Download - EuroWire - December 2009
Inspiring People. Shaping the Future.
WASHINGTON, DC1101 New York Avenue, NWSuite 901Washington, DC 20005 USAContact: Tyson BarkerE-mail: tyson.barker@bertelsmann-
foundation.orgTel: (+1) 202.384.1993www.bertelsmann-foundation.org
BRUSSELSRésidence PalaceRue de la Loi 1551040 Brussels, BelgiumContact: Thomas FischerE-mail: thomas.fischer@bertelsmann-
stiftung.deTel: (+32 2) 280.2830www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/brussels
©Copyright 2010, Bertelsmann Foundation. All rights reserved.
Barroso II: What the First post-Lisbon Treaty European Commission means for Congress
After months of wrangling, Commission
President Barroso announced in November
the members of the first post-Lisbon
Commission, which will be in power until
2014. Barroso’s Commission, however,
still needs confirmation by the European
Parliament, and the vote is scheduled for
January 26, 2010. The new Commission is
due to assume office on February 1, 2010.
While the Commission’s faces will change,
its overall composition hints at a remarkable degree of
consistency.
The announcement of the new European Commission
comes on the heels of the Lisbon Treaty’s passage
by hold-outs Poland and the Czech Republic. The treaty
creates a President of the European Council (sometimes
dubbed the “European President”) and a beefed-up High
Representative for Foreign and Security Policy (a so-
called “European Foreign Minister”).
EuroWire is a joint publication of the Bertelsmann Foundation offices in Washington, DC and Brussels. It connects Capitol Hill to European
Union policy and politics and contributes to a common trans-Atlantic political culture. EuroWire is an occasional publication that highlights issues,
legislation and policymakers relevant to the Congressional legislative cycle. This publication looks at the European Union from the point of view
of Capitol Hill staffers and offers timely operational analysis.
Contact: Tyson BarkerE-mail: tyson.barker@bertelsmann- foundation.orgTel: (+1) 202.384.1993www.bertelsmann-foundation.org
Contact: Thomas FischerE-mail: thomas.fischer@bertelsmann- stiftung.deTel: (+32 2) 280.2830www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/brussels
KEY POINTS
• The new (undefined) powers allocated to Brussels by the Lisbon Treaty mean the personalities of the incoming EU leadership will be more important than ever.
• The Commission will have a strong hand in setting a European position on financial regulation, climate change and home affairs including terrorism, migration and justice.
• The assignment of portfolios reflects primarily the interests of big three member-states – the UK, France and Germany – and of European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.
ABOUT THE BERTELSMANN FOUNDATION: The Bertelsmann Foundation is a private, nonpartisan operating foundation, working to promote and strengthen trans-Atlantic cooperation. Serving as a platform for open dialogue among key stakeholders, the Foundation develops practical policy
recommendations on issues central to successful development of both sides of the ocean.
©Copyright 2009, Bertelsmann Foundation. All rights reserved.
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Inspiring People. Shaping the Future.
WASHINGTON, DC1101 New York Avenue, NWSuite 901Washington, DC 20005 USAContact: Tyson BarkerE-mail: tyson.barker@bertelsmann-
foundation.orgTel: (+1) 202.384.1993www.bertelsmann-foundation.org
BRUSSELSRésidence PalaceRue de la Loi 1551040 Brussels, BelgiumContact: Thomas FischerE-mail: thomas.fischer@bertelsmann-
stiftung.deTel: (+32 2) 280.2830www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/brussels
©Copyright 2010, Bertelsmann Foundation. All rights reserved. 2
For the US, Barroso II holds opportunities and challenges, many of which
will come to light only gradually. It will take months or perhaps years for the
ramifications of the Lisbon Treaty to become apparent. Nevertheless, the tea
leaves are starting to emerge:
Germany-in-Waiting… This powerhouse is absent from the roster of heavyweight portfolios. Many in
Brussels have speculated that the German government is forgoing a muscular
portfolio to strengthen the case that the next president of the European
Central Bank (ECB) should be a German, possibly current Bundesbank
president Axel Weber.
…Except on Energy Security Former Baden-Württemberg Premier Günther Oettinger will be the new
Commissioner for Energy. Formerly a relatively weak portfolio, the Energy
assignment will be responsible for the creation of a common European
energy market and could become a mitigating force in the bloc’s energy
relationship with Russia. Of special interest to the US: Oettinger will join the
US Departments of State and Energy in being a player on energy security in
the newly established Energy Council.
Coordinator-in-Chief In the run-up to the appointment of the President
of the European Council, speculation centered on
the candidacy of former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The decision of European member-states to go with
Herman Van Rompuy, however, has led some to say
that the president will play a coordinating role rather
than a visionary one. Low-key consensus builder Van
Rompuy is expected to be more of a logistical
convener than a political agenda-setter.
DE
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20
09
Inspiring People. Shaping the Future.
WASHINGTON, DC1101 New York Avenue, NWSuite 901Washington, DC 20005 USAContact: Tyson BarkerE-mail: tyson.barker@bertelsmann-
foundation.orgTel: (+1) 202.384.1993www.bertelsmann-foundation.org
BRUSSELSRésidence PalaceRue de la Loi 1551040 Brussels, BelgiumContact: Thomas FischerE-mail: thomas.fischer@bertelsmann-
stiftung.deTel: (+32 2) 280.2830www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/brussels
©Copyright 2010, Bertelsmann Foundation. All rights reserved.
Connie Hedegaard (Denmark) Climate Action Hedegaard, Denmark’s former climate and energy
minister, will become the EU’s leading negotiator
on climate change. As such, Hedegaard, named
one of TIME Magazine’s 100 most influential
people in 2009, will have the equivalent power of
the US’s Todd Stern, but will carry great political
influence in communicating the EU’s positions at
home and abroad. On climate-change negotiation,
the EU has the full weight of representing all its
27 member-states. The Dane currently has a high-
profile position in the UNFCCC as president of the Copenhagen talks.
