The shadow of Putin falls over EU politics as Member states seek stronger cohesion. Meanwhile the new Commission President promises reform, a capital market union and completion of the single market.
The shooting star `Putin’ is burning so brightly for the moment that it is having a profound impact of the EU’s governance – forcing a real Union to begin to emerge. Already the outlines of the strategy are emerging. After the June Council meeting, Council President van Rompuy said “In our Strategic Agenda we set out five overall priorities: stronger economies with more jobs; societies enabled to empower and protect all citizens; a secure energy and climate future; a trusted area of fundamental freedoms; effective joint action in the world.”
The newly elected President of the Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker has endorsed this strategy. But that agenda contains two reactions to the shooting star `Putin’: energy security will now be a major goal over the next few years; there was also a failure to decide on the new EU `Foreign Minister’. A candidate who was seen as soft on Russia failed to be elected, so Putin may yet force the EU to create a much harder common foreign policy – a hallmark of a genuine Union.
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© Graham Bishop
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