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10
Jul

Herman’s checklist: finding a balance for the EU’s top jobs

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9157497455_724ede816a_h - UPDATEDA big week, and a careful balancing act

This time next week, Angela Merkel will be celebrating her sixtieth birthday – and short of anything better to cheer, the rest of the European Council will probably be celebrating the end of the gruelling quinquennial EU top jobs race.

Tuesday (15 July) sees the election of the new President of the European Commission. Jean-Claude Juncker does not quite have his feet under the desk yet, but the ‘grand coalition’ that held for Martin Schulz’s election as President of the European Parliament is expected to hold and see Juncker made President-elect.

And then, on Wednesday, the rest of the pieces of the top jobs jigsaw are expected to be put into place.

The European Council, denied a backroom deal over the Commission presidency, can (more or less) get back to old ways with its selection of a new President of the European Council and a new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (although the choice for the latter position is one for leaders to take with the President-elect). A new permanent president for the Eurogroup (finance ministers of eurozone countries) is also expected to be named. Read more

28
Jun

Europe Decides Weekly – 27 June

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Read more in Europe Decides Weekly, 27 June 2014

Top stories: 21-27 June 2014

  • Juncker nominated by European Council: The centre-right lead candidate in the European elections, Jean-Claude Juncker, has been overwhelmingly endorsed by the European Council to be the next President of the European Commission. After weeks of negotiations on the matter, the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, was joined only by Hungary in opposing Juncker. Cameron vowed to fight “until the end” to prevent the nomination but failed, stating that he would do the same again and questioning the decision given doubts among other EU leaders about Juncker’s candidacy. Cameron reiterated his view that the choice of Juncker would harm the prospects of the UK staying in the EU. Juncker now faces a vote in the European Parliament on 16 July, the same day as another summit that will discuss other EU top jobs. European Voice; EUObserver; Europolitics; EurActiv; Euronews; Bloomberg; Belfast Telegraph; BBC News; The Guardian
  • ‘Grand coalition’ agreed, Schulz to become Parliament President again: The European People’s Party, the Socialists and the Liberals have reached a deal for a pro-European majority in the European Parliament. The deal will support the appointment of key personnel in the European institutions, including Jean-Claude Juncker as Commission President. At a meeting in Paris last Sunday, centre-left leaders of several countries agreed to support Juncker but expect to get other jobs in return for their support, including the presidency of the European Parliament for Martin Schulz for the first half of the upcoming parliament. The Greens criticised the negotiations and argue that the Parliament should decide parliamentary positions. EurActiv; Europe Decides Twitter; EUObserver; EPP Group; Europolitics; Financial Times; S&D; Greens/EFA
  • Germany puts Oettinger forward for second term as EU commissioner: German Chancellor Angela Merkel has decided to nominate the current Energy Commissioner, Günther Oettinger, for a second term in the same office. Oettinger has repeatedly been at odds with the German government over the country’s energy transformation (Energiewende) and is criticised by Greens for supposedly not providing sufficient support for renewable sources of energy. While Oettinger’s nomination and his future policy area is not yet determined, the move is intended to ensure German control over the energy portfolio and was made possible as part of a broader deal with the German Social Democrats, under which Martin Schulz resumes his role as European Parliament President. European Voice; EurActiv; Europolitics

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20
Jun

Europe Decides Weekly – 20 June

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Read more in Europe Decides Weekly, 20 June 2014

