No top post for Günther Oettinger. And then a Frenchman as Monetary Affairs Commissioner: the new European Commission President Juncker ignored the wish list of the Chancellor.
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European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (archive) | © Michael Kappeler / dpa
Two months had lasted, on Wednesday afternoon it finally happened: Jean-Claude Juncker, the new head of the EU Commission presented its commissioners, with whom he wants to lead the EU Commission in the next five years. The emphasis is on doing “his”. For the future management of the Brussels authority shall clearly his handwriting. And the Luxembourg left no doubt that they will act much more energetically and more political than the previous Commission. Below its predecessor Manuel Barroso
For this is especially the Commission ensure the new structure. The 28 Commissioners are placed under seven powerful Vice President, who shall coordinate the work of the Commissioners and planned major projects. As a super-Vice President Juncker named Dutchman Frans Timmermans, a decided pro-Europeans, the efficiency for EU legislation and a smooth interaction with the EU Parliament is to ensure – in doubt against individual interests of member countries.
It is striking that almost all representatives of smaller EU countries are under Junckers deputies – and no German. Günther Oettinger, Commissioner for Energy, is German so far, will be responsible for the digital economy. This includes the expansion of European networks as well as the adaptation of copyright in the Internet age. Undoubtedly an important area that also Juncker as one of the central tasks of the future European look with great economic importance. Digital economy still is but it is not really central resort that Merkel had hoped for her husband in Brussels. In addition, Oettinger is subject to the Estonian Andrus Ansip.
The Chancellor would have preferred if the former Baden-Württemberg Minister President would have been promoted to the Trade Commissioner. Because then he would have been responsible for the controversial negotiations with the USA on the FTA TTIP. To which now looks after the Swede Cecilia Malmström.
Ludwig Greven
is a political editor at TIME ONLINE. His profile page can be found here
Yet at another point, the Chancellor could not prevail: Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner is – despite her initial resistance – the former French finance minister Pierre Moscovici. . Angela Merkel had wanted to prevent that actually, because it makes the Socialists for the high level of debt in his home country responsible and therefore does not trust him, against their own government in Paris and other debt countries like Italy to enforce compliance with the Stability Pact. Juncker but ignored these concerns and followed the request of the French President François Hollande.
Merkel, however, can take some comfort in that Moscovici will watch not only on compliance with the debt ceiling. He must coordinate with his superiors Vice-President of the Commission Jyrki Katainen of Finland and Latvia Valdis Dombrovski that support as their Conservative austerity.
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