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EU executive confirmation threatens to unravel amid partisan fighting EU executive confirmation threatens to unravel amid partisan fighting
(about 1 hour later)
The formation of a new EU executive running the union for the next five years has quickly turned into a partisan contest between the centre-right and centre-left in the European parliament, threatening to derail months of backroom deals by Jean-Claude Juncker, the new president of the European commission.The formation of a new EU executive running the union for the next five years has quickly turned into a partisan contest between the centre-right and centre-left in the European parliament, threatening to derail months of backroom deals by Jean-Claude Juncker, the new president of the European commission.
Ten days of confirmation hearings before parliamentary committees for Juncker’s proposed team started on Monday and have already produced significant casualties, although the wounded may yet survive.Ten days of confirmation hearings before parliamentary committees for Juncker’s proposed team started on Monday and have already produced significant casualties, although the wounded may yet survive.
Despite a smooth and polished three-hour performance before the economics committee on Wednesday, the British peer, Lord Hill of Oaresford, failed to secure the plum post of the EU’s chief financial regulator, was ordered to do some more homework and come back for a highly unusual second grilling next week. Despite a smooth and polished three-hour performance before the economics committee on Wednesday, the British peer Lord Hill of Oaresford failed to secure the plum post of the EU’s chief financial regulator, and was ordered to do some more homework and come back for a highly unusual second grilling next week.
The Swedish nominee for the powerful post of trade commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, a liberal, was embarrassed by revelations that written answers she had submitted to the committee were redrafted without her knowledge by Juncker’s entourage. Although endorsed, Malmström was damaged.The Swedish nominee for the powerful post of trade commissioner, Cecilia Malmström, a liberal, was embarrassed by revelations that written answers she had submitted to the committee were redrafted without her knowledge by Juncker’s entourage. Although endorsed, Malmström was damaged.
While Hill failed to pass muster on Wednesday, the Spanish nominee for the energy portfolio, Miguel Arias Cañete, simultaneously received a roasting over his background in the oil industry and repeatedly failed to resolve questions about family business interests. A decision on his confirmation was delayed.While Hill failed to pass muster on Wednesday, the Spanish nominee for the energy portfolio, Miguel Arias Cañete, simultaneously received a roasting over his background in the oil industry and repeatedly failed to resolve questions about family business interests. A decision on his confirmation was delayed.
“We didn’t get good answers on the potential conflict between his family ties with the oil industry in Spain and his portfolio,” said the social democrat Kathleen Van Brempt. “I introduced a point of order to demand a clarification from the Legal Affairs committee on Mr Cañete’s financial declaration. We want this clarification before we vote.” “We didn’t get good answers on the potential conflict between his family ties with the oil industry in Spain and his portfolio,” said the social democrat Kathleen Van Brempt. “I introduced a point of order to demand a clarification from the legal affairs committee on Mr Cañete’s financial declaration. We want this clarification before we vote.”
On Thursday MEPs delayed a decision on the Spaniard until next week, meaning that the centre-right is also unlikely to quickly endorse the French socialist, Pierre Moscovici, who was given a rough ride as the nominee for economics commissioner. Decisions on the Czech and Hungarian candidates for justice and education are also being shelved until next week for further scrutiny. “It’s turning into a big political game,” said a parliamentary source. On Thursday, MEPs delayed a decision on the Spaniard until next week, meaning that the centre-right is also unlikely to quickly endorse the French socialist Pierre Moscovici, who was given a rough ride as the nominee for economics commissioner. Decisions on the Czech and Hungarian candidates for justice and education are also being shelved until next week for further scrutiny. “It’s turning into a big political game,” said a parliamentary source.
It was the social democrats who held up the decision on Lord Hill, who was supported by the biggest caucus – the European People’s party grouping Christian democrats. It was the social democrats who held up the decision on Hill, who was supported by the biggest caucus – the European People’s party grouping of Christian democrats.
“Lord Hill demonstrated great personal qualities and communication skills. We believe that he can be a good commissioner but he did not entirely convince us in relation to the content and priorities of his portfolio,” said a ranking social democrat on the committee, Elisa Ferreira. The Greens all criticised Hill.“Lord Hill demonstrated great personal qualities and communication skills. We believe that he can be a good commissioner but he did not entirely convince us in relation to the content and priorities of his portfolio,” said a ranking social democrat on the committee, Elisa Ferreira. The Greens all criticised Hill.
