EU autumn agenda
18 September: Germany's Bundesrat (upper house) to adopt law on implementation of the Lisbon treaty
27 September: General elections in Germany and Portugal
2 October: Irish referendum on the Lisbon treaty
4 October: General election in Greece
29-30 October: EU leaders scheduled to agree on nominations for president of the European Council and high representative for foreign and security policy
31 October: Mandate of the current Commission expires
November: Hearings in the European Parliament for nominated commissioners
õ December: Plenary vote on the new Commission
õ 1 January 2010: Target date for entry into force of the Lisbon treaty
European Voice
Thursday 17 September 2009
16 September 2009: 'Europe party'
In his acceptance speech, Mr Barroso said that as head of the Commission "my party is going to be Europe".
"Anyone who wants to come on board for this exciting journey, that is the construction of a united Europe, it is with them that I would like to build the necessary consensus to strengthen the European project," he told MEPs.
He now faces the task of assembling a new team of 26 other commissioners, who will take office on 1 January. But these appointments cannot begin until Irish voters give their verdict on the Lisbon Treaty in a second referendum on 2 October. See the BBC coverage
"Anyone who wants to come on board for this exciting journey, that is the construction of a united Europe, it is with them that I would like to build the necessary consensus to strengthen the European project," he told MEPs.
He now faces the task of assembling a new team of 26 other commissioners, who will take office on 1 January. But these appointments cannot begin until Irish voters give their verdict on the Lisbon Treaty in a second referendum on 2 October. See the BBC coverage
The Right Plans?
Plans for posts
The next set of European commissioners is set to include one focused on tackling climate change, under plans unveiled yesterday by José Manuel Barroso (...) He presented plans for three new commissioners - one for fundamental rights and justice, who would protect human rights; one for internal affairs and immigration, to help define a common EU immigration policy; and another for climate action, who would oversee the bloc's fight against global warming.
Joshua Chaffin, FT reports
The next set of European commissioners is set to include one focused on tackling climate change, under plans unveiled yesterday by José Manuel Barroso (...) He presented plans for three new commissioners - one for fundamental rights and justice, who would protect human rights; one for internal affairs and immigration, to help define a common EU immigration policy; and another for climate action, who would oversee the bloc's fight against global warming.
Joshua Chaffin, FT reports
Sunday 13 September 2009
Why Barroso deserves a second chance
He is a more effective president than his two immediate predecessors, Romano Prodi and Jacques Santer. It helps that he is a skilled communicator in six languages. Of course, there are other people who could do the job very well. One of those is Pascal Lamy, a former commissioner and aide to Delors, who now heads the World Trade Organisation. Lamy tempers his commitment to European integration with a steely pragmatism and is very tough. But he is a socialist. Given that so few heads of government are centre-left, and given that the socialists were decimated in the European elections, Lamy has no chance of the job. The next president needs the approval of the European council and of the parliament, and of those who stand a credible chance of winning their support, Barroso is the most committed to the kind of openness that Europe needs.
Click here to read the full The Guardian article.
Click here to read the full The Guardian article.
BARROSO IS BACK - with a plan for the next five years
Click here to read Euractiv's analysis of José Manuel Barroso's five-year plan published on September 3.
Sunday 12 July 2009
Backing Barroso
What the EU needs during the current economic crisis, and in the vital debate on a post-Kyoto settlement to tackle global warming, is strong leadership from a Commission president who is not afraid of being unpopular – even with the big member states. Mr Barroso must show that he will be more independent in a second term. In exchange, the parliament should give him its clear endorsement in September. Any further hesitation would be unlikely to produce a better candidate. It would just be a demonstration of pointless institutional squabbling.
Read the full FT article here
Read the full FT article here
Friday 10 July 2009
From Cecilia Malmström's blog
The 27 Member States have now formally decided to nominate José Manuel Barroso for a second term as president of the European Commission. The “written procedure” used ran out just an hour ago, and resulted in a unanimous vote in favour of Mr. Barroso.
The next step is now the approval by the European Parliament, which will hopefully take place during the September session in Strasbourg.
I am pleased that all Member States have now formally agreed on the nomination of the Commission president, as it will ensure continuity of the Commission’s important work during the autumn on climate change, the economic crisis etc. Following Parliament’s vote in September, the president will also have a clear mandate to prepare the appointment of a new college after the referendum in Ireland.
