Thread by @Usherwood

So what to make of the #EUTopJobs decision?

1/

Most important is that a decision exists at all: if EP wasn't voting tomorrow, easy to imagine another delay, given fissures

2/

However the flip of this is that is perhaps precisely because of looming EP vote that choices were made: an air of 'make it stop' about it all

3/

The slate certainly covers the bases on gender, groups and geography but it also comes w a pile of problems

4/

Biggest of these is that it dumps on the Spitzenkandidaten model. Even if EPP was too bold in its ambition, for Weber to end up like this is a big slap in the face. Other big groups might feel similarly abused

5/

Recall this is a problem tomorrow (on EP Presid vote) and, more importantly, on EP vote on COM Presid. EUCO simply can't avoid this stage

6/

This is even before we get to Qs of personal competence. UVDL is an unknown on this (at this level), others are rather inoffensive, bar Lagarde, who's rather political for a central banker

7/

That's always the challenge with these positions, but not much evidence of systemic learning by EU.

8/

Any way, let's see how tomorrow goes, and then UVDL confirmation, and then COM selection/confirmation.

Expect this not to be a fully settled matter

/end