Brussels, 12/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 12 November, the first vice-president of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans, appeared before the press for the first time to set to music the political programme of President Jean-Claude Juncker, which consists of bringing the EU close to the citizens by legislating better and only when necessary.
“We will be getting rid of all of the dead wood (…). We really want to focus this Commission on the projects Europe needs”, the Dutchman declared. An initial debate on the Commission's working programme has been held at the College of Commissioners and the Executive's intention is to adopt it in mid-December. Several major initiatives are already in the pipeline and have been announced, such as the investment plan of €300 billion which Juncker intends to put to the European leaders at their December summit.
Consultations will now be launched within the European institution to allow each Commissioner to state his or her priorities, Timmermans said. “We will then hold a discussion on the working programme with the European Parliament and will be working closely with the Council”, he continued. This is the first time that the Council will have been involved in this reflection, the Commission stated, although Timmermans waved aside the suggestion that the Commission could end up having its agenda dictated to it by the member states. “It is the Commission which decides on its working programme, even though it listens to the other parties and draws conclusions”, he said. (SP)