Visit the Minister's blog by clicking here
The next step is now the approval by the European Parliament, which will hopefully take place during the September session in Strasbourg.
I am pleased that all Member States have now formally agreed on the nomination of the Commission president, as it will ensure continuity of the Commission’s important work during the autumn on climate change, the economic crisis etc. Following Parliament’s vote in September, the president will also have a clear mandate to prepare the appointment of a new college after the referendum in Ireland.
Visit the Minister's blog by clicking here
Thursday 2 July 2009
Reinfeldt calls for clarity over the leadership of the Commission
Speaking at the launch of Sweden's presidency of the EU in Stockholm yesterday, Frederik Reinfeldt, the Swedish prime minister, called for clarity over the leadership of the Commission. “This is a challenging presidency with the financial crisis, the economic recession and the climate change conference. We need European leadership,” he said. (...)
Reinfeldt pointed out that EU leaders had unanimously backed Barroso for a second term at their summit on 18-19 June and that they had urged the Parliament to vote in July.
Read the full European Voice article here
Reinfeldt pointed out that EU leaders had unanimously backed Barroso for a second term at their summit on 18-19 June and that they had urged the Parliament to vote in July.
Read the full European Voice article here
Friday 26 June 2009
The nonsense campaign against Mr Barroso
According to the current rule book of the EU, aka the Nice Treaty, it is for the national leaders to nominate a new president of the commission. Their nominee must then be approved by a simple majority of members voting in the European Parliament. That, pretty much, is that.
Arguably, national leaders are going beyond what they strictly have to do: after unanimously agreeing to offer Mr Barroso a second term, they have instructed the current and future rotating presidency countries (the Czechs and Swedes) to sound out the heads of the big parliamentary groups and ask what would happen if the Barroso re-appointment is put to MEPs in July, when they gather in Strasbourg for their first plenary session since the recent Euro-elections.
Um, where is the outrage? Over to Mr Schultz, the fact that national governments, meeting as the European Council:
“wish to run this past a meeting of the European Parliament leaders at the end of June, followed by a vote in July, rather than to have a full and official consultation of the Parliament, is wholly unacceptable. (...)
"My group objects to the indecent haste with which the Council is trying to rush through Mr. Barroso's appointment and we will certainly vote against him".
But people who dislike Mr Barroso, and there are a lot of them in the Brussels bubble, think it will be harder for him to obtain an absolute majority than a simple majority, so they want to take the decision under Lisbon rules. They argue that it is wrong to use the Nice rules, because Lisbon is coming soon and will affect the number of commissioners who will serve under the new president. So they would either like to delay the decision for months, or “anticipate” its ratification and vote as if Lisbon were in force.
I have no doubt that my children would like to “anticipate” Christmas and have their presents in October. But it ain’t happening in my house, and it is not clear to me why it should happen in the European Parliament.
Read the Economist blog
Arguably, national leaders are going beyond what they strictly have to do: after unanimously agreeing to offer Mr Barroso a second term, they have instructed the current and future rotating presidency countries (the Czechs and Swedes) to sound out the heads of the big parliamentary groups and ask what would happen if the Barroso re-appointment is put to MEPs in July, when they gather in Strasbourg for their first plenary session since the recent Euro-elections.
Um, where is the outrage? Over to Mr Schultz, the fact that national governments, meeting as the European Council:
“wish to run this past a meeting of the European Parliament leaders at the end of June, followed by a vote in July, rather than to have a full and official consultation of the Parliament, is wholly unacceptable. (...)
"My group objects to the indecent haste with which the Council is trying to rush through Mr. Barroso's appointment and we will certainly vote against him".
But people who dislike Mr Barroso, and there are a lot of them in the Brussels bubble, think it will be harder for him to obtain an absolute majority than a simple majority, so they want to take the decision under Lisbon rules. They argue that it is wrong to use the Nice rules, because Lisbon is coming soon and will affect the number of commissioners who will serve under the new president. So they would either like to delay the decision for months, or “anticipate” its ratification and vote as if Lisbon were in force.
