Luxembourg's Marc Angel Discusses EP Quaestor Role

Following last month's European elections, Luxembourg MEP Marc Angel has been elected Quaestor of the European Parliament.

Marc Angel of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP) has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) since 2019. In 2023, he was elected Vice-President of the European Parliament. Now, he is taking on a new role within the Parliament's Bureau.

The Bureau of the European Parliament is composed of the President (currently Roberta Metsola), fourteen Vice-Presidents and five Quaestors who are elected for two-and-a-half years (renewable term). It lays down the rules for the smooth functioning of the Parliament. The College of Quaestors is notably responsible for administrative and financial matters which directly affect MEPs and their working conditions.

Speaking to Chronicle.lu about how this role differs from his previous experience, Marc Angel explained that, unlike Vice-Presidents, Quaestors do not chair sessions. Whilst he remains a member of the Bureau and can build on his experience there, "it's a different job". Quaestors are tasked with "working in the interest of the MEPs", for example in case of conflicts with the administration and ensuring they have the means to work, as well as "building bridges" between MEPs and the administration. They also oversee finances and participate in debates.

Elaborating on his decision to pursue the role of Quaestor rather than seek re-election as Vice-President, Marc Angel described the move as "strategic" - it can be "a bit more difficult" to secure the VP position at the start of a mandate - but added that the position interested him as he enjoys "being a service provider, building bridges and getting to know people". He ran unopposed within his political group (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats) and secured the votes of 461 out of 720 MEPs on Wednesday 17 July 2024.

In terms of how his new role could benefit Luxembourg and its people, Marc Angel noted that he was "fighting for a strong Europe, because I know if Europe is strong, Luxembourg will be strong". With Luxembourg being one of the three official seats of the European institutions (and one of three places of work for the Parliament; together with Strasbourg - official seat of the Parliament - and Brussels), he also noted the importance of making everyone who works for the European Parliament "feel they are a part of the house of democracy of Europe". As such, he makes regular visits to the Parliament's Konrad Adenauer building in Luxembourg-Kirchberg, where he meets different units.

Whilst specific Quaestor portfolios will not be officially announced until mid-September 2024, Marc Angel expressed a strong interest in the portfolio responsible for relations with the national authorities of the three seats of the Parliament. He has been asked to be a member of the harassment committee but he also hopes to remain a member of the working group for ICT/innovation strategy; he also indicated that his previous experience in the areas of gender equality and diversity could add value to the related high-level group.

Moreover, Marc Angel is once again a member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, within which he aims to "consolidat[e] social progress", as well as "continue working on quality jobs" and implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights. He will also continue to co-chair the Parliament's Intergroup on LGBTI Rights, and serves on both the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO).

Regarding the relationship between Quaestors (as members of the Bureau) and the European Commission, Marc Angel emphasised the need for a strong Parliament and strong MEPs, working together with the Commission "to make Europe stronger", as well as "to make sure that people recognise that together we are stronger" and that European rather than national solutions are the answer.

"I'm looking forward to the next five years," he concluded.