Brussels, 23/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - Differences exist between some MEPs (mainly German CDU/CSU, affiliated to the EPP) and the European Commission on the start of the term of office of the new high representative (HR) for foreign affairs and security, who will also be a Commission vice-president. The Commission spokeswomen said again on Monday 23 November that Catherine Ashton will take up her two new posts - HR and Commission vice-president - on 1 December 2009 when the Lisbon Treaty comes into force (on that day, the appointments decided on by the European Council of 19 November, those of Ashton and of Herman Van Rompuy as the president of the European Council, will be legally formalised by written procedure). The Commission is sticking strictly to the treaty which states that, with its coming into force, the EU will immediately have an HR, who at the same time will be the vice-president of the Commission. “I assume that Ms Ashton will take up its double role as of 1 December,” the spokeswoman said.
The issue is a delicate one since, as a member of the incoming Commission (Barroso II), Ashton will have to be heard and approved by MEPs, just like every other commissioner. These hearings will only begin on 11 January 2010 and the EP's vote confirming the Barroso II team is not scheduled until 23 January. If approved by MEPs, the new Commission will begin its term of office on 1 February 2010. This would mean that, between 1 December and the start of the new Commission, Ashton would hold her new positions, including that of Commission vice-president, without the approval of the EP. UK Commissioner Ashton, who is currently in charge of trade, intends to go before the European Parliament foreign affairs committee (FASE) very shortly, most probably on 2 December, for an “exchange of views” with MEPs. This will not be a formal hearing and no vote will be held afterwards, the idea being to reassure the EP of her abilities in the area of foreign affairs, while awaiting the, fuller, hearing, that is part of the approval procedure of the new Commission. On 26 November, the Conference of the Presidents of the political groups within the EP is scheduled to decide on the exact procedure to be followed and on the precise timetable for hearings and the vote in January.
In general terms, the transitional scenario would seem acceptable to the main groups (EPP, S&D, ALDE, etc) but the German CDU/CSU MEPs are unhappy that Ashton can become a Commission vice-president without being heard and approved by the EP beforehand. “It is legally impossible. The Commission and Council are not legally empowered” to act like this, it is being said within the CDU/CSU group. It is technically possible for Ashton to hold the post of high representative from the time the Lisbon Treaty comes into force but “it would not be politically wise”, our source says, given that the two posts are “indissociable”.
On Monday, it was still not clear how the current Commission would be re-jigged for day-to-day matters in December. The option of Ashton (currently responsible for trade) simply swapping portfolios with Benita Ferrero-Waldner (presently in charge of external relations) would seem every bit as likely as a gradual hand-over of external responsibilities to Ashton, with the two women working closely together (including on trade) over the final weeks of this Commission. Commission President José Manuel Barroso is expected to decide what is to happen in the next few days. In the meantime, preparation of the next Commission is continuing, too. On Monday, Barroso was awaiting the candidates from three governments: those of Denmark, the Netherlands and Malta. On 20 November, Greece nominated Maria Damanaki as its next commissioner. She is the seventh woman nominated. Denmark is also expected to nominate a woman, Connie Hedegaard, the current climate mMinister. (H.B./transl.rt)