The Pact on Migration and Asylum could forge a wider majority coalition continuing after European elections scheduled in June.

After launching her campaign in Athens as lead candidate of the EPP, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is trying to win one of the most anticipated votes of the last part of the ninth legislature.

It is in fact on migration, and its external dimension, that the partnership between von der Leyen, the EPP and part of the right has solidified.

The Pact should be voted by the EPP, Renew Europe, the Socialists & Democrats and part of the European Conservatives and Reformists, including Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy (FdI) party. But there will be distinctions.

Also read: Opinion divided on EU asylum pact ahead of vote

Migration is not one of the main concerns of EU voters, according to study

The left wing of the Socialists' group is still unconvinced about the Pact, especially the part regarding the management of migration crises. The Greens haven't voted on it so far. And the package continues to have detractors within the Identity and Democracy group.

"The Pact contains more shadows than lights, it is insufficient in countering a historic phenomenon," explained Annalisa Tardino, a League party member of the European Parliament, without however commenting on the official position that her party will take on the issue.

It is still unclear how migration can relaunch the candidature of von der Leyen.

Also read: Poland will 'reject' EU migrant pact, says Prime Minister Tusk

In a study, the European Council of Foreign Relations noted that the issue is not one of the main concerns of EU voters.

"Only 15% of those interviewed in 12 countries considered immigration as the main crisis of the last decade, compared to 21% who chose global economic turbulence, 19% Covid, 16% climate change and 16% the war in Ukraine," the survey revealed.

Also read: More than half of Europeans disapprove of EU migration policy

Liberals puzzled

It appears difficult for migration to contribute to a rapprochement between the EPP, Socialists and Liberals under the leadership of von der Leyen. The controversial appointment of German CDU MEP Markus Pieper as EU envoy for small and medium enterprises is seen as controversial over allegations that it was a political choice and it is expected to be on the agenda of the European Parliament in the coming days.

Speaking to French daily Libération, French Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton, a Liberal, stood by a post in which he attacked the Commission president, after the EPP Congress of Bucharest in March confirmed her as its lead candidate in the June elections, claiming that not even the party appeared to believe in her.

Breton also alleged that French President Emmanuel Macron "adored" it, "you should know I don't do anything by accident, I wait for the right time," said the commissioner, who is very close to the French head of State.

The Liberals, including Macron's contingent, oppose the coalition behind von der Leyen embracing more conservatives. They consider Italy's FdI as resembling the French far-right Rassemblement National and have prepared an electoral campaign mainly focusing on the defense of Europeanism.

The concept was also stressed in Berlin by the president of the Socialists, Iratxe Garcia Perez: "The EPP, under the leadership of Manfred Weber, has aligned with the far right to destroy all we have built together," said Perez, after meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

For now, a plan B remains undiscussed, although alternatives within the EPP are allegedly under consideration, like Roberta Metsola or Kyriakos Mitsotakis, or a technician like Mario Draghi, possibly with vice presidents representing political groups.

Author: Michele Esposito

Also read: EU migration reform: Why is there so little progress?