MEP Jana Toom rejects Center’s shift to Eurosceptic ECR

Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Center Party MEP Jana Toom has stated she opposes the party’s potential alignment with the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group at the EU Parliament.

MEP Jana Toom Center’s vice-chair has pledged to remain a member of ALDE/Renew Europe, the Center’s current affiliation – and that of the Reform Party’s only MEP too for that matter. The ECR is both a European Parliament group and a party in its own right, and has been defined as “soft Eurosceptic anti-federalist.” It is the most eurosceptic of any parliamentary party since the disbanding of the EFDD, post-Brexit.

Why does MEP Jana Toom oppose the Center Party’s shift to ECR?

Toom stated: “I find it very difficult to connect to this political group, to be honest.” She further said that joining the ECR would thus not be the exemplary choice for her, but was not sure whether her perspective reflects the majority opinion within the party. At the same time, she said she remains fearless of any repercussions from the party for going against the official line.

What reasons does Jana Toom give for staying in ALDE?

“I am a member of the party’s board and its vice-chair. That doesn’t make me elusive, but I know how to explain my position,” adding that she seats on four committees and is the coordinator on one, for employment and social affairs, which means I have considerable influence over Renew Europe’s policies on social and employment issues. Giving that up would be foolish, as I have earned my place in this group over the years. Starting from scratch somewhere else, in a group that doesn’t share my values, would be a very strange move,” Toom stated.

Moreover, Toom expressed some potential positives in remaining with ALDE even as the rest of Center Party joins ECR, in that it would indicate Center would have two footholds in two different European Parliament groups.

What is the Center Party’s rationale for reconsidering its EU group?

Jaak Madison, previously of EKRE, left that party in early June and joined Center two-and-a-half months later, on August 22, doubling Center’s MEP tally and exiting EKRE with none. Centre leader Mihhail Kõlvart promptly reported that the party’s leadership had suggested a reconsideration of parliamentary group affiliation at the EU Parliament, to establish a group that best mirrors the party’s centrist ideology and Estonia’s national interests.

Kõlvart tilted the green transition as not being something that should impede the economic development of Europe or Estonia and admitted that the Center Party’s core positions are more aligned with ECR than with ALDE. Madison was already a component of the ECR group. Center is set to examine the matter further. Both Toom and Madison were re-elected at the June EU Parliament elections.