Renew Europe

Renew Europe
Name	Renew Europe
Founded	2019
Predecessor	Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Group
Ideology	Liberalism; Pro-Europeanism; Centrism
Position	Centre
European party	Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party
Headquarters	Brussels

Renew Europe is a centrist, pro-European parliamentary group in the European Parliament formed in 2019 by liberal, radical centrist, and pro-market parties. It succeeded earlier liberal coalitions that traced roots to the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party. The group brings together Members of the European Parliament from diverse national parties, aiming to shape legislation on the single market, European Union integration, digital policy, and civil liberties.

History

The formation of Renew Europe followed the 2019 European Parliament election, when delegates from the La République En Marche! movement, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party, and other centrist parties negotiated a new parliamentary alignment. Early developments involved key actors such as Emmanuel Macron, who led La République En Marche! to prominence, and established figures from Partito Democratico-aligned circles. The group's origins built on precedents like the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party and coalitions including the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Group that had operated across the 1999–2019 legislatures. Renewal and enlargement processes included outreach to breakaway politicians from the European People's Party, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, and independents expelled from national parties after national elections and political crises such as the Italian political crisis and leadership contests in Spain and Portugal.

Ideology and Political Position

The group's ideology synthesizes strands from liberalism traditions embodied in parties like Partito Democratico-connected liberals, La République En Marche!, and the Liberal Democrats lineage. It emphasizes pro-European Union integration positions seen in treaties like the Treaty of Lisbon and policy frameworks adopted by the European Commission. On economic matters members often reference market-oriented reforms promoted by figures linked to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the World Trade Organization. The group situates itself in the centre of the parliamentary spectrum, contrasting with the European People's Party, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, and the Identity and Democracy group on questions of single market regulation, digital sovereignty debates shaped by the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act, and civil liberties framed by rulings of the European Court of Justice.

Member Parties and Affiliates

National member parties include pro-European and liberal formations such as La République En Marche! from France, the Partito Democratico-aligned members, the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy-adjacent groups from Netherlands, the Liberal Democrats in post-Brexit realignments, and centrist parties from Spain and Portugal. The group collaborates with the pan-European Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party and has associated think tanks and foundations that engage with institutions like the European Commission, the European Investment Bank, and the European Central Bank on policy proposals. Affiliations occasionally change following national elections involving parties such as Vox (Spain), Forza Italia, and En Marche-affiliated breakaways, leading to reconfigurations similar to those after the 2014 European Parliament election and the 2019 European Parliament election.

Role in the European Parliament

Renew Europe participates in parliamentary committees including Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (European Parliament), Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, and Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection. Its MEPs negotiate with other groupings on legislation originating from the European Commission and on confirmation procedures for Commissioners and the President of the European Commission. The group has been pivotal in shaping amendments to major dossiers like the General Data Protection Regulation implementation debates and in forming coalitions for reports concerning the Next Generation EU recovery plan, energy policy linked to the European Green Deal, and external relations with partners such as United States and Ukraine.

Leadership and Organization

The group's internal structure comprises a leader, vice-chairs, committee coordinators, and a secretariat based in Brussels. Leadership contests have involved prominent national figures and MEPs with careers tied to parties such as La République En Marche!, the Partito Democratico, and the Liberal Democrats (UK). The group establishes working groups around policy areas that liaise with EU institutions including the European Commission directorates-general and the European Parliament's committee chairs. It also cooperates with transnational networks such as the European Movement International and policy hubs like the Bruegel think tank.

Electoral Performance

Electoral outcomes for the group correlate with national performances of member parties in contests such as the 2019 European Parliament election and subsequent national elections in France, Italy, Spain, and Netherlands. Seat totals fluctuate as parties join or leave following national political shifts exemplified by the 2017 French legislative election and the 2022 Italian general election. The grouping's influence is measured by positions held in the European Parliament leadership, success in obtaining committee chairs, and role in coalition-building during intergroup negotiations after elections.

Policy Priorities and Positions

Priority areas include single market modernization, competition policy influenced by cases at the European Court of Justice, digital regulation shaped by the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, fiscal coordination reflected in debates on Next Generation EU financing, and civil liberties defended in rulings referencing the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The group tends to support enlargement processes involving countries negotiating under the Copenhagen criteria and backs sanctions and foreign policy measures coordinated with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the United Nations in response to crises such as the Russo-Ukrainian War. It endorses climate and energy initiatives framed by the European Green Deal while advocating market-based mechanisms tied to emissions trading managed by the European Union Emissions Trading System.

Category:Political groups in the European Parliament