The CDU and CSU groups in the European Parliament appears to be cooperating more closely with the AfD and other right-wing parties than was previously known.
Research by the dpa news agency revealed that the EPP has recently been working together with the right-wing camp in a text group chat and at a face-to-face meeting of MEPs on a legislative proposal to tighten up migration policy.
Bill had been stuck for months
The draft law under negotiation secured the required majority in the competent committee of the European Parliament shortly after the MEPs' meeting.
In addition to members of the EPP group, MEPs from the right-wing camp also voted in favour, among them was AfD politician Mary Khan. The planned law intends to, among other things, allow the deportation of asylum seekers to so-called "return hubs" in countries outside the EU.
The cooperation came about after the legislative project had been stuck for months, with the EPP, Social Democrats and Liberals unable to reach an agreement.
These three party families normally form an informal alliance in the European Parliament that is supposed to make any cooperation between the EPP and parties on the far-right "unnecessary".
In this case, however, efforts to reach an agreement failed at the beginning of March, as the Social Democrats refused to back the concept of "return hubs" in its current form. A WhatsApp group was then reportedly set up, according to dpa, in which the EPP presented its proposal to the right-wing groups.
The group included the conservative, right-wing populist ECR, with MEPs from the camp of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Patriots for Europe (PfE), which includes politicians from Marine Le Pen's French Rassemblement National, and the Europe of Sovereign Nations (ESN) group, to which AfD MEPs also belong.
AfD proposal: safeguards against fraud over age claims
Group chat members responded to the proposal with requests for amendments. According to information obtained by dpa, the EPP also took into account suggestions from the office of AfD politician Khan. In the WhatsApp group the EPP wrote, for example: "We can support this".
Khan advocated, among other things, broader powers for the authorities when checking the age of asylum seekers. She argued that medical tests should also be used, where there is any doubt, to determine whether those seeking protection are in fact minors.
Shortly after the WhatsApp group was created, the four MEPs from ESN, ECR, PfE and the EPP met in person on 4 March to negotiate the bill. They were French EPP politician François-Xavier Bellamy, AfD MEP Khan, as well as Ehlers from PfE and Weimers from the ECR. Together they drafted a bill for the forthcoming vote.
After the deal was reached, someone wrote in the WhatsApp group: "Thank you very much for this excellent cooperation," to which staff from the EPP responded with the applauding emoji.
Weber claims 'Firewall' holds at European level
Previously, Manfred Weber, head of the conservative European People's Party (EPP) and CSU deputy leader, had repeatedly stressed that a "firewall" was in place at the European Parliament, emphasising the importance that there was no cooperation with extreme right-wing parties.
Speaking to Bild on Saturday, Weber did not deny that the chat logs exist, but rejected any political relevance of the AfD: "The AfD plays no role when it comes to majorities and content. As group chairman I set the strategy. However, I do not control staff chat groups".
The majority in the committee is seen as a breakthrough for the possible creation of EU return centres. The proposed return regulation suggests that rejected asylum seekers who cannot be sent back to their countries of origin should be taken to holding centres outside the EU.
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) is promoting the concept, which is intended to ease the burden on the European asylum system. Together with four other EU countries, the federal government has drawn up a rough roadmap for this. Critics warn that it could violate refugees' fundamental rights.
The cooperation with right-wing parties that has now come to light could apparently further jeopardise the project.
