Future of Europe Observer, Vol. 3, No. 1

Future of Europe Observer Contents Vol. 3 No. 1 January 2015 Not a pack of bureaucrats: the new European Commission ��1 Not a pack of bureaucrats: the new European Better Regulation, Inter- Commission Institutional Relations, the By Sally Brammer* Rule of Law and the Charter of he new President of the Eu- cratic legitimacy. In his address Fundamental Rights: First Vice ropean Commission Jean- to the European Parliament be- President Frans Timmermans 3 T Claude Juncker sees himself dif- fore they voted to accept the new Energy Union: Vice President ferently, he sees his role different- Commission he stated “I have been Maroš Šefčovič ��4 ly, he sees his Commission as a elected President of the Commis- ‘last chance Commission’ which sion on the basis of a programme Budget and Human Resources: will either succeed or fail. Junck- that binds me to the European Vice President Kristalina er has laid out an ambitious polit- Parliament. I have a contract with Georgieva ��5 ical agenda for the political cycle you, Mr President, and with this of 2014-2019. He views this agenda House.” Despite evidence that the EU Foreign and Security as a form of political contract - a Spitzenkandidat system did not Policy: High Representative mandate - and he has implement- motivate people to vote (a Euroba- and Vice President Federica ed broad changes in order to re- rometer poll following the election Mogherini ��6 alize it. In doing so he has raised found that only 5% of voters across Jobs, Growth, Investment expectations – whether they can the 28 member states were moti- and Competitiveness: Vice or will be real- vated President Jyrki Katainen ��8 ized is another to vote question. in order Digital Single Market: Vice he new to in- President Andrus Ansip ��9 TEuropean f luence Commission the ap- ZEI Insights �� 10 officially -be point- gan work on ment of Euro and Social Dialogue: Vice the next President Valdis Dombrovskis the 1st Novem- ber 2014. For Com- ............................................................11 mission the first time College of Commissioners ©European Commission 2015 there was a di- presi- 1 rect link between the outcome of dent ) the Commission’s new web- the European Parliament elections site proudly states “the President was elected by the European Par- Future of Europe Observer and the appointment of the Com- accompanies the debate on governance mission President. Juncker puts liament on the basis of his Politi- and regulation in the European Union. great worth in the fact that he cal Guidelines”. Juncker is making Authors are ZEI Scholars, Master of it clear that his ‘Agenda for Jobs, European Studies Fellows and Alumni. views himself as elected, believing this gives him much greater demo- Growth, Fairness and Democratic Change’ has the support of the parliament, thereby Commissioners have been grouped into 7 project improving the democratic legitimacy of European teams and require the approval of their respective decision-making. Vice President in order to push legislative propos- he bold statement of 10 priorities, within this als forward. It is expected that they work togeth- Tagenda, raises expectations and also outlines er as a college within a dynamic structure, as the objectives against which the Commission and its composition of the project team changes according actions can be measured, further increasing the to the policy in question. This dynamic and more pressure for success. One can predict that Juncker organic system has the potential to streamline co- will make use this pressure and the argument that ordination and increase efficiency; however it also could create confusion as Commissioners must sometimes report to more than one Vice President. For this new structure, which moves away from the idea that all Commissioners are equal, to be a success it requires that all Commissioners play nicely with each other and learn to share the man- agement of portfolios, with other Commissioners and with respective Vice Presidents. Time will tell whether these change will indeed improve internal coordination and lead to better policy making, or whether it creates resentment and internal di- Commission President Jean Claude Junker visions. ©European Commission 2015 hose who campaigned against Juncker’s ap- he was elected on the basis of these 10 priorities Tpointment argued that he is an old Brussels in order to pressure other EU actors such as the insider; however he has proven he is here to shake Council and the Parliament to support his agenda. things up. He has used his experience and nego- Indeed he has already sent a letter to the Europe- tiating ability to cleverly appoint Vice-Presidents an Parliament and the Italian Prime Minister, who from smaller member states, whilst ensuring that held the rotating EU presidency, explaining the larger states have all received important portfolios. priorities and calling for the three institutions to To support his argument that the Commission is work together to develop strategic objectives and not just a troop of ‘anonymous high officials’ he deliverables. Therefore whilst increasing pressure has surrounded himself with a college of political on himself and his team he is also creating the heavyweights; with four former Prime Ministers opportunity for leverage during negotiations with and nineteen former Ministers who have the expe- the other EU actors. rience and leadership skills to take charge and not utlining 10 priorities has not been Juncker’s be overrun by director-generals. Oonly innovation, he has also shown a deter- 2014 was a year of transition in the European Union mination to fundamentally change the structure of and there is a sense of change in Brussels. Junck- the college with a centralization of power in a more er has implemented significant changes in order cabinet type structure. Previously the position of to increase the efficiency and transparency of the Commission Vice President was symbolic and hon- Commission, something observers have long been orary in nature; however Juncker has delegated calling for. Whether Juncker’s bold decisions and much of his own power to his Vice-Presidents. The sense of purpose can effect genuine change, which appointment of 7 Vice-Presidents with real power satisfies the high expectations so far generated, and coordination responsibilities is meant to im- will become apparent over the next few months. prove efficiency and ensure policy coherence. How- *Sally Brammer is a Research Fellow at ZEI and ever, an important question is whether this more Alumna “Class of 2012” hierarchical system leads to more or less internal struggles amongst Commissioners, the majority 1.For information: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/pdf/eurobarometre/2014/ of whom are used to powerful positions at home. post/post_2014_survey_analitical_overview_en.pdf 2 Future of Europe Observer Vol. 3 No. 1 January 2015 Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fundamental Rights: First Vice President Frans Timmermans By Aliaksandra Liakh, Carolin Pütz and Maria Kapiniaris rans Timmermans is the new First Vice-Presi- tence to its Court to review EU measures may pose Fdent for Better Regulation, Inter-Institutional a serious threat to the uniform interpretation and Relations, the Rule of Law and the Charter of Fun- effective application of European Law. damental Rights. His main political objectives are immermans will face daily governance chal- focused on driving better regulation to ‘cut red- Tlenges as his responsibilities are central issues tape’, promoting better work with the European- for the EU and have significant implications for the Parliament and bringing the European Union (EU) rest of the Commissioners. The EU’s complex and closer to its citizens by strengthening interactions diverse multi-governance structure results from between the Commission and national parliaments. the differing perspectives of the EU institutions, He endeavours to enhance the transparency of the this is particularly clear during decision making. Commission’s activities by creating a mandatory Furthermore, there are disparities amongst Mem- register for lobbyists with the overarching objec- ber States, as each state claims its own interests tive being to uphold the Rule of Law and Charter and political aims, and importantly, their differing of Fundamental Rights in all of the Commission’s capabilities which will undoubtedly be debated and activities, which includes the process of accession overlapped during the process of policy making. of the EU to the Convention for the Protection of Factors which have shifted the political climate in Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of the Council of Europe. onflicting aims will arise in Timmerman’s Cportfolio as he strives to achieve the priorities laid down in Juncker’s political guidelines - to create a new boost for jobs and growth by promoting an positive environment for investment and entrepreneurship. European regulation plays in this respect a pivotal role.1 The challenge is to keep regulation simple and not to go beyond what is necessary.2 Thus, the EU has to find and trans- late into its legislation a proper balance between First Vice President Frans Timmermans, freedom for entrepreneurship, on the one hand, ©European Commission 2015 and safety for citizens on the other. Despite their Europe, as seen in the last elections

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