Future of new EU committee: first clear out old blockades

In the first agreeing reactions to the ample agreement with Ursula Von der Leyen's new European Commission, little attention is paid to the many dark clouds on the European horizon. That threat does not only consist of old unresolved files from the now-terminating Jüncker Commission, but also of new problems that the VDL policy and the 27 EU commissioners are calling upon themselves.

If newcomer Von der Leyen wants to take new paths with her three experienced super commissioners Timmermans, Vestager and Dombrovskis, they will first have to break stubborn EU blockades in many EU capitals. One such problem arises immediately next week, if an agreement has to be found on the long-term budget.

Both in her official speech, and at a press conference thereafter in Strasbourg, Von der Leyen acknowledged that unfortunately she could not become very concrete about many policy areas (because the EU commissioners, ministers and EP trade unions still have to adopt new binding policies ), but she already made it clear that there must be more money in the multi-year budget.

With its claim for more money, Von der Leyen turns directly against rich but also economical countries (such as the Netherlands and Denmark). Those countries believe that the new European policy cannot be paid for by increasing spending, but can only be paid for by abolishing EU policy.

In addition, European politicians from agricultural Eastern European countries are already issuing warnings that they will not agree to major revisions or cuts in the common agricultural policy at the beginning of next year. And more specifically: reduction of agricultural subsidies. These subsidies are an important part of the income of many farmers, but these subsidies also make up a third of all EU expenditure.

Moreover, agricultural expenditure must also fit within the (new, not yet formulated) European Climate and Environmental Policy. So many farmers are already seeing the storm. This means that the first vice-chairman of the VDL Committee, the Dutchman Frans Timmermans, gets a grip on many flows of money within the plans of many of his colleagues, including those of agriculture. And it is precisely in those countries that Timmermans is not the most popular EU politician. He may have to go for his cart when presenting his plans in Budapest or Warsaw Von der Leyen…

The Dutch PvdA MEPs in Strasbourg today said they voted with full conviction for the new Commission. The Dutch Social Democrats said they were proud of social plans such as a minimum wage for a decent life. And is proud of the green plans for the Sustainable Development Goals.

In the first hundred days of this Committee, Timmermans already made a bill for the climate with his Green Deal. Agnes Jongerius said about this: 'The overall picture now looks good. We have our commissioners on heavy portfolios. The program has never been this progressive. We will work together for a better future for the people of Europe. "

Bas Eickhout (GroenLinks) is also happy about the Green Deal of this EU Commission, but also foresees implementation problems. “The difficulty lies in the implementation of the policy. Compromises will have to be made, there will be fighting on every theme, be it biodiversity, agriculture or the circular economy. And Commissioner Timmermans will need the support of the Greens in those cases. "

MEP Peter van Dalen (ChristenUnie) voted in favor of the new European Commission of Ursala von der Leyen: “I think it is high time that the new Commission went to work and, in particular, started working on the Green Deal. It is urgent for the European Union to go for a better climate with all of us and with all sectors. "

In addition, Von der Leyen will have to work in the coming years on 'modernizing' the EU procedures and rules, and that promises to become 'one big mess', is already feared by many. For example, the EU has the principle of unanimity in a number of important areas. It states that a new law can only go ahead if iedereen agrees. Current practice means that (relatively) small EU countries can hold back (relatively) small reservations about (large) EU decisions, sometimes for years.

, I hold my heart ”, says Sophie in 't Veld (D66) in a first reaction. ,, This is very clear the committee of the governments of the EU countries. The European governments have shared the positions among themselves, so I am very worried that Von der Leyen will let her ears hang on to the prime ministers and ministers. While she has to be independent. ”On the other hand, In Veld has to admit that the quality of the committee is not so bad:“ There are very capable people in between. So I will postpone my judgment. "