“Behind his charm there was apparently little knowledge of the subject matter at hand,” Greens floor leader Philippe Lamberts told the BBC. “On a whole set of major issues there was not a single idea put forward by Lord Hill that showed that he had a least some conceptions about these things.” “Behind his charm there was apparently little knowledge of the subject matter at hand,” Green floor leader Philippe Lamberts told the BBC. “On a whole set of major issues there was not a single idea put forward by Lord Hill that showed that he had a least some conceptions about these things.”
The Greens were determined to oppose Hill. But it was the ambivalence of the social democrats which supplied the setback. They refused to put the issue to a vote. The two big blocs, the Christian and social democrats, are supposed to have sealed a tacit “grand coalition” pact for the parliament elected in May. The tactical jousting over the Juncker team suggests the pact is failing its first test. Caucus leaders were optimistic ahead of the hearings that Junker would be supported, not least because the choice of Juncker for new commission chief in June was a major political victory for the European parliament in a power struggle with national governments. The Greens were determined to oppose Hill. But it was the ambivalence of the social democrats that supplied the setback: they refused to put the issue to a vote. The two big blocs, the Christian and social democrats, are supposed to have sealed a tacit “grand coalition” pact for the parliament elected in May. The tactical jousting over the Juncker team suggests the pact is failing its first test. Caucus leaders were optimistic ahead of the hearings that Juncker would be supported – not least because the choice of Juncker for new commission chief in June was a major political victory for the European parliament in a power struggle with national governments.
But the former Luxembourg prime minister may now have to reshuffle his team – if not dropping some of the more controversial nominees, then at least reassigning portfolios. The opposition to Hill, for example, is less because of the person than the former lobbyist effectively being put in charge of regulating the EU’s biggest financial centre, the City of London, and also because he would oversee a new eurozone system of banking supervision although Britain is not in the euro and has opted out of the so-called banking union. But the former Luxembourg prime minister may now have to reshuffle his team – if not dropping some of the more controversial nominees, then at least reassigning portfolios. The opposition to Hill, for example, is less because of the person and more because the former lobbyist is effectively being put in charge of regulating the EU’s biggest financial centre, the City of London. Also, he would be overseeing a new eurozone system of banking supervision even though Britain is not in the euro and has opted out of the so-called banking union.
As a result of the centre-left delays in endorsing Hill and Cañete, the centre-right on Thursday took revenge by giving Moscovici a roasting. As a result of the centre-left’s delays in endorsing Hill and Cañete, the centre-right on Thursday took revenge on Thursday by giving Moscovici a roasting.
A close ally of the French president, François Hollande, and socialist finance minister until earlier this year, Moscovici is nominated for the important post of policing national budgets although he failed to get the French budget under control. A close ally of the French president, François Hollande, and his finance minister until earlier this year, Moscovici is nominated for the important post of policing national budgets, although he failed to get the French budget under control.
The Germans were particularly opposed to putting Moscovici in charge of fiscal and budget supervision. But German centre-right MEPs were relatively subdued in Thursday’s hearing, leaving the French and Spanish to lead the assault in order to avoid a public and damaging Franco-German split over what is probably the most sensitive post in the commission.The Germans were particularly opposed to putting Moscovici in charge of fiscal and budget supervision. But German centre-right MEPs were relatively subdued in Thursday’s hearing, leaving the French and Spanish to lead the assault in order to avoid a public and damaging Franco-German split over what is probably the most sensitive post in the commission.
A leading French centre-right MEP told Moscovici he had failed as finance minister, implying he was not fit to be the EU’s budget tsar. A leading French centre-right MEP told Moscovici he had failed as a finance minister, implying he was not fit to be the EU’s budget tsar.
Moscovici was seen to have performed robustly, but the partisan infighting and the tactical manoeuvres mean that a nominee’s performance is becoming less decisive in securing the posts as both sides in the dispute take hostages. Moscovici was seen to have performed robustly in the hearing, but the partisan infighting and the tactical manoeuvres mean that a nominee’s performance is becoming less decisive in securing the posts as both sides in the dispute take hostages.