The informal group Europa+, which brings together former Director-Generals of the European Commission, European officials, consultants and representatives of economic interest groups, has developed a new organisational architecture of the European Commission to follow on from the 'Juncker' Commission. Its aim: to contribute to the European Union's assertion of its sovereignty on the international stage.
“We must collectively affirm our common sovereignty in all areas where we want to remain actors rather than become mere spectators. In this context, the EU should emphasise the concept of a ‘European Security Interest’ to be safeguarded in a wide array of policies, from trade and economic matters to internal security and defence”, says the discussion paper of which EUROPE has seen a copy.
The new organisation chart could be applied quickly, says Europa+, because it changes the scope of the current Directorate-Generals from a Commission with 27 Commissioners.
Led by Vice-President Commissioners, six strategic clusters are identified: - external action; - security and defence; - finance; - digital, innovation and competitiveness; - climate; - cohesion and citizens.
Noting that national ministries continue to ignore the Community dimension of foreign affairs, the informal group suggests placing the external action cluster under the direct authority of the next President of the European Commission, assisted by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. A team composed of representatives of the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) would be responsible for the strategy of the EU's external action and contributing to its consistent approach.
In the field of security and defence, it proposes that European action should focus on areas where national capabilities have not yet been deployed, such as the creation of a European cyber defence force and European drone projects. A Directorate General for Defence, Aerospace and Cybersecurity would also be created.
In an increasingly connected world, Europe must be able to protect its critical infrastructures and develop its own technologies, particularly in terms of artificial intelligence, microchips and the Internet of Things, stresses Europa+.
In order to respond to “growing public concerns”, the fight against climate change should be at the heart of EU action. Achieving a “carbon-neutral economy by 2050” must be the set aim, while ensuring that the ecological transition does not take place at the expense of the poorest European citizens.
The think tank added: “The EU must invest massively in green technologies such as batteries, electric cars, digitisation of the rail sector, solar panels or 'green' chemistry.” And a directorate general merging the current Environment and Climate Services could work on the idea of a “European Climate Bank” put forward by French President Emmanuel Macron (see EUROPE 12207/13).
Three Directorates-General - Competition, External Trade and Administration - would remain relatively autonomous, although Europa+ recognises the need to improve coordination between the Directorate-Generals 'Competition' and 'Trade' and the other Directorate-Generals.
It should be noted that the think tank criticises the Franco-German desire to grant the Council of the EU a right of veto to merger decisions taken by the Commission's Competition services, in particular because Member States already have this kind of state aid competency under the Treaty (Article 108) but have “never used it”. On the other hand, the group considers that the Commission's competition services' refusal to adopt interim measures in long investigations and their de facto right of veto over regulatory initiatives from other Directorate-Generals are a cause for concern.
Finally, Europa+ suggests setting up temporary expert groups on cross-cutting issues such as EU-China relations, Africa, post-Brexit United Kingdom. And proposes the creation of new European agencies to combat money laundering and on the deployment of connected cars.
See the suggested institutional architecture for the next Commission: http://bit.ly/2XFCiLN. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)