IT IS not done for European commissioners to refer at meetings to their home countries. Instead they use the formula “the country I know best” to preserve the semblance of the notion that they are there to articulate a European interest rather than a series of national ones. And yet that’s not the whole story.
Commissioners, in practice, act as important listening posts for national governments, sending warning messages home about policies coming down the line, and providing sounding boards for the commission into national concerns. Those roles were worth fighting to defend in the second round of Lisbon Treaty talks.
So the “constituents” – Ireland – of new Commissioner for Research and Innovation Máire Geoghegan-Quinn should not expect a flood of EU lottery money for bunsen burners or large hadron colliders. But this middle-ranking appointment will provide an opportunity in a key spending and economic portfolio to project an Irish perspective on an issue seen as a national strategic objective. The symbolism is important.
Research policy is central to the EU’s “Lisbon” competitiveness agenda and represents a spend of €7 billion of the union’s €133 billion budget this year. There are currently some 1.3 million researchers in the union which has been encouraging mobility, joint projects, and greater co-ordination among them, and is working to raise the level of RD investment. Ireland at 1.5 per cent of GDP (2006) is slightly below the EU average, and half the union target of three per cent set for 2010. EU industry also needs to be encouraged to close the spending gap between itself and counterparts in the US and Japan. EU firms are investing more in RD in the US than the latter’s firms in the EU, and net outflow is increasing. Addressing these issues will present a substantial challenge for Ms Geoghegan-Quinn.
Commission president José Manuel Barroso says his new team will make economic growth its priority and, not one to hide his light under a bushel, claims it is a “perfect blend of experience and new thinking”. The “blend” includes a reshuffle of all 11 of the outgoing retained commissioners and is one that will keep the large countries happy as they collar most of the most politically sensitive jobs: Spain’s Joaquin Almunia, competition; France’s Michel Barnier, taking over the internal market from Charlie McCreevy, will have a role reforming financial services; Britain’s Catherine Ashton, foreign affairs high representative; Germany’s Günther Oettinger, energy; and Italy’s Antonio Tajani, industry and entrepreneurship. Three Liberals – allies of Fianna Fáil – get key posts. Finland’s current commissioner for enlargement, Olli Rehn will oversee economic and monetary affairs, Belgium’s Karel De Gucht takes on trade, and Sweden’s Cecilia Malmström, home affairs. Denmark’s Connie Hedegaard, as expected, received the new climate action post.
The challenge now for Mr Barroso is to convince MEPs at their January hearings that his “blend” is as dynamic as he suggests. Initial responses suggest they should have a fair wind.