Brussels, 29/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - Johannes Hahn, the European commissioner for cohesion since 2009, is expected to be back at the helm for a new mandate - this time with the portfolio on the EU neighbourhood and enlargement negotiations. There do not seem to be two closer portfolios. “In many regards, this new mission is the logical continuation of my work as commissioner for regional policy - developing relations, helping regions become more autonomous, and, through concrete actions, promoting security and prosperity, and spreading European values”, Hahn stated (our translation).
Hahn will be heard by the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee on Tuesday 30 September. There is no shortage of issues on which he is likely to be questioned - Ukraine, the Eastern Partnership, the situation in the Middle East, what has happened after the Arab revolutions, and also the enlargement outlook for the Western Balkans and Turkey.
While enlargement forms part of Hahn's portfolio, the 56-year-old Austrian is expected to be more concerned with “strengthening the EU's political and economic ties with its Southern and Eastern neighbours”. In his political directions, the future president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, said that, under his presidency, the accession negotiations that are already under way would continue but there would be no new enlargement in the next five years. However, in the written questions that were sent to Hahn, MEPs want to know what he intends to do “to maintain the enlargement dynamic and to keep the countries focused on preparing for accession” to the EU.
In his mission letter, Juncker said that Hahn should focus on “developing and strengthening” the EU's neighbourhood policy to promote stability on Europe's borders and on helping neighbourhood countries develop, support stable democratic institutions and become more prosperous by drawing the full benefit from their association agreements with the EU. “The European Neighbourhood Policy should appropriately distinguish between the specific situations of different parts of Europe's neighbourhood”, said Juncker, asking Hahn to suggest a way forward within the first 12 months of his mandate. MEPs want to know “what concrete initiatives” Hahn will present to reform the neighbourhood policy, and how much he will introduce “differentiation [Ed: political or financial] that is promoted more on the basis of the EU's needs, merits and priorities” between the countries. The way in which the enlargement and neighbourhood policies interact (principles, policy frameworks, financial incentives) is also the focus of MEPs' concerns.
Hahn will have to contribute to the work of future High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, and “will be in close contact with her on initiatives requiring a decision from the Commission”, said Juncker. Hahn will stand in for the high representative in areas linked to Commission competence when she deems it necessary. In their questions, MEPs ask the commissioner-designate about how the neighbourhood policy tasks will be shared between him and Mogherini as this allocation was sometimes lacking between Ashton and Füle. Hahn will also have to work with Mogherini and certain other commissioners to strengthen the EU's strategic partnership with Africa. In addition, he will be expected to work on the coordination of relations with EEA and EFTA countries “insofar as Commission policies are concerned”. If he is confirmed as commissioner, Hahn will work with commissioners responsible for other policies so as to ensure that the European neighbourhood dimension is correctly reflected in their policies.
Hahn will be expected to work “in close collaboration”, with the first vice-president, Franz Timmermans, who will be in charge of better regulation, interinstitutional relations, the rule of law and the charter of fundamental rights, in order to support the neighbourhood and enlargement countries with a European perspective. “As of the beginning of the mandate, I would ask you to pay particular attention to the situation in Ukraine”, Juncker stated in Hahn's mission letter. Ukraine will doubtless be a key point in Hahn's mandate. (CG)