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New UK commissioner Julian King to head up EU's security brief New UK commissioner Julian King to head up EU's security brief
(35 minutes later)
Britain’s next top EU official, Sir Julian King, has been asked to help develop European security and counter-terrorism plans. Britain’s new EU commissioner, Sir Julian King, has been asked to help develop European security and counter-terrorism plans.
The British diplomat will become commissioner for the security union, tasked with beefing up the EU’s counter-terrorism role and taking action to prevent radicalisation. The diplomat will become commissioner for the security union, tasked with beefing up the EU’s counter-terrorism role and taking action to prevent radicalisation.
King, currently UK ambassador to France, was appointed by David Cameron in one of his final acts as prime minister, to ensure the UK had a place around the table at the EU executive in Brussels. The vacancy arose after Lord Jonathan Hill stood down as financial regulation tsar following Britain’s decision to leave the EU. King, currently UK ambassador to France, was appointed by David Cameron in one of his final acts as prime minister, to ensure that the UK had a place around the table at the EU executive in Brussels. The vacancy arose after Jonathan Hill stood down as financial regulation commissioner following Britain’s vote to leave the EU.
The portfolio offered by the EU commission is not the derisory job in charge of paperclips or EU language policy that some Brussels insiders had joked about, but King will be a junior member of the commission, outranked by existing politicians. The portfolio offered by the European commission is not the derisory job in charge of paperclips or EU language policy that some Brussels insiders had joked about, but King will be a junior member of the commission, outranked by existing politicians.
He will report to the commission vice-president, Frans Timmermans, who will have the final say over any legislative initiatives. Nor will King attend ministerial meetings, usually a key part of a commissioner’s job. Dimitris Avramopoulos, the commissioner in charge of home affairs and migration, will represent the commission on security policy at meetings with EU ministers and in the European parliament, a decision already being seen as a snub to the British. He will report to the commission first vice-president, Frans Timmermans, who will have the final say over any legislative initiatives. King will not attend ministerial meetings, usually a key part of a commissioner’s job. Dimitris Avramopoulos, the commissioner in charge of home affairs and migration, will represent the commission on security policy at meetings with EU ministers and in the European parliament, a decision already being seen as a snub to the UK.
The job underlines the EU’s hopes of maintaining strong ties with a post-Brexit UK in the fight against terrorism. The EU executive has been pushing for a more joined up EU response to terrorism, even before recent attacks in Paris, Brussels and Nice. The job underlines the EU’s hopes of maintaining strong ties with a post-Brexit UK in the fight against terrorism. The EU executive has been pushing for a more joined-up response to terrorism, even before the recent attacks in Paris, Brussels, Normandy and Nice.
Following the Brussels attacks in March, Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European commission, said: “We need capital markets union, energy union, economic and monetary union, but we also think that we need a security union.” Following the Brussels attacks in March, Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the commission, said: “We need capital markets union, energy union, economic and monetary union, but we also think that we need a security union.”
Juncker interviewed King in July and then spent some time “meditating” on the decision, according to a spokeswoman.Juncker interviewed King in July and then spent some time “meditating” on the decision, according to a spokeswoman.
In a letter to King, Juncker said the EU was in one of the most testing periods in its history. He highlighted the problem of unemployment and lingering effects of the financial crisis, adding: “We have to cope with the refugee crisis, with the aftermath of the UK referendum and with the increased threat of terrorism.” In a letter to King, Juncker said the EU was going through one of the most testing periods in its history. He highlighted the problem of unemployment and the lingering effects of the financial crisis. “We have to cope with the refugee crisis, with the aftermath of the UK referendum and with the increased threat of terrorism,” he said.
No 10 welcomed the decision: “The UK will continue to fulfil our rights and obligations as a member state until we leave the EU and the prime minister has been clear that we will be an active player so it is right that we should continue to have a commissioner role. No 10 welcomed the decision. “The UK will continue to fulfil our rights and obligations as a member state until we leave the EU, and the prime minister has been clear that we will be an active player, so it is right that we should continue to have a commissioner role,” a spokesperson said.
“Security is a vital issue for all member states and cooperation across the EU can help to better protect us all from the range of threats we face.“Security is a vital issue for all member states and cooperation across the EU can help to better protect us all from the range of threats we face.
“The president called the prime minister yesterday evening to inform her of his decision. We now look forward to Sir Julian being confirmed in the role.” “The president called the prime minister [on Monday] evening to inform her of his decision. We now look forward to Sir Julian being confirmed in the role.”
The British diplomat still has to be formally approved by all 28 EU member states. He will also be questioned by MEPs at a hearing likely to take place in September. While the European parliament does not have a binding vote, Juncker has to “seriously consider” its views. The British diplomat still has to be formally approved by all 28 EU member states. He will be questioned by MEPs at a hearing likely to take place in September. While the European parliament does not have a binding vote, Juncker has to “seriously consider” its views.