The list of names and portfolio distribution announced on September 17 surprised many, as changes were made even at the last minute, writes the latest In his analysis Tibor Ludovican Navratskes, Minister of Public Administration and Regional Development.
According to the head of the ministry, as usually happens, the candidates – including those who are scheduled to assume an important role in the future, such as Thierry Breton, the original candidate for the position of French commissioner – withdrew, and the divisions of the ministry that seemed final changed, but the list appeared published on Sunday. Tuesday finally as a body ready for the task before public opinion.
According to Tibor Navratx, the administrative structure consisting of the five Executive Vice Presidents and the Chief Representative for External Affairs, plus the President of course, gives the impression of more transparent relations than the secure structure of the President, first Vice President, Executive Vice President, Vice President for the previous five years,
But whether the new relational system actually serves efficiency will only be revealed during day-to-day operations. Although we do not yet know which of the candidates will be in place when the committee takes over its duties. In the last 20 years, the European Parliament has failed to secure at least one candidate for the position of Commissioner in every institutional renewal, and in many cases achieved minor or major changes in ministerial portfolios. Based on our experience so far, it is certain that we will not meet the final committee on September 17. However, the first draft perfectly demonstrates the new European geopolitical focus and lines
He said.
According to Tibor Navrashics, given the list of names and the distribution of ministerial portfolios, it is striking that the Baltic States will certainly play a more important role in the work of the Committee than before. According to him, Kaja Kallas, former Prime Minister of Estonia, appears to be the big winner in the new committee.
New European geopolitical landmarks
According to the Prime Minister, by making the new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – and Vice-Chairman of the Committee – an Estonian politician, the Chairman of the Committee recognized the achievements of the Baltic States so far as well. It also created an opportunity for the Baltic states to showcase their specific aspects on the stage of global and Nordic politics.
But he reminded that the southern states could be happy, too. Of the five, they have been given two Executive Vice President positions, both areas representing important professional policies. However, Tibor Navrassics highlighted:
The countries of Central Europe can no longer be so satisfied. Romania can still say that it is relatively happy that Roxana Menzatu, as Executive Vice President in charge of Skills and Preparation, can perform a kind of Education Commissioner function at a higher level. Although Poland may appoint a commissioner responsible for the budget in the future, on the one hand, this portfolio has already been managed before, which means that this does not mean progress, and on the other hand, there was talk of a much more specific portfolio during the previous negotiations.
According to Tibor Navratsics, the portfolio of the candidate for the Czech Commissioner, Jozef Sikela, called International Partnerships, which is difficult to explain, but clearly lighter than the aforementioned trade portfolio in relation to it, is also disappointing. In the end, it went to Maros Sefkovic, who – given that he is the longest-serving member of the committee – certainly deserved more from a protocol standpoint.
He concluded his opinion piece by saying: “And that is all we know today. The division of tasks of the new Commission clearly shows the new star of geopolitics, the Baltics, and clearly indicates that the Central European region is losing weight in European domestic politics. But we cannot yet say How will the fate of the candidates for commissioners and the political weight of the various regions develop in the future? Who will laugh in the end?
