Phil Hogan expected to be named agriculture commissioner

Ireland's commissioner-designate Phil Hogan is widely expected to be named as the EU's next agriculture commissioner today when Jean-Claude Juncker unveils the make-up of the new European Commission.

A decision on the allocation of the portfolios will be made later this morning by incoming European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker.

Sources in Brussels suggested some of the more high-profile commissionerships, such as economic affairs and competition, were still up for grabs yesterday.

The nine women who have been nominated by their member states as commissioners are expected to land at least some of the more senior roles, while the new Commission line-up includes four former prime ministers who are eyeing-up senior positions.

Mr Juncker is also planning a wide restructuring of the European Commission, and is expected to announce the creation of up to seven ‘vice-presidents.’ These individuals would have responsibility across a range of directorate –generals within the Commission and oversight over small groups of Commissioners. The four former prime ministers – former premiers of Finland, Latvia, Estonia and Slovenia - are seen as likely contenders for the positions.

The shake-up of the Commission’s structure by Mr Juncker will also involve the merger of a number of directorate-generals, such as energy and climate change.

If his nomination is passed by the European Parliament later this month, Mr Hogan will be the second Irish agriculture commissioner following Ray Mc Sharry's tenure from 1989 to 1993.

While the framework for the Common Agricultural Policy until 2020 was agreed last year, Mr Hogan faces a number of challenges if elected to the agriculture portfolio . These include ongoing EU-US trade deal discussions which have significant implications for agriculture and are facing increasing public scepticism across Europe, and the recently-imposed Russian sanctions which are affecting EU agricultural exports.

Among the most contentious appointment will be the economics portfolio. While former Finnish prime minister Jyrki Katainen is currently occupying the position in place of Olli Rehn who was elected to the European Parliament in May, former French finance minister Pierre Moscovici may be named as the new economics commissioner, despite reservations from Berlin. The appointment of a French commissioner to the position would be seen as a significant boost for France and Italy, who have been pushing for greater flexibility in the application of EU budget rules.

Britain, which nominated Lord Hill for the position is also hoping for a senior portfolio related to the financial services industry.

While Mr Juncker is understood to have told Commissioner-designates last week during interviews that he could change his allocation decision up to the last moment, there is widespread expectation in Government circles that Mr Hogan will land the agriculture portfolio.

Earlier this week, Mr Juncker’s spokeswoman was asked whether Mr Juncker had changed his mind regarding the candidature of Phil Hogan following revelations in the Irish media about his role in the establishment of Irish Water. She said the names had been approved by member states and Mr Juncker.

Mr Hogan, along with the 27 other EU commissioners, are obliged to appear before a European Parliament committee by the end of this month, with MEP’s reserving the right to reject any Commissioner-designate. The European Parliament will then vote on the Commission at next month’s plenary session in Strasbourg, with the new Commissioners taking up their new roles by November 1st.

European Commissioners are elected for a five-year term, and command a basic salary before tax of €250,000 a year plus allowances.