NEOS – Das Neue Österreich und Liberales Forum (NEOS)		ALDE
Belgium	Reformist Movement French: Mouvement Réformateur (MR)		ALDE
	Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats Dutch; Flemish: Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten (Open VLD)		ALDE
	The Committed Ones French: Les Engagés (LE)		EDP
Bulgaria	Movement for Rights and Freedoms Dviženie za prava i svobodi (DPS) Dvizhenie za prava i svobodi (DPS)		ALDE
	We Continue the Change Bulgarian: Prodalzhavame promyanata (PP)		None
Denmark	Venstre, Denmark's Liberal Party Danish: Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti (V)		ALDE
	Danish Social Liberal Party Danish: Radikale Venstre (B)		ALDE
	Moderates Danish: Moderaterne (M)		None
Estonia	Estonian Reform Party Spanish; Castilian: Eesti Reformierakond (RE)		ALDE
	Estonian Centre Party Spanish; Castilian: Eesti Keskerakond (K)		None
Finland	Centre Party Finnish: Suomen Keskusta (Kesk) Swedish: Centern i Finland (Centern)		ALDE
	Swedish People's Party Swedish: Svenska folkpartiet i Finland (SFP) Finnish: Suomen ruotsalainen kansanpuolue (RKP)		ALDE
France	Renaissance French: Renaissance (RE)		None
	Democratic Movement French: Mouvement démocrate (MoDem)		EDP
	Horizons French: Horizons		None
	Union of Democrats and Independents French: Union des démocrates et indépendants (UDI)		ALDE
	Italia Viva Italian: Italia Viva		EDP
	Independent Bernard Guetta		Independent
Germany	Free Democratic Party German: Freie Demokratische Partei (FDP)		ALDE
	Free Voters German: Freie Wähler (FW)		EDP
Ireland	Fianna Fáil (FF)		ALDE
	Independent Ireland (II)		EDP
	Independent Michael McNamara		Independent
Latvia	For Latvia's Development Latvian: Latvijas attīstībai (LA)		ALDE
Lithuania	Liberals' Movement Limburgan; Limburger; Limburgish: Lietuvos Respublikos Liberalų sąjūdis (LRLS)		ALDE
	Freedom Party Limburgan; Limburger; Limburgish: Laisvės partija (LP)		ALDE
Luxembourg	Democratic Party Luxembourgish; Letzeburgesch: Demokratesch Partei (DP) French: Parti Démocratique (PD) German: Demokratische Partei (DP)		ALDE
Netherlands	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Dutch; Flemish: Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD)		ALDE
	Democrats 66 Dutch; Flemish: Democraten 66 (D66)		ALDE
Poland	Poland 2050 Polish: Polska 2050 (PL2050)		None
Portugal	Liberal Initiative Polish: Iniciativa Liberal (IL)		ALDE
Romania	Save Romania Union Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan: Uniunea Salvați România (USR)		ALDE
	People's Movement Party Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan: Partidul Mișcarea Populară (PMP)		EPP
Slovakia	Progressive Slovakia Slovak: Progresívne Slovensko (PS)		ALDE
Slovenia	Freedom Movement Slovenian: Gibanje Svoboda (GS)		None
Spain	Basque Nationalist Party Basque: Euzko Alderdi Jeltzalea (EAJ) Spanish; Castilian: Partido Nacionalista Vasco (PNV) French: Parti national basque (PNB)		EDP
Sweden	Centre Party Swedish: Centerpartiet (C)		ALDE
	Liberals Swedish: Liberalerna (L)		ALDE
	Total

9th European Parliament

See main article: List of members of the European Parliament (2019–2024).

