Juncker is on his way, news on the horizon?

The European Council on economic issues and energy, scheduled some time ago, closes a busy Community week, which began with the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, continued with the election of the new Commission, and ended with the summit of the 28 Heads of State and Government in Brussels. Although numerous decisions were taken in the past days, and excluding those postponed and those still hanging, a small step was made towards political integration: the new course to give more space and “specific weight” to Parliament directly elected by the citizens. Barroso leaves, Juncker arrives. MEPs gathered in Strasbourg October 20-23 with a busy agenda that included, inter alia, the last speech of the President Commission in-office José Manuel Barroso, the keynote speech and the election of the new Executive headed by Jean-Claude Juncker, the analysis of the 2015 budget, the Ebola-emergency, debates on various foreign policy issues, with the spotlight mainly on Ukraine and Isis. The EP then expressed itself on the future Commission with 423 votes in favour, 209 against, 67 abstained. The total number of votes cast was 699. As of 1st November the Juncker College will replace the outgoing Barroso team and will remain in office until 2019. The majority in favour of the Luxembourg politician comprises EPP, Socialists and Democrats and Liberal Democrats. Contrary votes were cast by the other political groups, ranging from “milder” and pro-European opposition forces, such as the Greens, to more extremist positions lurking in the far right of French politician Marine Le Pen (National Front), in Ukip (British Independents) and the United Left. Investments plan. Speaking at the Parliament plenary session October 22 Jean-Claude Juncker said: “Those who don’t invest don’t grow, those who don’t grow cannot ensure employment”. The first part of the interview has been dedicated to the new organization of the Executive. Juncker thus delved into the details of the programme and the urgent problems that need to be addressed. He reiterated that his college will keep in line with the promised “investment plan” for 300 billion, that will be presented before Christmas, “as it is an essential feature for economic recovery, for employment and for our citizens”. However, Juncker underlined that this plan “cannot be financed with debt; rather, an intelligent contribution of public funding is needed to promote the initiative of private investments”. However, it is not yet clear where all these billions should come from. The President-elect thus reiterated: “Our main task is the fight on unemployment”. However, no concession was made on the Stability and Growth Pact. “The rules cannot be changed – Juncker said – in June the 28 heads of Government and State said they intend to respect them. But these rules can be interpreted with a margin of flexibility envisaged by the treaties”. No enlargement. Juncker raised a set of issues, that include: the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, “illegal” and “legal” migrations, the digital agenda, foreign policy, “the rediscovery of the Community method” – calling for closer cooperation among EU institutions – with an ever more relevant role to Parliament. Juncker then clarified: “I wanted a Commissioner with Enlargement Negotiations portfolio to make it clear that we don’t want to raise false hopes. In the next five-year period, during the mandate of my Commission, there will be no new EU adhesions. But negotiations will continue” with all candidate and potential candidate Countries “with the same commitment and the same determination” for inclusion. The budget “burden”. Answering questions from MEPs and journalists Juncker also commented on the ongoing process for the approval, by Brussels, of the Stability Laws of member States due to conclude October 29, a theme on which several countries – France, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Malta – are “walking on eggshells”. To this regard Juncker reiterated that he has always been in touch with Barroso, and that “there are not two Commissions”, the outgoing and the incoming ones. “There is only one Commission” that will assume its responsibilities as regards budgetary control. Finally, the European “Caravan” moved to Brussels for the Council of October 23-24. On the agenda figure the economic and financial situation, energy and climate policy, Ebola, foreign policy and the global scenario, which has become all the more tense after the terror attack in Ottawa.