Top stories: 14-20 June 2014

  • Schulz elected to head Socialists for top jobs talks: The Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament have elected Martin Schulz as their new President. Schulz will lead the group in talks over the election of a new Commission President and stated that he foresees a “tandem” with the frontrunner from the European People’s Party, Jean-Claude Juncker. However, sources in Berlin told Der Spiegel that Schulz’s Social Democrats would not claim the Commission job in the face of opposition from Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Christian Democrats party, but would look to secure the presidency of the Parliament for Schulz with centre-right backing as part of an overall package. Schulz stepped down as Parliament President before the vote in the S&D Group, with Gianni Pittella taking over as acting President until the Parliament reconvenes on 1 July. Europolitics; Deutsche Welle; EUObserver; S&D news; PES news; The Parliament; EurActiv; Der Spiegel
  • Stubb to toe economic line as Katainen heads to Brussels: Alexander Stubb has been elected as the leader of Finland’s centre-right National Coalition Party and will become Finland’s prime minister, replacing Jyrki Katainen. Stubb will lead a coalition government that includes the Social Democrats but has pledged to maintain the core elements of the austerity programme of his predecessor. Meanwhile Katainen has been nominated to replace Olli Rehn in the European Commission. Rehn will become an MEP. A hearing for Katainen is set to be held before the summer recess. Bloomberg; Economic Times; EurActiv; EUObserver; European Voice; Europolitics
  • Flemish separatists snub ALDE as ECR becomes third-largest group: The New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) has chosen to join the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group in the European Parliament, rejecting an invitation from the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) group, led by Guy Verhofstadt, who was re-elected to his post this week. The N-VA’s decisionmakes the ECR the third-largest party in the European Parliament. It has 68 seats to ALDE’s 67. Both groups added further members this week as the formation of political factions continues. EUObserver; European Voice; De Standaard; EurActiv; New Europe; Europolitics

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14
Jun

Europe Decides Weekly – 13 June

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Read more in Europe Decides Weekly, 13 June 2014

Top stories: 7-13 June 2014

  • Four EU leaders meet in Sweden – ‘policies before personalities’: German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Dutch and British prime ministers, Mark Rutte and David Cameron respectively, joined the Swedish PM, Fredrik Reinfeldt, at his official residence near Stockholm to discuss the future direction of the European Union on Monday and Tuesday. In a concluding press conference, the leaders – who, with the exception of Angela Merkel, are thought to oppose to varying degrees the nomination of Jean-Claude Juncker to the European Commission presidency – stated that the priority for the EU must be to agree on its policy direction for the next five years before deciding on who will take the top jobs. Guardian; Reuters
  • Van Rompuy meets Parliament leaders: The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy met the leaders of the main political groups in the European Parliament on 12 June to gauge their support for Jean-Claude Juncker to head the new Commission. Van Rompuy will report to the European Council on 26-27 June. The newly-elected President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Group, Manfred Weber, reasserted his support for Juncker and urged Van Rompuy to stick to the envisaged timetable for an appointment. Leaders of other groups, with the exception of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), also pledged their support for Juncker as the candidate of the leading party in the Parliament. European Voice; S&D news; EUObserver; EurActiv
  • Juncker sets out programme and pledges to resolve ‘British question’: Jean-Claude Juncker has put forward a five-point programme for the new Commission. The digital single market, including copyright and telecoms regulation and data protection, is the centerpiece, with a European Energy Union, a five-point plan on immigration and a stronger High Representative also in his plans. Juncker also vowed to work towards a ‘fair deal’ with Britain that “accepts the specificities of the UK in the EU, while allowing the eurozone to integrate further”. European Voice

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06
Jun

Europe Decides Weekly – 6 June

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Read more in Europe Decides Weekly, 6 June 2014