State	National party			MEPs[19]
Austria	NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum German: NEOS – Das Neue Österreich und Liberales Forum (NEOS)		ALDE
Belgium	Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats Dutch; Flemish: Open Vlaamse Liberalen en Democraten (Open VLD)		ALDE
	Reformist Movement French: Mouvement Réformateur (MR)		ALDE
Bulgaria	Movement for Rights and Freedoms Dviženie za prava i svobodi (DPS) Dvizhenie za prava i svobodi (DPS)		ALDE
Croatia	Istrian Democratic Assembly Croatian: Istarski demokratski sabor (IDS)		ALDE
Czech Republic	ANO 2011 Czech: ANO 2011 (ANO)		ALDE
Denmark	Venstre, Denmark's Liberal Party Danish: Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti (V)		ALDE
	Danish Social Liberal Party Danish: Radikale Venstre (B)		ALDE
	Moderates Danish: Moderaterne (M)		None
	Independent Karen Melchior		Independent
Estonia	Estonian Reform Party Spanish; Castilian: Eesti Reformierakond (RE)		ALDE
	Estonian Centre Party Spanish; Castilian: Eesti Keskerakond (K)		ALDE
Finland	Centre Party Finnish: Suomen Keskusta (Kesk) Swedish: Centern i Finland (Centern)		ALDE
	Swedish People's Party Swedish: Svenska folkpartiet i Finland (SFP) Finnish: Suomen ruotsalainen kansanpuolue (RKP)		ALDE
France	Renaissance French: Renaissance (RE)		None
	Democratic Movement French: Mouvement démocrate (MoDem)		EDP
	Republican, Radical and Radical-Socialist Party French: Parti républicain, radical et radical-socialiste (PR)		ALDE
	Horizons French: Horizons		None
	Cap Ecology French: Cap écologie (CE)		None
	Independent Jérémy Decerle		Independent
Germany	Free Democratic Party German: Freie Demokratische Partei (FDP)		ALDE
	Free Voters German: Freie Wähler (FW)		EDP
Greece	Independent Giorgos Kyrtsos		Independent
Hungary	Momentum Movement Hungarian: Momentum Mozgalom (Momentum)		ALDE
Ireland	Fianna Fáil – The Republican Party Irish: Fianna Fáil – An Páirtí Poblachtánach (FF)		ALDE
Italy	Action Italian: Azione		ALDE
	Italia Viva Italian: Italia Viva		EDP
	Independent Marco Zullo		Independent
Latvia	Development/For! Latvian: Attīstībai/Par! (AP!)		ALDE
Lithuania	Liberals' Movement Limburgan; Limburger; Limburgish: Lietuvos Respublikos Liberalų sąjūdis (LRLS)		ALDE
Luxembourg	Democratic Party Luxembourgish; Letzeburgesch: Demokratesch Partei (DP) French: Parti Démocratique (PD) German: Demokratische Partei (DP)		ALDE
	Independent Monica Semedo		Independent
Netherlands	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Dutch; Flemish: Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD)		ALDE
	Democrats 66 Dutch; Flemish: Democraten 66 (D66)		ALDE
	Volt Netherlands Dutch; Flemish: Volt Nederland (Volt)		Volt Europa
Poland	Szymon Hołownia's Poland 2050 Polish: Polska 2050 Szymona Hołowni (PL2050)		None
Romania	Renewing Romania's European Project Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan: Reînnoim Proiectul European al României (REPER)		None
	Save Romania Union Romanian; Moldavian; Moldovan: Uniunea Salvați România (USR)		ALDE
Slovakia	Progressive Slovakia Slovak: Progresívne Slovensko (PS)		ALDE
	Apple Slovak: Jablko		None
Slovenia	Freedom Movement Slovenian: Gibanje Svoboda (GS)		None
	Greens of Slovenia Slovenian: Zeleni Slovenije (ZS)		None
Spain	Citizens Spanish; Castilian: Ciudadanos (Cs)		ALDE
	Basque Nationalist Party Basque: Euzko Alderdi Jeltzalea (EAJ) Spanish; Castilian: Partido Nacionalista Vasco (PNV) French: Parti national basque (PNB)		EDP
	Independent Javier Nart		Independent
Sweden	Centre Party Swedish: Centerpartiet (C)		ALDE
	Liberals Swedish: Liberalerna (L)		ALDE
	Total

Former members

• The UK MEPs of the Liberal Democrats and the Alliance Party de facto left the group on 31 January 2020 when the UK left the EU.
• On 20 January 2021, the Renew Europe Group terminated the membership of Viktor Uspaskich, MEP of the Lithuanian Labour Party.
• In March 2021, Czech MEP Radka Maxová left the Renew Europe group because of disagreement with ANO 2011.

Resignation and replacement

• Fredrick Federley, MEP of the Swedish Centre Party, resigned on 11 December 2020 from all politics immediately.
• In August 2022, Søren Gade, MEP from Danish: [[Venstre (Denmark)|Venstre]]|italic=no, announced that he would stand in the upcoming general election. It was later announced that Bergur Løkke Rasmussen would replace him in the European Parliament.^[20] On 13 March 2023, he announced that he would switch his party affiliation to the Moderates.^{[21] [22]}

New members

• In February 2020, Nicola Danti leaves the S&D group and joins Renew Europe.
• In March 2021, Marco Zullo, elected among the Five Star Movement (independent) leaves his party and joins Renew Europe.
• In May 2021, Lucia Nicholsonová, from Slovakia, then Independent at the national level but having been part of the European Conservatives and Reformists, leaves this group and joins Renew Europe.^[23]
• On 10 November 2021, Renew Europe's president Stéphane Séjourné announces that the Polish political party Poland 2050 has joined Renew Europe, leading to Róża Thun joining the group.^[24]
• On 17 November 2021, Carlo Calenda joins Renew Europe following the accession of his party, Azione. Renew Europe reaches 100 MEPs.
• On 7 December 2021, Michal Wiezik leaves the EPP and joins Renew Europe following his transfer to Progressive Slovakia.^[25]
• On 8 March 2022, Salima Yenbou, a French MEP from Europe Ecology – The Greens, leaves The Greens and joins Renew Europe after endorsing Emmanuel Macron in the run-up to the French presidential election.^[26]
• On 4 May 2022, Greek MEP Giorgos Kyrtsos leaves the EPP and joins Renew Europe.^{[27] [28]}

