How Bush's re election means for Europe

Written by Andrew Duff and published in Financial Times on Mon 8th Nov 2004

Europe is busy absorbing the re-election of George W. Bush. General alarm at the likely continuation of the disrepair in transatlantic relations is spiced by a certain envy at the smooth and decisive way in which the USA, despite its quirky electoral system, has managed to elect its new government. Would that were the case in the European Union, where President-elect José Manuel Durao Barroso is still struggling to put his Commission in place.

The European Parliament was so unimpressed by the first team presented by Mr Barroso that he was forced to withdraw it. A motion drafted by a centre left majority in the House spelled out some serious reservations about endorsing 'certain candidates': 'political convictions contradicting basic values of the Union; lack of political skill and knowledge and commitment with regard to the portfolio proposed; unresolved problems or unanswered questions concerning conflict of interests or possible involvement in political and legal malpractice'. The motion concluded by insisting that 'all the institutions draw the political consequences' from the approval process, 'which might include resignation, reshuffle or withdrawal'.

This motion was tabled on 26 October by the Socialists, Liberals, Greens and Communists. (Mr Barroso, one recalls, is of the Christian Democrat family.) On the following day Mr Barroso withdrew his team and Parliament withdrew its motion.

The Commission draws its legitimacy both from the European Council which nominates it, and from the European Parliament which approves it. Parliament's consent can only be established on a cross-party basis. To address the misgivings of MEPs, a new package has been hurriedly put together by Mr Barroso and the European Council. First in the firing line was the very Catholic Rocco Buttiglione, who at a minimum had to be removed from the portfolio of Freedom, Security and Justice. In the event, Buttiglione withdrew honourably, and was replaced without the anticipated histrionics by modest, mainstream Franco Frattini.

The next scalp was Ingrida Udre's, from Latvia. Mrs Udre, who was spotted at a Strasbourg dinner given by the Liberals, is replaced by Andris Piebalgs who, despite being a Liberal, has defected to join the Christian Democrats in order to placate them for the sacrifice of Mr Buttiglione. The Socialist scalp is that of Laszlo Kovacs. He is shifted out of the energy portfolio, about which he appeared at his hearing to know very little, into the tax portfolio vacated by Udre.

Parliamentary hearings will now be organised for Frattini, Piebalgs and Kovacs. How the ex-Communist Kovacs will cope on fiscal harmonisation in the internal market is anyone's guess. Perhaps he will surprise us.

By asserting its rights over the appointment of the new Commission the Parliament has scored a notable victory in the power struggle with the Council. MEPs should not lower their standards now because the crisis has to be resolved quickly. The crisis indeed has to be resolved, but Europeans need and deserve a strong Commission if we are to stand up to the Americans.

The crisis breathes democratic life into the debate over the ratification of the Constitution. European citizens should welcome the fact that their Parliament is prepared to stand its ground. Parliament itself must improve its 'advise and consent' procedures. Mr Barroso and his team will have to work hard to earn the confidence of the Parliament and to build a creative partnership with it. And everyone should agree to reduce the size of the Commission next time around.

Andrew Duff MEP is writing a Parliamentary report on the Commission approval process.