All posts tagged Olli Rehn

11
Jul

Europe Decides Weekly – 11 July

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Read more in Europe Decides Weekly, 11 July 2014

Top stories: 5-11 July 2014

  • Eurosceptics shut out as committees elect chairs and vice-chairs: The European Parliament’s 20 committees and two sub-committees have elected their key office-holders for the next two-and-a-half years. The centre-right European People’s Party and centre-left Socialists and Democrats groups won most of the top posts and teamed up with the Liberal ALDE Group to prevent positions going to the hardline Eurosceptic Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD). Members of the Petitions committee blocked the election of EFDD MEP Eleonora Evi to the chair, with EFDD leader Nigel Farage attacking “the europhile groups” and their “fear of democracy”. Similarly, two German Eurosceptic deputies from the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, Bernd Lucke and Beatrix Storch, were rejected as vice-chairs by the economic affairs and women’s rights committees respectively. New Europe; EUObserver; Euranet Plus; EurActiv; European Parliament News; European Voice; Europe Decides Twitter
  • Juncker exchanges views with political groups in European Parliament: The European Council’s candidate for the Commission presidency, Jean-Claude Juncker, has held meetings with the political groups of the European Parliament to gain support for his candidacy in the election on 15 July. The candidate had sent all groups a summary of his campaign priorities. Even though the Conservative ECR Group will vote against Juncker, and the Greens remain divided, the majority of the EPP, S&D and ALDE groups are expected to vote in favour of his candidacy, guaranteeing him therefore a majority. The EPP confirmed their support for Juncker, but the Socialists said his performance was “positive and useful but not yet fully satisfactory”, and looked for greater assurances on a number of issues. The ALDE Group will take a decision on Monday. EUReporter; European Commission; Europolitics; European Voice; New Europe; EurActiv; Euranet; EPP group; S&D news
  • Confusion over Juncker promise on key economic role: At a meeting with the Socialists and Democrats Group in the European Parliament, Jean-Claude Juncker allegedly announced that Olli Rehn’s successor as Commissioner for Economics and Monetary Affairs will be a Socialist. The top contenders for the position include Pierre Moscovici, a former French finance minister, and Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the current head of the Eurogroup and the Netherlands’ Finance Minister. However, in a press release following Juncker’s hearing before Liberal MEPs, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) Group claimed that during their hearing Juncker noted that European Commission portfolios have not yet been allocated. ALDE; European Voice; Europolitics; EUObserver; Europe Decides Twitter
  • Leaders gear up for appointments summit: On Wednesday EU leaders will meet in an extraordinary summit to choose the future president of the European Council, the new foreign policy chief and the chair of the Eurozone finance ministers group. The current President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, has been consulting with national leaders and expects to conclude these talks on 11 July. Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt is a favourite for the European Council role, with Federica Mogherini, Italy’s Foreign Minister in line to replace Catherine Ashton as the new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. European Voice

 

06
Jul

Europe Decides Weekly – 4 July

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Read more in Europe Decides Weekly, 4 July 2014

Top stories: 28 June to 4 July 2014

  • Schulz elected Parliament President in first test of ‘grand coalition’: Martin Schulz has been elected for a second time as President of the European Parliament. Schulz, who recently returned to lead the Socialists & Democrats group, won 409 out of 612 valid votes, winning in the first ballot. Of the other candidates – who participated in a pre-election debate that Schulz did not attend – British Conservative Sajjad Karim (ECR Group) took 101 votes, with Spanish far-left candidate Pablo Iglesias and Austrian Green Ulrike Lunacek taking 51 votes each. The vote was a successful first test of the grand coalition between the EPP, Socialists and Liberals, although Schulz faced criticism for benefitting from a ‘backroom deal’ having criticised such agreements during the European election campaign. Schulz keeps the presidency until 2017, when an EPP candidate – possibly France’s Alain Lamassoure – is thought likely to take over the position. Europa RAPID; S&D news; New Europe; Deutsche Welle; European Voice; EUObserver; Europolitics; EurActiv
  • Juncker vote in Parliament moved to 15 July as Cameron tries to patch up differences: The European Parliament has brought forward its vote to elect Jean-Claude Juncker as the new Commission president to 15 July, one day earlier than originally planned. This will give more time to EU leaders before they meet in Brussels on 16 July to decide on a package of other top EU jobs, including the presidency of the European Council. Juncker’s biggest opponent in the European Council, British Prime Minister David Cameron, called the President-designate last weekend to discuss reform and economic growth in Europe. Thanks to the ‘grand coalition’ agreement in the Parliament, Juncker is likely to be elected, but the Socialists have stated that their support is dependent on certain conditions, including an unbreakable commitment to promote investment, sustainable growth and decent, secure jobs, and a plan to tackle poverty and inequality. EUObserver; European Voice; Deutsche Welle; S&D news
  • Renzi steals the show as Greeks depart: Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi saw his presentation of the priorities of the Italian Presidency of the Council greeted by warm applause from MEPs. Renzi focused on growth and values in his speech. The Commission and Parliament praised the work of the outgoing Greek Presidency. Greek PM Antonis Samaras said that from January to June, Greece had concluded 67 legislative initiatives and achieved consensus on another 15, addressing critical policy areas such as the economic and banking union, unemployment, and competitiveness and growth. Jose Manuel Barroso, the European Commission President, said Greece “not only responded to crisis but also contributed constructively to the European agenda.” Europolitics; Italian Government news; Europarl news; European Voice; Europa RAPID