In a recent op-ed, Hedegaard struck a conciliatory note
regarding President Obama’s graduated timetable for
reduction in emissions targets below 1990 levels. She
also emphasized longer-term targets for 2025 (18 percent
reduction) and 2030 (32 percent reduction). Hedegaard
will be responsible for discussions related to climate-
change policy and adaptation finance.
Issues for Congress: Carbon reduction and climate-
change policy as it relates to third countries.
Karel De Gucht (Belgium) TradeDe Gucht is seen as a free-market, free-
trade-oriented politician. While Belgium has
traditionally leaned more towards France and
Italy in matters of trade, De Gucht usually sided
with the UK in promoting economic openness
during his tenure in the Belgian government. Still,
his positions on Doha and agricultural subsidies
are expected to be consistent with those of his
predecessors. Additionally, this new trade
commissioner will take over as TEC co-chair. Congress,
in particular the Trans-Atlantic Legislators Dialogue
(TLD), has a role in the TEC process and should see De
Gucht as an ally in creating a more robust trans-Atlantic
marketplace that involves legislative action on both sides
of the ocean.
Issues for Congress: Doha Negotiations, Trade and
the TEC.
Catherine Ashton (UK) Foreign Affairs High Representative The choice for Europe’s first foreign minister is
the UK’s Catherine Ashton. Ashton will serve both
as a vice president of the Commission and as
high representative, a role previously occupied
by Javier Solana. The double profile of the job
includes an institutional affiliation with the
Commission and the Council.
As head of the 6,000 strong European-wide
foreign service (officially known as the External
Action Service), Ashton will represent the European Union as a whole and the
member-states vis-à-vis the United States and other outside partners.
Although no political neophyte, Ashton has not given much indication of the
direction in which she wants to take European foreign policy on key issues of
trans-Atlantic interest such as Iran and Afghanistan.
Washington’s initial reaction to Ashton’s (and Van Rompuy’s) appointment has
been less than gushing. Some have described the duo as “anti-climactic” given
their previous low profiles. The roles that they develop in
their new positions will largely determine the strength of
the EU in Washington and on the world stage.
Senior US administration officials (such as US Special
Representative Richard Holbrooke; Assistant Secretary
of State Philip Gordon and Under Secretary of State
Robert Hormats) have recognized Ashton’s new role in the
system. No stranger to Washington, DC, Ashton made
numerous visits during her time as European Trade
Commissioner, working closely with Trade Representative
Ron Kirk on and in the Trans-Atlantic Economic Council
(TEC), the body in which US cabinet level officials and
EU Commissioners discuss regulatory convergence.
Issues for Congress: Foreign and Security Policy,
Afghanistan/Pakistan, Russia, the Middle East and Iran.
In addition to the aforementioned developments, the following incoming members of the European Commission should be of interest to European observers in the US.
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Inspiring People. Shaping the Future.
WASHINGTON, DC1101 New York Avenue, NWSuite 901Washington, DC 20005 USAContact: Tyson BarkerE-mail: tyson.barker@bertelsmann-
foundation.orgTel: (+1) 202.384.1993www.bertelsmann-foundation.org
BRUSSELSRésidence PalaceRue de la Loi 1551040 Brussels, BelgiumContact: Thomas FischerE-mail: thomas.fischer@bertelsmann-
stiftung.deTel: (+32 2) 280.2830www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/brussels
©Copyright 2010, Bertelsmann Foundation. All rights reserved.
On Economic Policy: It’s Yin and Yang
Perceived as more ATLANTICIST
Joaquín Almunia (Spain) Competition Almunia, seen as a trusted
ally of Commission President
Barroso, was given the weighty
portfolio of competition. This
portfolio will dovetail well with
Spain’s emphasis on innovation during its EU presidency
in 2010. Almunia will be a key interlocutor with the Obama
administration as both sides lay out rules for multinational
corporations, most of which are based in the US and Europe.
He will also be an important liaison as the US attempts to
cooperate on competition and anti-trust issues with Europe.
Almunia will be in charge of Europe’s anti-trust policy,
mitigating moves on mergers, acquisitions and adherence to
market rules. Importantly, Alumnia will also be responsible
for examining direct and indirect public subsidies to foreign
corporations that could distort competitiveness in the massive
European marketplace. He will also play a role in determining
when European banks pose systemic risk.
The Competition Commissioner will also be in charge of EU
policy towards Microsoft and enforcing the decision on the
proposed merger of Oracle and Sun Microsystems.
Issues for Congress: Anti-Trust and Competition, Stimulus and
its effect on commerce and mergers and acquisitions.
Perceived as more CONTINENTAL
Michel Barnier (France) Internal Market Barnier, a feisty former French
foreign minister, will have
responsibility for regulating
European financial services as
Internal Market Commissioner. As
such, Barnier will be the banking and financial regulatory czar of
the world’s largest financial center, the City of London.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has already claimed Barnier’s
appointment as a victory for France’s approach to banking
regulation over the UK’s lighter touch. Barnier has sought to
calm London’s worry that he will erode its competitive advantage
in the global financial marketplace. And the British have been
successful in guaranteeing that European member-states will
have a say in checking the recommendations of Europe’s new
sweeping supervisory bodies on financial regulation.
Barnier’s implementation of European banking and finance rules
will have a direct effect on the US financial sector and should
be closely watched as Congress moves forward with its own new
financial-sector regulation.
Issues for Congress: Financial Regulation – hedge funds, credit
default swaps, pensions, consumer credit and banking.
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