Was it necessary for Ursula von der Leyen to give so many guarantees to the far right by inviting xenophobia in the titles of some Commissioners ?
After the formalization of the posts of European Commissioners, many MEPs and other stakeholders were moved by the strange innovations suggested by Ursula von der Leyen.
Two positions in particular are problematic: that of the former European Commission spokesperson, Margaritis Schinas, who is “Vice-President protecting the European way of life”, a strange function that combines many missions.
According to the European Commission’s mission letter, the Greek candidate will have to focus on education and skills; put in place a new pact on migration and asylum, and strengthen the Europe of security.
But according to the candidate, who is marked on the right and is a member of the European People’s Party, the position focuses mainly on protecting borders and citizens.
For some, including the Greens Damien Carême and Phlippe Lamberts, this title is simply racist. Alberto Alemanno, professor of law and founder of the Good Lobby, has asked the European Commission to withdraw this title.
I call @MargSchinas and @Europarl_EN to ask @vonderleyen to change denomination of future title of EU Commissioner responsible for #migration #Schinas #EuropeanUnion https://t.co/IdyiejN4FV
— Alberto Alemanno (@alemannoEU) September 10, 2019
Another function is also problematic: that of the Croatian Dubravka Šuica
who became Commissioner for “Democracy and Demography”. Combining these two notions is not easy. It sounds however familiar in Hungary, where the government wants to pump the birth rate as the only option to counter the demographic decline.
The fact that some European countries are losing people, such as the Baltic States, Poland and Bulgaria, could have something to do with the poor functioning of these democracies. Young and talented people may find themselves uncomfortable in a state where future prospects are clouded by cronyism and corruption. But it sounds risky to say so in the face of these countries’ leaders.
Finally, another appointment seems more of a joke than a real recruitment: that of László Trócsányi, appointed for the neighbourhood and enlargement policy.
The Hungarian Commissioner is indeed at the origin of the judicial reform in Hungary, which has provoked an arm wrestling match with Brussels, as a former Minister of Justice. He was also the one who introduced laws criminalizing the work of NGOs that protected migrants. So asking him to supervise the rule of law in countries who want to join the EU must be a joke: he stands no chance of being approved by the European Parliament with this function.