Brussels, 16/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - Four of the commissioners designate can expect a few uncomfortable moments before the European Parliament, which is due to hold its hearings between 29 September and 7 October.
Of the four, Hungary's Tibor Navracics and Miguel Arias Cañete of Spain are expected to come under the heaviest fire. This was stated in Strasbourg on Tuesday 16 September by several political groups of the EP, principally the Social Democrats and the Greens/EFA. These also have their sights set on the Slovenian Alenka Bratusek, as the appointment conditions in her country are the subject of debate, and Jonathan Hill of the UK, who has been appointed by Jean-Claude Juncker to stability and financial services. His hearing before the competent committee will take place at 3 PM on 1 October.
“There are certain cases of particular concern”, said Italy's Gianni Pittella, leader of the S&D Group. “The Hungarian candidate concerns us the most, as he is close to Viktor Orban and everything he has said about the Liberal state”. On a visit to Romania in late July, Orban said that he wanted to construct a state based on national foundations and which restricts freedoms, citing Russia and China as examples to be followed. These statements led to a wave of negative reactions, although the Commission pointed out that the was nothing illegal in this speech from the point of view of the Treaties. The Hungarian prime minister also stands accused of attacking the country's NGOs.
“We also have reservations about the Spanish candidate and we have already spoken about Lord Hill”, Pittella added (see specific article). He argues that the climate and energy portfolio given to Cañete is “not his field of expertise and there could be a conflict of interests”. On Tuesday, the EPP Group, to which the Spaniard belongs, announced that, as soon as he was appointed, he started a procedure to sell all of the shares he owns in oil companies by 18 September.
Will this be enough to win the MEPs over? “We will not say whether or not we agree until the hearings are over”, the Italian leader said. The S&D's appraisal of the commissioners will be “rigourous, focusing strongly on skills, ethics and the coherence of the programmes”, Pittella went on to stress. The Social Democrats are also calling for clarification on the roles of the vice-presidents, who must not be “guardians of the commissioners or apply vetoes”.
This point is of particular concern to the French Socialists, whose champion, the former finance minister, Pierre Moscovici, has landed the economic and financial affairs portfolio, to which taxation and customs have been added. Amongst other things, the French MEPs are concerned at the possible powers of veto held by Finland's Jyrki Katainen or the Latvian Valdis Dombrovskis, both of whom have been assigned missions to coordinate work on growth, the euro, investment and employment and who are believed to favour a line which focuses more strongly on budgetary rigour. “There is a political issue to untangle: economic policy, a question to be dealt with during the hearings”, confirmed Pittella, who added the need to “stress the extent to which the cleansing programmes must go hand in hand with greater attention to growth and employment”. Low-growth countries or those in recession must be able to “have more time to reach the targets laid down in the Pact”, added Pittella, who is concerned that not all of the vice-presidents are singing from this hymn sheet.
In the view of Philippe Lamberts (Greens/EFA, Belgium), however, the choice of Moscovici, whose hearing will take place on 2 October, is a case of miscasting. “Moscovici was responsible for François Hollande's promises on finance and the separation of banking activities”. Moscovici “was to implement them… Therefore, there will be nothing against major banks, on the financial transactions tax or on systemic risks”, said Lamberts.
Lord Hill for financial services: an extraordinary choice, say Greens
The Greens/EFA Group feel that some of Juncker's choices seem to suggest that he is either “joking or being provocative”, said its co-president Lamberts, describing as “extraordinary” the decision to give Lord Hill the financial services and banking union portfolio. He argues that “Hill is more on the side of the lobbies than of the rules”; furthermore, the United Kingdom is not part of the banking union. Lamberts went on to warn that his group would oppose the Juncker Commission “if we feel that it is not up to the 'job'”.
The ALDE finds itself in a difficult situation. Despite disappointing election results, it was rewarded by Juncker with two vice-presidencies and a number of significant portfolios such as trade, a fact frequently referred to by certain Socialists. The Liberal family is aware that one of its champions, the Slovenian Alenka Bratusek, has been contested. Her party chief, Belgium's Guy Verhofstadt, says that it is “too soon to denounce any individuals; otherwise, there is no point in holding the hearings”.
For its part, the EPP has one very clear objective: for the Juncker Commission to take up its duties on 1 November. “If they are well prepared and competent to manage their portfolios, it should all be fine”, said the leader of the group, Germany's Manfred Weber. (SP and CG)