I have finished reading von der Leyen's political guidelines for the next Commission. A short #thread which I will build on in the next weeks or so.
1. I like the way she grouped individual policy fields under 6 policy priorities. I would not be surprised if they constituted the core principles for building her college 'team projects' or whatever she decides to call them.
2. Listing 'European Green Deal' as no. 1 out of 6 'ambitions' isn't accidental. She seems 2 understand what drove many voters in European elections. She is aware that bold actions must be accompanied with 'transition plans' to avoid 'yellow vests' protests in coal reliant areas
3. But I think that she over-promised on eg. 'Economy that works for people'. Much of what she is pledging is not in the hands of the Commission but in the hands of the euro areas leaders/ministers. Anyone who follows the saga around the CCIs will know what I mean.
4. There are many ideas in the 'Union of Equality' which I fully sign up to including to the gender equality in her own College.
5. On this one- I think she will have tough conversations with member-states. The EU top jobs mix gives an impression that enlargement to the East never took place. She will have to compensate it somehow to newer member-states but will they have good female candidates?
6. Digital agenda - 3rd 'ambition'- will probably constitute a separate 'team project'. I wonder what will the relation be between a commissioner heading this one and the competition commissioner who, by definition, will have to remain independent within the college.
7. I am glad to see that upholding the rule of law -which is one of the most important themes of @CER_EU work - is an overarching theme of her 4th goal. Here, she will pick up on the work of the outgoing Commission which is now working on improving existing rule of law toolbox.
8. VdL is more enthusiastic on neighborhood &enlargement front than many in the EUCO. She says she wants to reaffirm the EU perspective for Western Balkans. This is despite the fact that FR and NL, reportedly, blocked reference to enlargement in the EU strategic agenda.
9. Finally, the EU's democratic legitimacy constitutes a priority -which is good news, too. But the Commission President elect, conceded A LOT to the European Parliament.
10. It looks like Ursula von der Leyen forgot that EU's democratic legitimacy flows not only from directly elected MEPs but also from national parliaments which collectively hold the EUCO & Council to account. For now, she made no commitment to strengthening partnership with them
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1. It has been a while since I did a #thread on #Brexit but as baby Janina is napping I thought I would offer my two cents. The IMB has naturally undermined the trust that the deal can be reached and has a potential of derailing the talks.
2. Whereas the EU is naturally frustrated with UK's move some folks I have talked to think that the deal is still possible... under condition that the IMB is revised respectively.
3. Some of the involved in the talks think that Johnson is believed to prefer a deal from a no-deal scenario but they acknowledge that there are mounting challenges ahead of the negotiators.
The EU and the UK have finished the first round of their negotiations on the future relationship. So what do we know so far? #thread
1. Each side has delegated around 110-120 people for these negotiations. The EU has drawn from expertise of 22 EC DG, EEAS and the Council SecGen.
2. Although the talks differ from the article 50 negotiations the EU will keep similar negotiating structures. I have written about this here: encompass-europe.com/comment/eu-sti…
Having read both mandates I can say with full confidence: governance will be one of the most contentious points in #brexit talks. Short #thread
First of all, ‘the coherent structure and overall governance framework’ are already listed in the chapter called ‘purpose of the envisaged relationship’ suggesting that the EU treats this issue v. seriously.
Why is it important for the EU? There are at least 3 reasons: a) an umbrella governance gives the parties greater flexibility to add on new elements to the partnership in the future, b) it helps to avoid the Swiss saga related to dealing with a number of bilateral agreements
@Radio_TOK_FM 2. Rozporządzenie, o którym mowa nie wymaga jednomyślności - jest to tzw. akt towarzyszący, który wypełni ramy WRF o których zdecydują liderzy. ALE...ale...
@Radio_TOK_FM 3. liderzy zdecydowali, że w ramach głównych negocjacji dot. WRF (jednomyslność) zajmą się min. kontrowersyjnym zapisem dot. tzw. odwroconej większości kwalifikowanej według którego KE mogłaby zadecydować o zamrożeniu środków CHYBA, ŻE Rada zdecyduje inaczej.
I think the commentariat is exaggerating the tensions between the EU member-states in the phase TWO of the #Brexit talks. #thread
1. If Tories win (and if they win big) the Council could agree a negotiating mandate already in February. It is no secret that the Commission has already drafted the negotiating directives.
2. The baseline scenario for the EU will be that Johnson does not want an extension of the transition and hence that both sides have eleven months to strike a future FTA. What the officials and politicians privately think and hope is a totally different matter.
A #thread on how the EU is preparing for the second phase of the #Brexit negotiations based on my latest bulletin piece. @CER_EU
@CER_EU 1. The latest polls show that Tories might not only emerge as the biggest party after elections but also have a comfortable majority in the Commons. If this is the case the UK will probably leave the EU by the end of January 31st.
@CER_EU 2. As you will know Johnson has argued that 11 months is enough to negotiate a future partnership with the EU. The EU-27 thinks it is a tall order but it is already establishing new negotiating structures to be able to start the talks as soon as possible.