Romania should be one of the most influential countries in Brussels, taking into account the large number of MEPs we have. Expert in EU and NATO foreign and security policy, researcher in Brussels, Ionela Ciolan explains which portfolios we should target, but also what is the big disadvantage of Romanian politicians sent there.
Romania has 33 MEPs in the European Parliament. PHOTO EPA-EFE
European leaders have reached an agreement regarding Ursula von Der Leyen, who will occupy a new mandate at the head of the European Commission.
Following the negotiations for the division of the main management positions of the European Union institutions, the former Portuguese social-democratic Prime Minister António Costa will be appointed President of the European Council, and the Estonian Kaja Kallas, the head of the government of her country, will take over the post of High Representative for External Action and security policy. It is about a post that, unofficially, would have been targeted by Romania as well and would have been taken into account by President Klaus Iohannis, in case he failed to be elected Secretary General of NATO. Which finally happened.
According to Politico.eu, some European leaders welcomed the election of Costa, who is known to be under investigation in Portugal in a case that led to his resignation as prime minister. And in the case of Kajei Kallas, a politician who became noted for her anti-Russian radicalism, there were voices that argued that she would not be the most suitable. Fears that she could embroil Brussels in a war with the Russian Federation, but also that she lacks expertise and interest in the Middle East and other areas have caused some to have reservations.
As before, Romania failed to get a top position in Brussels, but it still has a second chance. All the countries of the European Union will have one commissioner, and negotiations are in full swing.
Romania’s advantage in Brussels
“Adevărul” discussed this topic with Dr. Ionela Ciolan, expert in the foreign and security policy of the European Union and NATO, researcher at the “Wilfried Martens Center for European Studies in Brussels”. In her opinion, Romania is one of the countries with influence, at the moment, in Brussels. And he has arguments.
“Romania is the 6th largest country in the European Union and we are allocated 33 seats in the European Parliament. After the results of the June elections, 24 of these seats go to the centrist coalition in the European Parliament between the European People’s Party (EPP), Renew and the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), which means that Romania’s power of influence remains in top”she says.
Practically, within the European People’s Party. Which gathered the most votes, Romania is fourth, in terms of the number of MEPs. Practically, Romania has all the assets to obtain a position targeted by the European commissioner, and everything depends on how it will know how to negotiate.
Ionela Ciolan
“And within the two large political groups in the European Parliament, Romania is well represented. Within the European People’s Party, Romania brought 10 MEPs and is in the 4th position after Germany, Poland and Spain. And within the group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Romania brought 11 MEPs and is positioned 5th after Italy, Spain, Germany and France. At the level of the European parties, Romania has a vice-president position each, being represented by Victor Negrescu from the Social Democrats and Sigfried Mureșan from the EPP. All these political representations play a role in the influence that Romania can use for internal negotiations regarding the importance and weight of the European commissioner portfolio that it is asking for“, explains Ionela Ciolan.
What portfolios could we target and who are we competing with
She also explained the procedure by which the proposals for these portfolios end up being made.
“The political family of the representative in the Council of Europe is added to the political calculations regarding the negotiation of portfolios between the member states, but also who has the power to nominate the commissioner within a country. For example, in Romania, the European commissioner is nominated by the prime minister, while in other countries, France, he is nominated by the president“, she adds.
Even if it was written in the press that Romania would target the position of commissioner for economy or internal market, Ionela Ciolan sees the situation differently. In his opinion, the chances of this are rather minimal, because these portfolios are targeted by countries that have an even greater influence in Brussels, France and Italy.
“Until now, it has been circulated in the press that Romania would like the position of commissioner for economy or internal market. But we know that Romania would have a lot of competition for these positions because the internal market portfolio is also targeted by President Macron for a second term for Thierry Breton. And the economy portfolio, which was with the Italians in the previous term, may remain with the Italians because it is in the top of the preferences of Prime Minister Georgia Meloni“, adds Ionela Ciolan.
The great disadvantage of Romania
In his opinion, Romania would have arguments for other positions. The bad news is that, taking into account the lack of European scope of the politicians that Romania sends to Brussels, these targets are not exactly safe either.
“Romania could also successfully target the portfolio of energy, trade, competitiveness or expansion. We have sufficient technical expertise on these topics and could contribute successfully. But the more important a portfolio is in the EU grid, the higher the expectations from the nominated candidates. And here, Romania has a problem with the international scope of its politicians. With few exceptions, most politicians in Romania are not socialized in the way of interaction, expression and behavior considered acceptable at the level of European politics”, explains Ionela Ciolan.
Practically, Romania sends 33 MEPs to Brussels: 19 from PSD-PNL, six from AUR, three from ADU, two each from UDMR and SOS and the independent Nicu Ștefănuță. Most likely, Romania’s representative will come from PNL or PSD, but he will have to meet a number of conditions.
“The potential candidate for the position of European Commissioner must have a solid knowledge of foreign languages (at least English at a high conversational level), the ability to absorb an enormous amount of information in a short time, resistance to an intense work schedule, plus the ability to be a good communicator, negotiator and honest broker between member states’ interests. Because, it must be known, the European Commissioner does not only represent the image of the country he comes from, but also the image of the European Unionit is”, concludes Ionela Ciolan.
