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THE GREAT EUROPEAN UPHEAVAL - PHASE ONE

Gary Titley is Head of Parliamentary The changes within the European institutions timetabled and EU Legislative Affairs at Hume for 2014 have reached the end of phase one. The Brophy. He is a seasoned former European legislator and well-known new European Parliament (EP) has been elected, its authority on EU foreign and security policy. He was first elected to the various offices filled and the President of the European European Parliament in 1989 and Commission, Jean Claude Juncker, has been appointed went on to serve four consecutive terms. During this time, Gary served and ratified by the EP. as the UK ’s leader in the EP and was also a member of the party’s National Executive. Part two, the appointment of the President of the For more information, visit and the High Representative for Foreign GARY TITLEY www.humebrophy.com Affairs, should have been agreed on 16th July but has been postponed to the end of August. This will delay part three - the appointment and ratification of the new . Hume Brophy Senior Consultant Gary Titley shares his views on the Presidency of the European Commission, who is in the running and potential solutions to drive the EU Before analysing these developments, it is worth commenting on the media obsession with personalities which has accompanied recent events. The reality of EU economic reform is nonsense. Similarly, the idea that politics is that individuals carry much less weight than they because the “hard left”, in the form of ’s Thomas do in national politics. This is because power in the EU is Handel, has the chair of the EP’s and social spread over a range of institutions and not concentrated affairs committee, a blizzard of social legislation will on one point. Checks and balances make up the fabric of emerge, is ludicrous. the EU. The reality is that in order for the EU to move forward Furthermore, the natural direction of the political there has to be consensus among the main players. process is always toward compromise and consensus. Naturally, very good or very bad leadership has its impact Consequently, the idea peddled by some in the media that, but, more importantly, is the ability to bring people for example, Juncker could single-handedly block together - to persuade and negotiate. That is seen as one of the strengths of Jean Claude majority of votes (376) is needed. It was interesting Juncker, who knows the machinery of the EU from the to note that when the Parliament voted for their vice- inside out. It is also why British Prime Minister David presidents, the six EPP candidates got significantly more Cameron’s quest to block Juncker failed. He did not votes than the S&D candidates. This would suggest that build alliances across the board beforehand. Cameron the EP will be more solidly right wing than initially thought; was, in any case, hampered by the fact that the British in which case S&D patience with the coalition could wear conservative party is not a member of the main right-of- thin in time. centre political group, the European People’s Party (EPP). It would have been better to argue his case in there than from the outset and to have started his campaign much To return to recent events - the European sooner than he did; these things take a lot of time. In a Elections resulted in a more fragmented similar vein, the Italian Prime Minister failed Parliament than before; although its overall to get his candidate appointed as High political shape is only slightly altered. Representative for Foreign Affairs in July. He simply did not do enough preparatory work, even snubbing a pre- meeting of leaders of his political group, the Socialist and Once the Groups were formed, the EP could then decide (S&D). In the EU, there is no substitute on its officers, most importantly the Committee Chairs. for the hard grind of building consensus. The important Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee (ECON) was taken by Italian Roberto Gualteri (S&D), To return to recent events - the European Elections whose main interests appear to be on the operation of resulted in a more fragmented Parliament than before, the Euro and the fiscal pact. The Industry, Research and although its overall political shape is only slightly altered. Energy Committee (ITRE) has gone to the former Polish The EPP and S&D groups continue to dominate, albeit Prime Minister, Jerzy Buzek (EPP). The Environment, less strongly than before. The Liberal group (ALDE) Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) chair is held has slipped to fourth place with regards to group size, by ’s Giovanni La Via (EPP) who comes from an narrowly behind the European Conservative and Reformist agricultural and food background. Interestingly, the (ECR) group. The ECR was initially a vehicle for the British S&D did not bid for this committee as was expected Conservatives, but they are now in a minority. Both these but, instead, went for the Civil Liberties Committee. The groups are much smaller than the two larger groups - Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee EPP and S&D. Behind them come the European United (IMCO) was taken by Vicky Ford (ECR) whose career Left (GUE) and the Greens. Finally, there is the renamed was in banking prior to becoming an MEP. The Transport Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy group (EFDD), Committee (TRAN) went to the Green MEP, Michael led by Nigel Farage, which was boosted by the inclusion Cramer, who has long experience in dealing with transport of the Italian Five Star Movement under Beppe Grillo. issues. The next few years could see the Internal Trade Marine Le Pen, leader of the French National Front, failed Committee come to the fore, as its appointed chair is to form a far right group so her supporters will sit as German Bernd Lange (S&D). independents. Committee chairs are the public face of their committees and a good chair can help make the committee more The reality is that for the EU to move forward, effective. However, the complex way in which the EP there has to be consensus among the main decides its office-holders means that the chosen chair players. In the EU, there is no substitute for is not always the strongest and best-qualified for that the hard grind of building consensus. Committee. Furthermore, it is worth repeating the earlier observations about the limitations on the influence any The weakness in the dominant position of the EPP and given individual can have in the European context. In S&D has led them to form a grand alliance which the many ways, the real powers of the committee are the Liberals later joined. This should ensure that parliamentary coordinators appointed by each group who are a cross business can proceed smoothly, especially when it comes between party managers and whips. These are the to the second reading of legislation and an absolute individuals who drive business through. With the appointment of its officers, the Parliament’s Commission is due to take office at the beginning of first task was to bring the saga of the President of November. However, some countries will be reluctant to the Commission to an end by electing Jean Claude make a nomination until the High Representative is decided Juncker. Then everybody’s attention should have turned - in case one of their nationals would be an acceptable to the appointment of a new European Commission. alternative. This makes Juncker’s job very difficult and Unfortunately, the process has been held up by the could delay the ratification of the Commission. member states failing to agree on who should fill the posts of the President of the Council and the High Juncker also has the problem of persuading some Representative for Foreign Affairs. Here the stumbling governments to nominate a female Commissioner. It block seems to have been policy rather than personality. would be unacceptable if there was not at least some The favourite for the High Representative post, Italian gender balance in the Commission; a point which the EP Foreign Minister, Frederica Mogherini, was seen to be too is already campaigning on. The EP’s ratification of the “soft” on by some countries. The Italian Prime Commission cannot be taken for granted. Officially, it Minister now has to decide whether to dig his heels in or can only accept or reject the whole Commission but, in find another candidate such as , the former the past, it has used that power to force Governments to European Commissioner and Italian Foreign Minister. withdraw their nominees because of concerns about their suitability. The difficulty all this causes is that the High Representative is also a member of the Commission. Normally, the Overall, there is still a rocky road ahead before we can President of the Commission uses August to agree with reach the calm waters of 2015. member states who their Commissioners are and what responsibilities they will have. In September the EP is GARY TITLEY, HUME BROPHY due to hold hearings to scrutinise the nominees before voting to accept or reject the Commission and the new

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