I have no doubt that my children would like to “anticipate” Christmas and have their presents in October. But it ain’t happening in my house, and it is not clear to me why it should happen in the European Parliament.
Read the Economist blog
Thursday 25 June 2009
A timeline for the appointment of a new Commission
– 18-19 June: EU leaders take political decision to nominate Barroso for a second term.
– 23 June: European People's Party (EPP) and Socialist groups appoint leaders.
– 25 June: Meeting of European Parliament political group leaders with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer in Stockholm.
– If discussions in Stockholm indicate Barroso will win backing of most MEPs in a vote on 15 July, EU leaders will take a formal decision to nominate Barroso (possibly by written procedure).
– 30 June: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe MEPs appoint a new leader.
– 7 July: EPP decision on candidate for president of European Parliament.
– 15 July: Barroso appears before the European Parliament. MEPs vote to approve nomination by a simple majority.
– End September-early October: Ireland holds referendum on Lisbon treaty.
– Once Ireland, Poland and the Czech Republic complete ratification, a decision can be taken by EU leaders to keep the size of the Commission at 27, ie, one per member state. EU leaders nominate list of commissioners.
– 29-30 October: EU summit to decide on nomination of commissioners, president of the European Council, high representative and deputy secretary-general of the Council.
– November: Hearings for designated commissioners.
– November/December: European Parliament plenary vote on European Commission and president (by absolute majority), followed by appointment by EU leaders (by qualified majority).
– January 2010. Entry into force of Lisbon treaty.(European Voice)
– 23 June: European People's Party (EPP) and Socialist groups appoint leaders.
– 25 June: Meeting of European Parliament political group leaders with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer in Stockholm.
– If discussions in Stockholm indicate Barroso will win backing of most MEPs in a vote on 15 July, EU leaders will take a formal decision to nominate Barroso (possibly by written procedure).
– 30 June: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe MEPs appoint a new leader.
– 7 July: EPP decision on candidate for president of European Parliament.
– 15 July: Barroso appears before the European Parliament. MEPs vote to approve nomination by a simple majority.
– End September-early October: Ireland holds referendum on Lisbon treaty.
– Once Ireland, Poland and the Czech Republic complete ratification, a decision can be taken by EU leaders to keep the size of the Commission at 27, ie, one per member state. EU leaders nominate list of commissioners.
– 29-30 October: EU summit to decide on nomination of commissioners, president of the European Council, high representative and deputy secretary-general of the Council.
– November: Hearings for designated commissioners.
– November/December: European Parliament plenary vote on European Commission and president (by absolute majority), followed by appointment by EU leaders (by qualified majority).
– January 2010. Entry into force of Lisbon treaty.(European Voice)
Friday 19 June 2009
Unanimous support for Second Mandate
EU leaders have given unanimous political backing for Jose Manuel Barroso to become president of the European Commission for a second time, putting an end to months of speculation about his candidacy.
Czech Prime minister Jan Fischer, currently in charge of the EU, said there was "broad and unanimous support" for the centre-right Portuguese politician, who presented some of his plans for his second mandate during a dinner with EU leaders on Thursday evening (18 June).
A clearly-relieved Mr Barroso, who first put out feelers for a second mandate two years ago, said: "what can I say to you except I am extremely proud of the unanimous support I received."
He explained he had received backing from all 27 governments because he has always shown "respect" to all member states regardless of size or geography.
Read the full EUobserver article here
Czech Prime minister Jan Fischer, currently in charge of the EU, said there was "broad and unanimous support" for the centre-right Portuguese politician, who presented some of his plans for his second mandate during a dinner with EU leaders on Thursday evening (18 June).
A clearly-relieved Mr Barroso, who first put out feelers for a second mandate two years ago, said: "what can I say to you except I am extremely proud of the unanimous support I received."
He explained he had received backing from all 27 governments because he has always shown "respect" to all member states regardless of size or geography.
Read the full EUobserver article here
Thursday 18 June 2009
"We need more, not less Europe."
President Barroso sets out his policy ambitions for the next five years in letter addressed to EU heads of state and government.
Please click here to read the full text.
Please click here to read the full text.
Tuesday 16 June 2009
Barroso Mark II
The Council should give a legally binding endorsement to Mr Barroso at its summit next week, to prevent (particularly the big) member states putting pressure on him as he puts together his team.
