Z okazji 100 dni od zaprzysiężenia nowego składu Komisji Europejskiej, kierowanej przez Jose Manuela Barroso, Poseł Lidia Geringer de Oedenberg udzieliła komentarza tygodnikowi "The Parliament Magazine".

Opublikowana wersja komentarza: http://www.theparliament.com/digimag/issue310 (str. 43).

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European Commission after 100 days - The Parliament Magazine

Reviewing someone's achievements after first 100 days in office remains an ungrateful task. You cannot be too critical, neither too fond of the policies because "there is always time to catch up with the work" or "it is too early to say", respectively. This time the task poses even more problems, as the European Union is trying to define itself in the new institutional reality after the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty and the EU actors are still engaged in the turf-wars rather than in substantial work.

Nevertheless, some priorities start to emerge from the blurred European picture. I am happy to see the Commission is underlying the role of the "Europe 2020" strategy and that it is trying to find a new, more efficient organisational model for its implementation. The final shape of the strategy will be finalised in June and I hope the Commission will maintain a high-profile in the domain - while monitoring the progress made in the upcoming years. Also, the activities of particular commissioners deserve attention.

Ms Viviane Reding (EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship) is developing a "European area of Justice" to ensure execution of free movement rights in the EU (a coherent European contract law; measures for resolving cross-border family law issues), while Ms Neelie Kroes (EU Commissioner for Digital Agenda) concentrates on the portfolio of digital content, products and services, which are close to my area of interest. In the past, both commissioners proved to be ambitious and efficient at the same time, and I am sure their work in the current mandate will bear fruit. Then, Mr Michel Barnier, the EU Commissioner for Internal Market and Services is trying to improve European instruments to regulate financial crisis. I have to admit it is a tricky task in this time of huge economic problems, but it is also a crucial issue for the future of European economy.

On the other hand, what fills me with anxiety is a bizarre, unclear division of portfolios in the Commission, especially the fact they overlap. For instance, Mr Janez Potočnik is responsible for the Environment and Ms Connie Hedegaard - for the Climate Action. President José Manuel Barroso should constantly review this mechanism and, if found too ambiguous, better define the competences. Eventually, after the first 100 days it is hard to avoid a conclusion the Commission (and perhaps the whole EU) is dominated by the intergovernmental spirit; the recent example of the financial package for Greece and other countries demonstrates it is still a political will that is a deciding factor in the EU. Not the Community.