Brussels, 01/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel was reported in German weekly Der Spiegel to be resigned to the appointment of France's Pierre Moscovici as European Commissioner for Economic Affairs, but would like him to be overseen in this position by Jyrki Katainen of Finland.
With the European Social Democrats meeting in Paris on Saturday 30 August around François Hollande, where they reiterated Jean-Claude Juncker's commitment to give the economic affairs post to a representative of the Social Democrat family, the magazine writes that Dr Merkel “stopped fighting” the appointment of the former French finance minister. “She has now got used to the idea that he will hold the post”, Der Spiegel continued (our translation).
However, Berlin is believed to have made its approval conditional on the appointment of a “hard-line budgetary policy expert from Northern Europe” to work alongside Moscovici. This other commissioner would be a Commission vice-president and Moscovici would report to him or her. Finland's Jyrki Katainen seems to be the front runner for this position, the weekly reports. The choice of Moscovici got a lukewarm reception from the German finance minister, Wolfgang Schaüble, who expressed concern at seeing economic responsibilities entrusted to a country which has not yet been able to come into line with its public deficit reduction targets. A senior-ranking source in Paris told EUROPE that Pierre Moscovici was virtually certain to be given the economic affairs portfolio, but would not be a vice-president. There will reportedly be vice-presidents with no Directorate General, who will facilitate, but not strictly speaking oversee, the work of the commissioners. The Katainen option for the vice-presidency on economic issues has certainly been raised, the source added, but the job could also go to the Netherlands, in the person of Frans Timmermans, who was presented by the Dutch media on Monday 1 September as the future European commissioner of that country.
The future team takes shape
Although the distribution of the portfolios is not yet entirely complete (and will not be until the identity of all the commissioners is known), according to the spokesperson to President Juncker on Monday 1 September, the configuration of the future Commission is starting to take shape. Following a largely productive European Council weekend, Juncker may even have cracked the female representation problem. On Saturday 30 August, Denmark put forward its current minister for the economy and home affairs, Margrethe Vestager, to take over from Connie Hedeegard. Juncker will start his hearings of all the candidates for the Commission on Tuesday 2 September. From Slovenia, it is former prime minister, Alenka Bratusek, whom he will meet. As things stand, six women are now confirmed in the Juncker Commission. A seventh may come from Romania. According to a number of sources, Juncker discussed the Romanian candidate on 30 August with Prime Minister Victor Ponta, who may have second thoughts about his decision to reappoint Dacian Ciolos. The Socialist Ponta presented the candidacy of Corina Cretu, currently a member of the European Parliament (S&D Group). A number of sources hint that Romania could be given regional policy, a sizeable dossier which includes the management of the European structural funds, which may have been misused in the new member states. Agriculture, which Ciolos hoped to be given again, according to certain media sources, is of interest to Ireland.
Belgium, which is still seeking to form a government, must also send a woman, Juncker insisted. Belgium is the only country which has not yet put forward a candidate. Marianne Thyssen of Flanders may now have the edge over her French-speaking rival, Didier Reynders. If this turned out to be the case, Juncker's Commission would then include eight women, and it has not yet been ruled out that Poland, whose Prime Minister Donald Tusk has just been elected President of the European Council, may make a few changes and also opt for a woman. That would make nine women, and would get the Juncker College through the acid test of the vote of the European Parliament - at least as regards gender balance.
The Netherlands, on the other hand and contrary to rumours, did not decide on a woman, but nor did it select the current president of the Eurogroup, Jeroen Djisselbloem, to become its next European commissioner. On 1 September, the Dutch government announced that Foreign Minister Frans Timmermanns would take over from Neelie Kroes. However, the country has not given up on the idea of pushing for Djisselbloem to have a second term at the head of the Eurogroup in 2015, despite pressure from Spain, which enjoys the full backing of Germany (see other article).
The president-designate of the Commission plans to present his team and the list of portfolios on around 8 September. The commissioners will then be heard by the committees of the European Parliament from mid-September onwards, possibly in the last week of the month. The European Parliament's vote on the College of Commissioners will take place in October, meaning that all being well, the new Commission will be able to take up its duties in October. (SP with MB and LC)