Top stories: 31 May to 6 June 2014

  • Merkel backs Juncker but EU member states still at odds: National leaders are still discussing who should lead the new European Commission following the European elections. While the EPP Group is the strongest in the Parliament, it is still unclear as to whether the EPP candidate for Commission presidency, Jean-Claude Juncker, will be nominated by member states, after several of them expressed misgivings about his appointment. The UK’s Prime Minister, David Cameron, has allegedly indirectly threatened British exit from the EU should Juncker become President, telling Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel, that the move may force him to bring forward his planned referendum on EU membership. Meanwhile, Juncker has received support from the rival candidate of the European Socialists, Martin Schulz, and Greek left-wing leader Alexis Tsipras. They say that the EPP’s win in the elections means Juncker should be first in line to attempt to win a majority. EurActiv; Gulf News; New Europe; EUObserver; European Voice; Guardian; Euronews; Tagesschau; FAZ; Bloomberg; Irish Times; KTVL news; Deutsche Welle; Europolitics; Sunday Times; Twitter
  • Leaders and contenders consider Juncker alternatives: With question marks hanging over the candidacy of Jean-Claude Juncker, Angela Merkel has reportedly asked French President François Hollande whether he would consider nominating the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, to be the next President of the European Commission. French sources say that Hollande did not support the idea. Also in France, the name of Michel Barnier, who Juncker defeated to the EPP nomination, still circulates as a possible compromise candidate. Meanwhile Olli Rehn’s expected departure to the European Parliament is likely to see Finland’s current Prime Minister, Jyrki Katainen, head to Brussels as a commissioner. He is also under consideration as a possible successor to José Manuel Barroso, although Katainen is still backing Juncker’s candidacy. EurActiv; Reuters; Le Monde
  • Le Pen and Farage compete to attract MEPs as ECR numbers surge: Despite his victory in Britain’s European Parliament election, the leader of the UK Independence Party (Ukip), Nigel Farage is struggling to secure the existence of his Europe of Freedom and Democracy (EFD) group. Farage is being squeezed by France’s far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, who is trying to cobble together a far-right group called the ‘European Alliance for Freedom’ and has already wooed Italy’s Northern League away from the EFD, and the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group. The ECR this week added ten members (going to 55 MEPs), including former members from the Danish People’s Party and the Finns, both parties having been previously aligned to the EFD. Slovakian, German and Greek members also joined the ECR, with decisions pending on Bulgaria Without Censorship and the Alternative for Germany (whose admission to the group of David Cameron’s Conservatives could anger Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel, at a sensitive time in negotiations on the Commission presidency). Meanwhile Farage is trying to forge links with Italy’s Five Star Movement, but risks not having enough nationalities to re-form the EFD. European Voice; EUObserver; Novinite; Europe Decides; Twitter; Reuters; EurActiv

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30
May

Europe Decides Weekly – 30 May

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Read more in Europe Decides Weekly, 30 May 2014

Top stories: 24-30 May 2014

  • EPP is biggest loser but wins European elections: The centre-right European People’s Party has emerged as the biggest group in the European Parliament following the European elections. According to the latest projections, the EPP will have 213 seats in the new parliament, losing around 60 seats. The Socialists & Democrats will have the second biggest group with 190 seats, a slight drop on its previous total. The big winners of the night were a range of parties on the Eurosceptic and anti-system right and left, pushing the number of non-attached members over 100. It seems likely that many of these groups will affiliate to existing groups in the Parliament. At 43.1%, the overall election turnout was slightly higher than at the last elections in 2009. Although Western European countries such as France, Germany and Denmark had a higher voting turnout than in 2009, Eastern countries like Hungary and Slovenia actually showed a downward trend. Slovakia’s turnout was set at an all-time low of 13%. Europe Decides results page; EurActiv; EUObserver; ALDE news; Irish Times; Times of Malta; Focus news; Chicago Tribune; Europolitics; Slate; European Public Affairs
  • Juncker in pole position for presidency after nervous week: EPP lead candidate Jean-Claude Juncker is the frontrunner to become President of the European Commission. A meeting of parliamentary leaders on Tuesday morning gave Juncker the opportunity to build majorities in the Parliament and European Council that would back his bid, but the European Council, meeting on Tuesday evening, did not discuss names and gave its President, Herman Van Rompuy, a mandate to find a candidate that could command a double majority. Post-summit comments by Angela Merkel that Juncker was not the only capable candidate sparked a wave of criticism in Germany for ignoring the results of the election. However, on Friday afternoon she confirmed that she would back Juncker’s presidential bid. EUObserver; Greens-EFA news; Bloomberg; GUE/NGL news; New Europe; S&D news; EurActiv; BBC News; Parliament Magazine; Europolitics; Wall Street Journal; S&D news; Wort; Europa RAPID; New York Times; Reuters; European Voice; Policy Network; Economist
  • Poland nominates Sikorski to replace Ashton: Poland’s Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, has put forward the country’s Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, to succeed Catherine Ashton as High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Sikorski would be a “natural candidate”, said Tusk, adding that Poland has gained significant influence in foreign policy and so the appointment “would be within the scope of our interests”. Sikorski has been Poland’s Foreign Minister since 2007 and was a leading figure in the Ukraine crisis earlier this year. EurActiv

