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14 July 2014

European Union: Top Jobs latest- no decision on Council President or High. Rep.


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With Jean-Claude Juncker elected on June 15th, attention moved to the special European Council on July 16th. Top jobs expected to be announced: Council President, Chair of Eurogroup, High Rep for External affairs. The summit was inconclusive and leaders meet in six weeks to try again.


MEPs voted on  15 July to endorse Jean-Claude Juncker as the next president of the European Commission, after giving him a hearing the same day.

Attention then focussed on the other senior positions. To balance politically, geographically- and gender-wise- front runners are considered Denmark's socialist Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt  and Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė for Council President. Federica Mogherini, Italy’s foreign minister is tipped for High Rep.  De Telegraaf reports that Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has rejected the opportunity of succeeding Herman van Rompuy as European Council President. Rutte’s was reportedly encouraged to stand by German Chancellor Angela Merkel because he could act as a bridge between the UK and the rest of the EU.

Mr. Juncker has indicated that the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and the Euro will be a socialist; which complicates the choice of the eurogroup's chair (who will be a minister from a national government.) The likeliest candidate emerging for eurogroup chair is Luis de Guindos, the Spanish Minister for Economy.

Other Commissioner-designates are:

1. Caretaker Commissioners: not expected to serve beyond the current term:

  • Jacek Dominik, the Pole nominated to replace Janusz Lewandowski
  • Martine Reicherts of Luxembourg, nominated to replace Viviane Reding
  • Ferdinando Nelli Feroci, the Italian named to replace Antonio Tajani.

A fourth Caretaker appointee is Jyrki Katainen, a former prime minister of Finland,  replacement for Olli Rehn.  Katainen is expected to stay on at the Commission for the next term.

2. Other names in the frame:

Germany: Günther Oettinger- previously Commissioner for the Energy portfolio- and possibly continuing in this role.

UK: Lord Hill, leader of the House of Lords, is nominated.

France: Pierre Moscow- a former Europe and Finance Minister is a strong contender.

Ireland: Phil Hogan, Environment minister, is nominated.

Netherlands: Selection is mooted between Neelie Kroes, current Commissioner for Digital Affairs, Jeroen Dijsselbloem (Finance Minister and  head of the Eurogroup) and Frans Timmermans, Dutch Foreign Minister.

Spain: Former Agriculture Minister Miguel Arias Cañete is the favourite to become the new Spanish Commissioner. He resigned in April after being picked by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy as Partido Popular's top candidate in the European Parliament elections.

Poland: Various names have been suggested. Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski remains the frontrunner.  Former Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski and former EU Budget Commissioner Janusz Lewandowski  are also mooted.


Read Telegraaf

Read Paul Waugh on Lord Hill

Read FT on Summit inconclusion (Subscription required)

With thanks to Jon Worth and read Jon here for information on other candidates

 

 

 



© Graham Bishop


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