Read more on the Financial Times here
Read more on the Financial Times here
Monday 15 June 2009
Pour ou contre un second mandat de Barroso?
Deux journalistes spécialistes des affaires européennes débatent sur les pours et les contres d'un second mandat de Barroso - visonnez le débat sur le site d'Euronews.
Wednesday 10 June 2009
Tomorrow’s European Commission
As the President Barroso nears the end of its term, the perception in some national capitals is that the Commission is now a more "politically weakened institution".
A closer look at the institutional triangle would be enough to reach this conclusion: the European Parliament today is a more powerful institution than the “talking shop” it used to be in the early 50s. The Parliament’s role has been upgraded to that of a co-legislator with the Council in a wide range of policy areas, for the sake of EU citizens' interests and for the sake of Europe's democracy. The Council of the European Union has also changed to include 12 new Member States whose interests need to be accommodated.
In today’s Europe, however, my perception of the European Commission would be slightly different. When I look back in time, since President Hallstein and during its 51 years of existence, l can only recall of a period when the European Commission was (and was allowed to be) bolder, if you like vis-à-vis the Member States. It was during 1985-95 term of Jacques Delors. Back then, however, there were 15 Member States around the table. To use the cartoonist language, there were 17 Commissioners who would probably order coffee and, perhaps, some tea? The French-German axis was fine-tuned, which doesn’t happen for a while; and most importantly: it was in every Member State’s interest to build a common market. These were indeed inspiring days for the life of the European Commission, but they were just about one-fifth of the Commission’s lifetime.
When I look at today’s European Commission, I don’t see a weaker institution, but rather one that is changing. And one that needs to change because we are no longer living in the 90s. Since then, the world has completely changed, Eastern Europe has been “back to Europe” again and the Commission is now a more diverse group of 27 Commissioners, which inevitably faces a risk of fragmentation.
During his tenure, President Barroso has managed to forge consensus between the 27 Member States, big and small, while also reinforcing his own role inside the College. This might have changed collegiality and might have paved the way for a new form of 'presidentialisation', as some have put it. However, I do not see this as a negative development for the institutional life of the Commission. Quite the opposite: tomorrow’s European Commission will need greater doses of consensus to be able to deliver on different fronts and to be inclusive of different actors in society.
President Barroso did set the tone for a more open and flexible Commission. A European Commission that wants to reach out to citizens. A lot more needs to be done, of course. But if we want to re-invent Europe every day, as President Obama has recently said, we cannot be bound by our past, otherwise we will never move forward.
A closer look at the institutional triangle would be enough to reach this conclusion: the European Parliament today is a more powerful institution than the “talking shop” it used to be in the early 50s. The Parliament’s role has been upgraded to that of a co-legislator with the Council in a wide range of policy areas, for the sake of EU citizens' interests and for the sake of Europe's democracy. The Council of the European Union has also changed to include 12 new Member States whose interests need to be accommodated.
In today’s Europe, however, my perception of the European Commission would be slightly different. When I look back in time, since President Hallstein and during its 51 years of existence, l can only recall of a period when the European Commission was (and was allowed to be) bolder, if you like vis-à-vis the Member States. It was during 1985-95 term of Jacques Delors. Back then, however, there were 15 Member States around the table. To use the cartoonist language, there were 17 Commissioners who would probably order coffee and, perhaps, some tea? The French-German axis was fine-tuned, which doesn’t happen for a while; and most importantly: it was in every Member State’s interest to build a common market. These were indeed inspiring days for the life of the European Commission, but they were just about one-fifth of the Commission’s lifetime.
When I look at today’s European Commission, I don’t see a weaker institution, but rather one that is changing. And one that needs to change because we are no longer living in the 90s. Since then, the world has completely changed, Eastern Europe has been “back to Europe” again and the Commission is now a more diverse group of 27 Commissioners, which inevitably faces a risk of fragmentation.
During his tenure, President Barroso has managed to forge consensus between the 27 Member States, big and small, while also reinforcing his own role inside the College. This might have changed collegiality and might have paved the way for a new form of 'presidentialisation', as some have put it. However, I do not see this as a negative development for the institutional life of the Commission. Quite the opposite: tomorrow’s European Commission will need greater doses of consensus to be able to deliver on different fronts and to be inclusive of different actors in society.
