Juncker, a “concrete” Europe

“Indeed, I negotiated my candidacy” as president of the European Commission, in the sense that “I discussed it with the heads of Government and State” and with a number of Commissioners. “I made promises” that will be kept, and “I took realistic commitments”. The EU Parliament “supported my election with a large majority vote, I couldn’t hope for more”, “and I’m glad that Marine Le Pen has not voted for me, as I don’t want the endorsement” of nationalists nor of “those who call for a Europe of refusal and closure”. Jean-Claude Juncker, from Luxembourg, obtained a majority vote of the EU Assembly to lead the Executive as of November 1st, upon the termination of the mandate of Portuguese president José Manuel Barroso. Pragmatism as a method. Always ready to joke, with a sense of humour and a negotiating talent: Juncker has been into politics since the age of 40, although he has not yet turned 60. From a family of modest origins, he speaks several languages (as happens frequently among Luxembourg citizens) and has served as prime minister of the Grand Duchy for 18 years, directed the World Bank for 6, headed the Eurogroup for 7. He represents the Europe of rigor – he participated in the drafting of the Maastricht regulations and is one of the inventors of the “troika” – but he also believes in social market economy, with special focus on employment, social inclusion, disadvantaged groups. “The single currency doesn’t split Europe, it protects it, as it protects its economy and its citizens”, he said and reiterated on July 15 in a speech at the European Parliament prior to the vote that paved the way to EU Commission presidency. Juncker delivered a long, passionate speech, with strong pro-European traits, mentioning the origin of Community integration, the absolute value of peace and cooperation between States. But Juncker is aware that history is not enough and he looks ahead: he warns to abandon nationalisms and “give concrete answers in the citizens’ interests”. Let us renounce sterile ideological debates. And take pragmatism as our mode of action”. Special responsibility for rights and migrations. “We must give new impetus to the Community mode of action. I want a Commission that is political, more political”, independent from the European Council, Junker pointed out. He then added: “Europe cannot be built against, but with the States”. He then went on to list a set of priorities: “By February 2015 I intend to develop an agenda for growth, investment and work to mobilize 300 billion, including public and private funds, over the course of three years”. The priority areas that should be relaunched are, in his view, energy networks, sustainable energy sources, broadband, transport infrastructure, support to the industrial sector and in particular to SMEs, research, support to the youth, “to extend to 30-year-olds”, rather than 25 as now. He pointed out: “We will not ask to change the Stability and Growth Pact. The stability of public finances “is a long-term obligation. But in the same Pact there is room for flexibility aimed at recovery of growth”. He praised Jacques Delors, François Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl as models of a “concrete” Europe “of values” – in line with his Christian-Social nature. “The crisis won’t be over until there are millions of unemployed, “he said, focusing on the social dimension of economic development. Juncker’s agenda includes the creation of a Commissioner with special responsibility for fundamental rights and migration (migration flows are a problem for all countries – he pointed out – that must be dealt with in accordance with the principle of solidarity. On the further enlargement of the EU’s borders he has very clear ideas: “In the next five years there will be no new members, even though negotiations with the candidate countries will continue”. Several hanging issues. When the time came to cast its vote, the parliamentary majority that grew over the past weeks withstood the challenge of national defections. EPP, Socialists & Democrats and Liberal-Democrats represent 480 votes cast. Juncker received 422 ayes, 250 noes and a few blank votes. On July 16 Junker will attend the Special European Council, that will ratify the Assembly’s vote. National governments are called to suggest one or more candidates to the presidency of the Executive for a post as Commissioner. Jucker will then assign portfolios and assignments to the same Commissioners (for the time being Junker’s only suggestion relates to responsibility for Economic and Monetary Affairs, which he would like to hand over to a Socialist MEP). Candidates called to be members of the College will participate in parliamentary hearings in September, while the Commission will undergo definitive vote during the Parliament’s plenary in October. The president must still tackle a set of problems which include: the stand of the United Kingdom, that appears to have a foot outside the EU; the distance separating European institutions and citizens; scarce pro-European sentiments – which Junker explicitly condemned – of a number of MEPs; the scarce consistency of the EU budget; ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, the Holy Land and Syria; the weakness of foreign policy and common security of EU 28.