Juncker’s “last-chance saloon” Commission approved

Jean-Claude Juncker and his 27-strong executive were confirmed on Wednesday with the European Parliament’s three largest groups, the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), the centre-left Socialists & Democrats and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), voting in favour.

The Greens, and both groups on the far left and far right, the European United Left (GUE) and Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) groups, rejected the new line-up. The Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), dominated by the UK Conservative Party, abstained.

Juncker called it the “last chance saloon” Commission, saying that it represented the European Union’s last attempt at winning back the support of its citizens.

“Either we manage [...] to dramatically reduce unemployment, or we fail. Either we give a perspective to young Europeans, or we fail," Juncker said.

The final vote was 423 in favour, with 209 members of the Parliament (MEPs) voting against and 67 abstaining.  

Strategic tweaks

Juncker confirmed adjustments were made to ensure broad support from MEPs. Responsibility for pharmaceuticals, initially assigned to the industry directorate, will now have joint oversight from health. “I agree with you that medicines are not goods like any other,” Juncker said to MEPs. “The relevant policy will be developed jointly by Vytenis Andriukaitis, [Health Commissioner] and by Elżbieta Bieńkowska [Enterprise Commissioner].”

Another concession was that Citizenship was pruned from Tibor Navracsics’ Education portfolio. Navracsics was under intense fire for his membership of Viktor Orbán’s government in Budapest, which is seen from Brussels as systematically trampling on media freedom, non-governmental organisations and the independence of judges.

Frans Timmermans, the first vice-president and EU veteran, who is in charge of better regulation, will also gain ownership of the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) element of the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations. ISDS would allow companies investing in a country to claim damages under international law rather than through the local courts, if the investment goes sour.

Juncker repeated his promise not to allow, "the jurisdiction of courts in EU member states to be limited by ISDS," saying, “There will be no ISDS if Frans [Timmermans] doesn't approve it.”

Positions on Juncker

During the lengthy debate, Guy Verhofstadt, Belgian MEP and leader of ALDE, implored Junker to be a stronger leader than his predecessor, José Manuel Barroso. Verhofstadt said that in the last five years, “the Commission became the secretariat of the European Council.” It waited for the green light from Berlin and Paris, he added, in reference to the strong influence of German and French governments over the EU agenda.

On the new line-up, Ryszard Antoni Legutko, Polish MEP for ECR, said, “It’s far from a dream team but there are some good people there.” He added, “You did not mention innovation, which is to your credit.” The European Commission and Parliament do not have the means to have any impact on innovation at a European level, he said.

Greens leader Rebecca Harms said her group voted against Juncker because the new Commission was not prioritising environmental action.

New Energy Union chief

Maroš Šefčovič, Juncker’s last-gasp nomination for the Energy Union portfolio, came through his cross-examination with ease on Monday night.

He had originally received backing for the post of Transport and Space but Juncker re-assigned the Slovak candidate to the Energy Union portfolio, after the withdrawal of the Slovenian ex-Prime Minister Alenka Bratušek – the only candidate rejected by MEPs.

A graduate from Moscow University, some MEPs were on the lookout for any soft stances on dealing with Russia. Šefčovič did his best to stamp out the notion. “Russia uses gas as a political weapon and that is unacceptable," he said.

Šefčovič came out in support of supply projects that would reduce Europe's dependence on Russian gas and increasing the continent’s relationship with suppliers in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and other countries. “By supporting the South Stream project, we would only increase our dependence on Russia. We should rather support the Southern Corridor project, which will connect us with the Caspian Sea,” he said.

He waxed lyrical on renewable technologies. “The sun is ours, the wind is ours. It is all European,” he said. “Technologically speaking, we are at the top and no one disputes it. However, we must increase the share of renewables in the energy mix."

Šefčovič also spoke favourably about carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology and advanced biofuels. Asked what Poland, with its reliance on coal can do to reduce its emissions he answered, “Coal is still the biggest supplier of energy in Europe; we can concentrate on carbon capture to help Poland.”

MEPs wanted to know who would represent the EU at international climate conferences, a question that flummoxed Bratušek during her hearing. Šefčovič was more decisive. “I will go,” he said.

The impression was that, with only four days preparation, he performed well. Šefčovič takes his place in the new Commission, which will start its five year mandate on the 1 November.  

Juncker’s speech here
Maroš Šefčovič’s hearing here
Juncker line-up here