Niclas Herbst Wins Key Role As Merz’s EU Parliament Chief
By Eddy Wax
(EurActiv) -- Niclas Herbst won an internal vote on Tuesday evening to become the leader of the 29-strong Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) delegation in the European Parliament.
His role, which he will hold until 2029, will give him a key position in the inner circle of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, whose centre-right party meets regularly throughout the year in Berlin.
Herbst – who has been in Parliament since 2019 – pipped fellow MEP Christine Schneider to the post, beating her 15 votes to 13 in the second round. It was a rare open contest to replace Daniel Caspary, who has held the role since 2017 and is leaving Parliament to join the Court of Auditors as Germany’s member.
“My job will be to strengthen our influence in Berlin and towards the Commission. Inside EPP I will seek cooperation with other national delegations,” Herbst told Euractiv.
Herbst is the chair of the influential budgetary scrutiny committee in Parliament, which checks how the EU spends its money.
Herbst’s new role will also come with the expectation that he pushes Merz’s agenda in Brussels and Strasbourg.