 

30
May

Five days on from the election: five reflections on the Commission presidency

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This blogpost, originally published at 12:55 on Friday 30 May, has been updated following remarks by the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, later on Friday afternoon.

That was the week that was: an odd few days where the European People’s Party won the European Parliament elections, but was also the biggest loser; and where Socialists in the Parliament backed the EPP lead candidate for the European Commission presidency, only for some centre-right leaders to apply the brakes in the European Council.

Jean-Claude Juncker, the EPP lead candidate, is still the frontrunner and the only person formally in the running. His chances have been boosted tanks to comments by the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, on Friday, that she is conducting negotiations on the basis that Juncker should be President.

However, it is clear that a number of heads of government would like to dump him in favour of someone else. The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, has been charged with an exploratory mission to find the person – Juncker included – who can command the sufficient majority in the Parliament and European Council.

Meanwhile, five political groups in the European Parliament have backed Juncker to have a first go at building majorities in the same institutions – and if he fails, are likely to call for Martin Schulz, lead candidate of the second-placed Socialists, to have a go.

If those who want to block Juncker in the European Council succeed – and it is not a done deal yet for the former Luxembourg prime minister – an inter-institutional battle between the Parliament and European Council will be on the cards.

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16
May

Europe Decides Weekly – 16 May

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Read more in Europe Decides Weekly, 9 May 2014

Top stories: 9-16 May 2014

  • Live TV debate with candidates for next Commission President: A final TV debate with the European parties’ candidates for the presidency of the European Commission took place on 15 May in the European Parliament. The ‘Eurovision Debate’ featured Jean-Claude Juncker (centre-right), Martin Schulz (Socialists), Guy Verhofstadt (Liberals), Ska Keller (Greens) and Alexis Tsipras (radical left). The contenders clashed over a number of topics ranging from the economy, including the impact of austerity measures, to Russia and Ukraine, immigration and religious symbols. The debate was broadcast on 58 national and regional TV channels and web-streamed on 71 websites across EU member states. Europolitics; EurActiv; European Voice; EUobserver; New Europe
  • Latest survey shows gap closing between EPP and Socialists: The latest PollWatch 2014 predictions show that the gap between the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) and the centre-left Socialists and Democrats Group (S&D) is narrowing. With less than a week to go before the polls open, the EPP is predicted to gain 212 seats, with the S&D close behind on 209. The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) remain on 63 seats, while the radical left European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) has improved slightly and would now find itself with 52 seats. The European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group lead the rest of the chasing pack, with 43 seats. PollWatch 2014; Europe Decides; Reuters
  • Merkel and Hollande discuss Commission President: The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and the French President, François Hollande, met in Germany last weekend to discuss several EU-related issues, including the choice of a new Commission president. Merkel said that it will take several weeks following the European elections to reach a decision, amid talk of her and other EU leaders wanting to consider candidates other than the lead candidates of the pan-European parties. The EPP lead candidate, Jean-Claude Juncker, has said that Merkel gave him a firm signal that he will become the next Commission president if the centre-right wins the election, but the leader of the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda, criticised the Chancellor for reportedly trying to prevent the Parliament’s President (and Socialist lead candidate), Martin Schulz, from chairing the assembly’s post-election review meeting. Swoboda said Merkel is only one of the 28 leaders in the European Council and should stop interfering in parliamentary business. EurActiv; Reuters; Chicago Tribune; Europolitics; S&D news; EUObserver