President Barroso did set the tone for a more open and flexible Commission. A European Commission that wants to reach out to citizens. A lot more needs to be done, of course. But if we want to re-invent Europe every day, as President Obama has recently said, we cannot be bound by our past, otherwise we will never move forward.
Barroso II: an ambitious political programme
José Manuel Barroso has asked EU governments and MEPs to support an “ambitious political programme” for a second term as European Commission president. (...)
Barroso said: “In times of crisis we need a strong European Commission and strong European Union. I believe we are not living in 'business as usual' times. We need ambition and European commitment."
Read the full European Voice article here
Barroso said: “In times of crisis we need a strong European Commission and strong European Union. I believe we are not living in 'business as usual' times. We need ambition and European commitment."
Read the full European Voice article here
My Favourite Cartoon
(click on image to enlarge) Who in Brussels is not familiar with the odd Commissioner that orders his Vodka at the College meeting? When the six Commissioners gathered around the College table in the early 50s, they would all ask for coffee. These days, the twenty-seven Commissioners that make-up the weekly colleage meetings, place their own order, which might not just be the traditional coffee...
This is one of my favourite EU cartoons. Not only because it represents the EU in all its diversity and richness, but also because it captures a very powerful image of the European project that is often neglected: change.
Tuesday 9 June 2009
Towards the New Parliament
Follow the results of the June 2009 elections at the European Parliament here
Sunday 7 June 2009
Barroso, Delors, and the Franco-German Relationship
One difference between the Barroso and Delors eras lies in the Franco-German relationship. Mr Delors achieved a lot because Helmut Kohl and François Mitterrand, the former German and French leaders, shared his vision of European integration. There is no such harmony between Angela Merkel, Germany’s chancellor, and Nicolas Sarkozy, France’s president – and neither wants Mr Barroso to step into the shoes of Mr Delors.
Read the full FT article here
Read the full FT article here
"His first five years made his instincts clear"
Mr Barroso’s job is to act as referee. His first five years made his instincts clear. Although he favours EU integration in many spheres, he does not believe that nation-states are the enemy of Europe. He thinks national governments enjoy a democratic legitimacy that hard-core integrationists ignore at their peril. But he is not without faults. He likes the limelight, and talks forever at press conferences. At times, he has been slow to speak out against big EU governments when they bend the rules. His allies counter that he wants to achieve things, and dislikes playing to the Brussels gallery with bold statements or doomed projects.
But he also has more virtues than Brussels insiders admit. It matters greatly that Mr Barroso grew up under a dictatorship in Portugal. He is a liberal who believes in open borders, for people and goods.
Read the full The Economist article here
But he also has more virtues than Brussels insiders admit. It matters greatly that Mr Barroso grew up under a dictatorship in Portugal. He is a liberal who believes in open borders, for people and goods.
Read the full The Economist article here
Thursday 4 June 2009
The Commission has played its role to the full
To criticise the Commission in general – and Barroso in particular – seems to be an easy fall-back position for some, and not just for the usual Eurosceptics. If the Commission adopts positions and takes initiatives, it is accused of interfering; when, to achieve progress, it seeks compromises, it is criticised for being too timid or for ‘forgetting' its responsibilities.
Read the full article by Commissioner Almunia here
Read the full article by Commissioner Almunia here
Peter Sutherland defends the Barroso Commission in the FT
This Commission has strongly defended its prerogatives and the key economic policies where it has powers. As for grand projects, they do not come along every day, but the Commission and its president, José Manuel Barroso, have led globally on a number of issues such as climate change, fostering the green economy and energy policy.
Read here Peter Sutherland's reply to Wolfgang Münchau in defense of President Barroso
Read here Peter Sutherland's reply to Wolfgang Münchau in defense of President Barroso
Wednesday 3 June 2009
German Socialists Support a Barroso II
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso seems well-placed to win a second term after the leader of Germany's Social Democrats, Franz Müntefering, said yesterday (27 May) that there was little point in the European Socialists naming their own alternative candidate in an attempt to halt the incumbent's re-appointment.
Continue reading this article here
Continue reading this article here
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