Sophie Pornschlegel

@spornschlegel

Sep 10, 2019 • 10 tweets • 2 min read • Read on X

Crazy day in Brussels with non-stop commenting on the new #EUcommission. Here is my take on it (thread): /1

The new Commission is gender-balanced with 13 female Commissioner-designates & represents the current European political landscape will with a good balance between S&D, EPP & RE. There is also a good mix of important portfolios for bigger and smaller European countries. /2

This Commission is quite experienced with many new Commissioner-designates having worked as ministers in their home countries. Expertise should therefore not be missing. /3

No one expected eight Vice-Presidents. This means Ursula von der Leyen carries on with the organisational structure that was started with the last Juncker Commission, but streamlines it with the new positions of executive vice-presidents. /4

Vestager, Timmermans and Dombrovskis reflect von der Leyen’s Commission priorities: The digital agenda, the green new deal, and a (hopefully more social) market economy. It will be interesting to see how this new structure plays out. /5

It was strategically smart to appoint Věra Jourová - a liberal from a Visegrad country - as VP for Values and Transparency. This could mean VdL is looking for constructive dialogue rather than confrontation to resolve the rule of law issues. /6

Coining a VP's portfolio “Protecting our European Way of Life” and putting migration policy under this title is questionable. Does this mean “Fortress Europe” or abiding to European values of tolerance and human rights? /7

There could be issues with the appointments of the Hungarian, Polish and Romanian Commissioner-designates. Maybe Ursula von der Leyen expects the Hungarian Commissioner-designate to not make it through the hearing in the Parliament... /8

...but giving him the Enlargement & Neighbourhood portfolio is already quite a statement – do not expect any big progress in this particular area in the next five years. /9

France and Italy are the big winners in this new Commission, with both Sylvie Goulard and Paolo Gentiloni getting large & strategically important portfolios. Both Ireland and Austria also did well with Trade for Phil Hogan and Budget for Johannes Hahn. /10 & the end!

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More from @spornschlegel

Sophie Pornschlegel

@spornschlegel

Jan 23, 2023

Yesterday in true Franco-German fashion, the two countries celebrated 60 years of Elysée Treaty. If I haven't posted anything about it, it's because as a Franco-German myself, I'm truly disappointed with how the relation is going - for years now. Let me tell you why. /1

I've had enough of "dialogue formats" and "cultural encounters". The reality is: The political relationship is strained at best; citizens couldn't care less about their neighbours; there is little funding available for cooperation; less and less people learn the language. /2

The civil society sector is heavily status-quo oriented, & anyone who wants to improve things in the slightest is sidelined. There are signs of hope though, with some 'younger' people doing great work - but it remains rather limited./3

Sophie Pornschlegel

@spornschlegel

Aug 29, 2022

After today's meeting marathon, interviews on the Scholz speech & email galore, I guess it's back to business in Brussels!
This GIF shows how it feels to work on EU politics at the moment, but I'm looking forward to working on a bunch of great projects in the coming months. 👇/1

Very much looking forward to welcoming @ThinkTank_Lab in Brussels next week - besides giving a short input on "how to EU policy analysis", my colleague @FilipeALampe is organising an event on #diversity in EU policymaking with @CnctingEurope that I think is hugely important. /2

The @epc_eu also partnered up for the 'European Think Tank Conference' in October in Berlin to promote the exchange between European think tankers and discuss sector-specific issues. Stay tuned for a great programme! @dgapev dgap.org/en/events/save… /3

Sophie Pornschlegel

@spornschlegel

Aug 29, 2022

As a think tanker, there is a fine balance between speaking truth to power (and, for instance, criticising the lack of ambition in view of the challenges we face) and understanding the position of decision-makers, including the need for compromises & other limiting factors. /1

Today was a good example: I was happy to read #Scholz's EU speech & finally have an outline of Germany's EU policy. I get that it could be much worse - the German government fully understands the need for a strong EU and that's a very good premise. /2

I'm also happy to have further details on certain policy fields and to understand where the focus of this government lies. It's also useful to see that certain fields - e.g. industrial policy - have been left out, which also helps define where it could get more difficult. /3

Sophie Pornschlegel

@spornschlegel

Jun 1, 2022

📖 New publication 📖
It's been almost 100 days since Russia invaded 🇺🇦. In this new paper, @IlkeToygur & I look back at the EU's "modus operandi". We advocate for a more ambitious EU, rather than one that will put unity above everything else./1
epc.eu/en/Publication…

The last #EUCO summit was a wonderful example of how in the EU unity prevails over ambition. After weeks of blockage, we finally have an oil embargo, but only for 75% of Russian oil, and with a temporary exemption for pipeline oil./2

https://twitter.com/eucopresident/status/1531391899218608133

We start on a positive note: Both the COVID-19 pandemic & the Russian invasion revealed that the EU institutions & leaders are capable of managing crises swiftly and decisively. The EU could use this moment of change to increase its ambition & move European integration forward./3

Sophie Pornschlegel

@spornschlegel

Apr 11, 2022

After yesterday’s 1st round in the 🇫🇷 election, some takeaways on the campaign, results & what to expect next. A relatively long 🧵, as there is a lot to unpack. /1

First, on the results: 1st round shows Macron as frontrunner. But do not interpret this as a safe win for him in the 2nd round. 33% voted for far-right candidates, 26% for far-left, which brings “extreme” vote in France to over 50% in total. This is worrying. (@lemondefr) /2

2nd round will take place on 24.04. Polls vary between 45:55 & 49:51 for Macron, but it very much depends on Mélenchon voters (22% in 1st round). Several candidates (Pécresse, Hidalgo, Jadot) called for a Macron vote - except Eric Zemmour, who endorsed Le Pen. (@franceinfo) /3

Sophie Pornschlegel

@spornschlegel

Mar 25, 2022

Amid all the hustle and bustle, it's hard to keep track of what actually happened yesterday in Brussels. Here are some takeaways from the diplomatic showdown (NATO, G7, EUCO) including @POTUS attendance & @ZelenskyyUa speeches. A 🧵 /1

First, HR news: @CharlesMichel was re-elected EUCO President for another 2,5 years; @jensstoltenberg's mandate was extended by a year as NATO Secretary-General. /2 politico.eu/article/charle…

Second, NATO news: NATO agreed on 4 new battlegroups on its "Eastern flank". In total, 40,000 soldiers stationed next to the border. More resources will be spent to prevent cyberattacks & to prepare for potential biological & chemical attacks./3 nato.int/cps/en/natohq/…

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