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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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11
Jun

Building a new Commission – the runners and riders for the next College

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Post updated later on Wednesday 11 June to account for news that Dacian Cioloș (Agriculture and Rural Development; Romania) may be re-nominated to the Commission.

With the choice of a President of the European Commission still up in the air, we are a long way off knowing the full team that will occupy the upper floors of the Berlaymont for the next five years.

Nevertheless, national governments are already putting forward their proposed nominees to sit in the new College. Here’s our look at the comings and goings in the Commission in 2014, and the potential candidates to take a seat in the new Commission.

If you have comments or suggestions, please include them in the comments box.

See our country-by-country guide to the potential nominees Read more

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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04
Apr

Europe Decides Weekly – 4 April

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Read more in Europe Decides Weekly, 4 April 2014

Top stories: 29 March to 4 April 2014

  • Six commissioners take leave to run in European elections: The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso has announced that seven commissioners will stand in the European Parliament elections. Viviane Reding, Antonio Tajani, Maroš Šefčovič, Olli Rehn, Janusz Lewandowski and Neven Mimica will all go on leave this month, while Karel De Gucht will be a candidate but remain in post as he will not be actively campaigning and will not take up his seat in the Parliament if elected. Barroso also announced arrangements for other commissioners to cover the portfolios of the six members going on leave. EurActiv; Europolitics; EUObserver; Europe Online Magazine; European Voice; RTT News; Reuters
  • Moscovici tipped to be European commissioner: Pierre Moscovici, who lost his job as France’s finance minister in this week’s reshuffle, is strongly rumoured to be France’s next nominee to the European Commission. Other prospective nominees who have official backing are Andrus Ansip (Estonia), Neven Mimica (Croatia), Maroš Šefčovič (Slovakia), and Karmenu Vella (Malta). The appointment of Vella, formerly tourism minister, follows a government reshuffle prompted by the nomination of Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca as Malta’s next president. EurActiv; European Voice; Europe Decides
  • Poll puts socialists and centre-right in dead heat: The latest PollWatch 2014 predictions put the European People’s Party (EPP) and the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) both on 212 seats with 50 days until the European elections. The Liberals remain third, on 62 seats, seven ahead of the radical left. EUObserver; European Voice; Europe Decides

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01
Apr

50 days to go, 50 things to know about Europe’s year of change

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The countdown continues: at 08:00 CET on Wednesday 2 April, there are exactly 50 days to go to the opening of the polls for the European Parliament elections.

Here is our overview of where we stand and what you need to know about Europe’s year of change:

Top jobs | Country-by-country | PollWatch 2014 | The elections and beyond | Reading list

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17
Mar

Weekend round-up: Spain’s Socialists go for youth

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13194412274_4ef7a07381_bSpain’s opposition Socialists (PSOE) have opted for a youthful line-up in their candidate selections for the European Parliament election.

The list, headed by the party’s deputy secretary-general, former MEP Elena Valenciano, features nine of the Socialists’ current 23 MEPs.

The most senior of these is Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar MEP, the Chair of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, although he led the list in 2009 and his relegation to fourth place means that he will no longer represent MEPs on PSOE’s executive committee.

Another current MEP, Iratxe García Pérez, in fifth place, is one of a series of candidates under the age of 40 years (including fellow MEPs Eider Gardiazábal Rubial, in ninth place, and Sergio Gutiérrez Prieto, in 12th).

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17
Feb

Northern Lights and rising stars heading for Brussels

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6503846831_2f511beb1a_oFor some countries, nominees to the European Commission often emerge as a result of national problem-solving exercises – focusing on who needs to be removed from the national political arena without their pride being damaged, who needs to be compensated for poor treatment in the past, or whose departure causes the fewest ripples.

This hardly looks like being the case for Finland and Estonia in 2014. Both countries are set to send top-level politicians to serve in the Commission – and possibly even their prime ministers.

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10
Feb

100 days to go, 100 things to know about Europe’s year of change

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At 07:00 CET on Tuesday 11 February, there was exactly 100 days to go to the opening of the polls for the European Parliament elections.

As the countdown to the elections intensifies, here is our overview of where we stand:

Top jobs | European Parliament election candidates | European Parliament election opinion polls | Processes and procedures for the elections and beyond | Potential nominees to the European Commission | Online conversations | Also on Europe Decides

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