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09
May

Europe Decides Weekly – 9 May

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Read more in Europe Decides Weekly, 9 May 2014

Top stories: 1-9 May 2014

  • EPP extends lead as smaller groups scramble for seats: The latest PollWatch 2014 puts the European People’s Party (EPP) in an 11-seat lead over the Socialists and Democrats (S&D). The EPP’s projected haul of 216 seats re-opens the gap with the S&D, who had looked to be narrowing the difference between the two parties in previous forecasts. The Green, Conservative and Eurosceptic groups are in a tight battle for fifth place behind the Liberals (63 seats) and radical left (which fell under the 50-seat mark for the first time in a PollWatch 2014 prediction). PollWatch 2014; Europe Decides
  • Slovenia PM Bratušek formally resigns, urges snap election: Slovenia’s Prime Minister, Alenka Bratušek, handed in her resignation on Monday 5 May and called for an early election to be held in June. She said it would be the best way out of the political crisis, which was triggered by her removal as leader of Positive Slovenia by the party’s founder. Meanwhile, ex-PM and current opposition leader Janez Janša was sentenced to two years in prison for bribery related to a 2006 arms deal. Janša’s conviction, delivered last June, was upheld by an appeal court. New Europe; EUObserver; Bloomberg; Reuters; Daily Journal; Washington Post; EurActiv
  • Oettinger frontrunner as next German Commission nominee: The Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger, is set to be named as Germany’s nominee to the European Commission for a second time, according to a report in Der Spiegel. Since the German Social Democrats (SPD) are expected to lose support in the European election, it is reported that the Chancellor, Angela Merkel, will send a Christian Democrat to the Commission. Oettinger’s only competitor for the post is reported to be David McAllister, former prime minister of Lower Saxony and lead candidate for Merkel’s Christian Democrats (CDU). Der Spiegel

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30
Apr

Europe Decides Weekly – 30 April

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Read more in Europe Decides Weekly, 30 April 2014

Top stories: 26-30 April 2014

  • EU rivals square off in first presidential debate: The first live TV debate between the main candidates to be President of the European Commission was held on 28 April. Former Luxembourg PM Jean-Claude Juncker (from the centre-right European People’s Party), European Parliament President Martin Schulz (Socialists), ex-Belgian PM Guy Verhofstadt (Liberals) and MEP Ska Keller (Greens) debated issues including the economy, jobs, foreign policy and rising euroscepticism. During the debate, broadcast by Euronews, all candidates noted that choosing a different ‘compromise’ candidate behind closed doors would seriously undermine European democracy. The candidates held a radio debate the following day and will debate again, along with Greek radical left leader Alexis Tsipras, on 15 May in an event organised by Europe’s public service broadcasters. EurActiv; EUObserver; BBC News; Reuters
  • Slovenian government close to collapse: Slovenia’s Prime Minister, Alenka Bratusek, lost the leadership of the Positive Slovenia (PS) party over the weekend, prompting a crisis in the government as coalition partners refused to work under the new PS leader Zoran Jankovic, who has been dogged by allegations of corruption. Bratusek threatened to resign should new elections be called. Meanwhile, centre-right former PM Janez Jansa was sentenced over a corruption scandal. EurActiv; EUObserver; Tweet by electionista; New Europe; EUObserver; EUObserver
  • Berlusconi’s comments spark outrage: Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has been condemned for comments that “Germans do not think that concentration camps actually existed during World War II”. A spokesperson for Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the claim is so absurd that the government will not comment on them, while another EPP member – the party’s lead candidate in the European elections, Jean-Claude Juncker – said he was “sickened” by the remarks by the leader of the EPP-affiliated Forza Italia party. EUObserver; Deutsche Welle; PES News; Juncker EPP news

 

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