The next Commission

I was looking at a piece of project work, considering the next Commission of EU .

It seems that either part of VdL’s manifesto for the 24/29 programme or her letters to Commissioner designates contains the sentence as follows,

“We will build on the Conference on the Future of Europe to instil a true and lasting culture of participative democracy. We would choose policy areas and proposals where recommendations from a European Citizens Panel would have the greatest value and follow up on their proposals.”

The Commission [elect]’s page is at https://commission.europa.eu/about/commission-2024-2029/commissioners-designate-2024-2029_en

I comment on those seen as vulnerable at the time of writing.

Marta Kos, Enlargement

I started by reviewing the commissioning letter sent to Marta Kos, the Enlargement Commissioner designate.

She has been nominated by the Government of Slovenia, comes from a technocratic and progressive background but the EPP have accused her of complicity with the Yugoslav regime; she denies it.

The commissioning letter mentions the obvious suspect, including Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova as well as the Western Balkans. It talks of codifying trade with Turkiye and yet is silent on the relations with the UK, although Maroš Šefčovič has been allocated responsibility for UK relations; he must be very pleased.

There is no mention of treaty reform in the mission letter.

Henna Virkkunen, EVP for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

I then looked at the commissioning letter sent to Henna Virkkunen, the candidate for Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, she is an MEP elected on the EPP slate.

An explicit reference to the Democracy Shield and the digital markets acts as a means of regulating bad behaviour. Also lots on improving the global competitiveness of tech. She should definitely be asked about balance between a freedom of speech and the right to publish disinformation. The mission letter is big on seamless data to benefit business, but little mention of the GDPR. Also foresees a single market in defence products.

It’s a huge portfolio.

Maroš Šefčovič – Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security; Inter-institutional Relations and Transparency

The commissioning letter sent to Maroš Šefčovič, he was on previous commissions, and responsible for enlargement in the last Commission.

Much of the text relates to Trade and Economic Security, as you’d expect. Responsible for the UK relationship now its a 3rd country and no mention of treaty reform.

Michael McGrath – Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, and the Rule of Law

The commissioning letter sent to Michael McGrath, the candidate for Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, and the Rule of Law. He is an Irish politician, from Fianna Fail, who have been part of Renew in previous parliaments. His government service has primarily been in the Ministry of Finance.

VdL seems to have split the portfolio, but there is a hierarchical relationship between McGrath and Virukkanen.

Democracy

He will lead the work on the new European democracy shield, step up the fight against foreign information manipulation and interference. He will oversee the work to preserve the fairness and integrity of elections and work with the European political parties and foundations to protect against foreign lobbying, and focus on the implementation of the European media freedom act and put forward proposals to further support protect independent media and journalists.

Rule of law

consolidate the rule of law report related to judicial independence, anti corruption, media freedom and other institutional checks and balances, he will ensure the rule of law report has a single market dimension, responsible for Article 7 enforcements [against member states] and improve the EU approach to anti corruption. He will be responsible for monitoring the application of the charter of fundamental rights through an annual report to the European Parliament. He will be responsible for liaising with the European Council and the ECHR.

Justice

Developing a digital fairness act to tackle unethical techniques and commercial practises related to dark patterns marketing by social media influences the addictive design of digital products and online profiling and ensure that the EU continues to be a global standard setter in terms of consumer protection and Product Safety, they also propose to digitise the European civil and criminal justice systems.

Also the letter says,

“you will ensure the general data protection regulation remains in line with the digital transformation and responds to law enforcement and commercial needs you will work to ensure full enforcement of GDPR across the member States and promote trusted data flows with international partners

“you will strengthen the European arrest warrant to allow judicial authorities to work more closely and to step cooperation between Europol & Eurojust.

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On treaty reform, I’d need to look at VdL’s manifesto/promise to the EP.

The questions I’d ask are something like,

1. What role do they see for citizen’s assemblies in the coming enlargements? Kos, Šefčovič
2. What plans do you have to act on the last European Parliament’s resolution on Treaty Reform. Is it not necessary to facilitate enlargement? Virkunnen, Šefčovič and Kos
3. Do you see a need to compromise on the Copenhagen Criteria for enlargement? Virkunnen, Kos.
4. Do you see the need to compromise on the rule of law and democracy criteria for new members? Obviously we think not. Kos, Virkunnen and McGrath
5. How can the EU’s democracy be improved, making the institutions accountable to its citizen’s and residents? Virkunnen
6. We want and need something on disinformation/fake news that if possible, meets the fears in Eastern Europe of state censorship and the fears in Western Europe of plutocratic and/or foreign capture and sustaining the privacy rights of Europe’s citizens. Virkunnen and McGrath
7. How useful are the Digital Markets/Services Acts in protecting European Citizens against disinformation and abuse?
8. Do you plan to increase access to voting access the Union using digital tools for roll construction and voting? Virkunnen and McGrath

It might be useful to tie these to the CTOE demands for Democracy. My questions particularly on the commission’s view of the Democracy agenda, are where I at least need to do more thinking.