The EU heads of government want to decide in Brussels about the renewal of the Topjobs. The most important Item: the President of the EU Commission. It could be a social Democrat. You’ll need a package solution.
One is on a long night in Brussels. “I hope that it goes quickly, but it might be late,” oints, the Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte upon his arrival at the Council building. It is a package solution for the top jobs in Brussels and the first prize is the President of the Commission. He has the most Power and controls the largest of the authority of the EU over the next five years. Although he, too, can not decide alone, but the President sets the political tone.
Timmermans has a chance?eu
At the G20 summit in Osaka, Germany, France and Spain had worked out a package that, surprisingly, puts the already chanceless applicable Dutchman Frans Timmermans, back to square 1. He is the top candidate of the social Democrats in the European Parliament, where they occupy only a weakened second place. The top job had claimed the conservative EPP for their candidate Manfred Weber for months for. But it is only the President of France, Macron, but also a number of other countries declines.
Suddenly opportunities: the Dutch social-Democrat Frans Timmermans
In addition, he no longer has a majority in the Parliament, because the old Grand coalition between Christian and social Democrats is working. The latter also feel strengthened, because Scandinavia and Spain have socialist governments. In return, you waive the President of the Commission, would have to be compensated for the EPP then: By the Parliament and or the Council. In addition, this lock means the offer that the controversial process would remain the choice of leading candidates in the Parliament.
Finally, there is a consolation prize with the office of the chief diplomat and at the end of the succession in the ECB. All of this must be spread so that not only the major parties but also North and South, East and West happen somehow. It’s complicated.
That’s why not want to be involved Rutte to the opportunities for its compatriot Frans Timmermans, although he had been consulted. “It is a moving picture”, a lot of names were still in the game. However, When the Timmermans-folding solution, it would be a victory for the centre-left forces in the EU, because they would break the fifteen-year monopoly on power of the Conservatives in the Commission.
His Job is the most important: the outgoing President of the Commission Juncker
Macron wants a “competent candidate”
If it comes as planned, then the French President would have won at least the battle with Angela Merkel. Because he had established the rejection front against the German candidate, Manfred Weber and was the closest opponent. He is especially “competence,” repeatedly Emmanuel Macron at the beginning of the meeting, because behind the Person of the new President of the Commission, a program had to be in the area of climate protection, as well as the Social and economic policy.
Such competence of the Frenchman Michel Barnier, would bring the Dane Margrethe Vestager and Frans Timmermans. All of them have experience as Ministers and EU commissioners – the biggest shortcoming of Manfred Weber. In addition, there must be a geographical balance, says Macron and search two men and two women. But what is clear is: If no German is left out, then it is also not a Frenchman, Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, would also be out.
The largest resistance against the social Democrats Timmermans, though, comes from the Visegrad countries. They had pre-written a letter to Council President Tusk and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said: “at the beginning of the meeting clear that he does not think that the Dutchman is the right man, Europe to a”.
However, you need to the choice of the Commission President by a majority of 21 countries and 75 per cent of the population. If only a small handful of Eastern Europeans against the candidate, it would be to cope with.
Still skeptical regarding the chances of success of Angela Merkel at the summit in Brussels
Merkel skeptical
The Chancellor, who had helped put together the compromise package for the EU-Jobs in Osaka, showed up in front of the doors in Brussels quite skeptical about the chances of success. “It is not a simple advice, it is said – be careful”. The preparation meeting with your conservative party colleagues must have been difficult. For you it is extremely difficult to remove from your claim to the President of the European Commission and/or the principle of the leading candidates in the European Parliament.
But Angela Merkel once again points out that the Conservatives have no majority for Manfred Weber, either in Parliament or in the Council. European Council President Donald Tusk have a difficult task in front of you, to bring the conflicting interests together.
What the Chancellor is important: you don’t want any blockage of the two institutions, the Council of Ministers and the Parliament, which could neutralize in a political stalemate for months. Both sides need to make compromises to find a solution. “It will take a while,” added Merkel. You will, still tired from the flight back from Osaka, once more, of their famous must prove staying power in a long night in Brussels.