Leadership

• President: Valérie Hayer (France)
• First Vice-President: Billy Kelleher (Ireland)
• Vice-Presidents: Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy (Netherlands), João Cotrim de Figueiredo (Portugal), Irena Jovena (Slovenia), Ivars Ijabs (Latvia), Morten Løkkegaard (Denmark), Dan Barna (Romania), Anna-Maja Henriksson (Finland)
• Secretary General: Philip Drauz

International cooperation

On 21 January 2022, representatives of Renew Europe held a meeting with the European Party of Armenia.^[29]

External links

• • Renew Europe in the European Committee of the Regions

Notes and References

1. Web site: Browse table . European Parliament . 15 September 2019.
2. Web site: Parliament's seven political groups | News | European Parliament. 7 February 2019. www.europarl.europa.eu.
3. Web site: European Union. Parties and Elections in Europe. Nordsieck. Wolfram. 2019. 30 May 2019. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190819234955/http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/eu.html. 19 August 2019.
4. Book: Slomp, Hans. 26 September 2011. Europe, A Political Profile: An American Companion to European Politics. ABC-CLIO. 245. 20 September 2018. 978-0-313-39182-8.
5. Web site: 20 MEPs to watch in 2020. The European Parliament is younger, more diverse — and more divided ... Macron's baby in the Parliament: the centrist Renew Europe group.. POLITICO.eu. 13 January 2020.
6. Web site: Renew Europe. – News – ALDE. alde.eu. 13 June 2019.
7. Web site: Frenzy in Firenze: 4 takeaways from EU lead candidate debate . 3 May 2019 . Politico . 9 May 2019.
8. Web site: ALDE 2.0 deals blow to Weber's Commission dream. Florian. Eder. 27 May 2019. Politico.
9. Web site: Macron-Liberal alliance to be named Renew Europe. Baume. Maïa de La. 12 June 2019. Politico. 12 June 2019.
10. Web site: [Ticker] Liberal Alde rename themselves 'Renew Europe']. EUobserver. 12 June 2019.
11. Web site: Herszenhorn. David. Baume. Maïa de La. 2019-06-19. Ex-Romanian prime minister to lead centrist Renew Europe group. 2021-07-02. POLITICO. en-US.
12. News: French supremacy fears loom over Renew Europe leadership search . 5 October 2021 . POLITICO EU . 5 October 2021.
13. Maïa de La Baume (19 October 2021), https://www.politico.eu/article/stephane-sejourne-elected-renew-europe-leader/ Politico Europe
14. Web site: French MEP Valérie Hayer elected president of liberal group Renew Europe . 2024-01-25 . euronews.
15. Web site: French Renew MEP Valérie Hayer on course to lead European Parliament’s third-largest faction . 2024-01-24 . Politico Europe.
16. Web site: Macron forms ‘New Europeans’ club to unite fragmented EU liberals . 2024-03-21 . Politico Europe.
17. Web site: EU elections: The Trio that will enter the ring for the Liberals . 2024-03-20 . Euractiv.
18. Web site: MEPs by Member State and political group . 17 July 2024.
19. Web site: MEPs by Member State and political group . 9 December 2022.
20. Web site: Skiftedag i Bruxelles: Bergur Løkke tager over for Søren Gade Nyheder . 2023-03-13 . ugeavisen . 3 November 2022 . da-DK.
21. Web site: Bergur Løkke Rasmussen skifter Venstre ud med Moderaterne Nyheder . 2023-03-13 . dr.dk . 13 March 2023 . da-DK.
22. Web site: Løkkes søn skifter til Moderaterne Nyheder . 2023-03-13 . tv2.dk . 13 March 2023 . da-DK.
23. "Slovak MEP Ďuriš Nicholsonová changes factions", rtvs.sk, 2021-09-05
24. "Press conference by Stéphane SÉJOURNÉ, Renew Europe President, on the enlargement of the group", Multimedia Centre, 2021-11-10
25. "Le député européen Michal Wiezik rejoint le groupe Renew Europe," Renew Europe, 7 December 2021
26. Sophie Bordier, "Seine-et-Marne : la députée européenne Salima Yenbou s'éloigne des écologistes et se rapproche des macronistes," Le Parisien, 12 March 2022
27. "Νέα Δημοκρατία: Πώς η αλλαγή «ευρωομάδας» από τον Γιώργο Κύρτσο δημιουργεί πολιτικές εξελίξεις," ΤΟ ΠΟΝΤΙΚΙ, 5 May 2022
28. "Μέλος της πολιτικής ομάδας Renew Europe ο Γιώργος Κύρτσος," Documento, 4 May 2022
29. European Party of Armenia . ArmEuroParty . 1484525351149748227 . European Party of Armenia holds meeting with Renew Europe . 21 January 2022 . https://twitter.com/ArmEuroParty/status/1484525351149748227 .