Post on 16-Jul-2015
transcript
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The EU & Regional Aviation
Changes in the European Commission & Parliament
Tuesday, 3 February 2015
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Introduction
James Sibley, EU Policy
Analyst
The specialist provider of EU political
intelligence, EU monitoring, bespoke research
and consulting services for public affairs
professionals
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New Structure
Departmental reshuffling:
• All consumer policy brought under DG JUST
• Energy and climate fused in DG CLIMA
More powerful Vice-President roles leading “project teams”
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Project Team: A Resilient Energy Union with a Forward-Looking Climate Change Policy
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New Structure
• Project teams build new horizontal structures into Commission
• More focussed approach
• New initiatives need backing of at least one VP to be adopted by Commission
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New Faces
• Replaced Alenka Bratuşek as
Slovenian nominee following
Bratuşek resignation
• Little experience of transport policy
or of high political office
• Background as telecoms
entrepreneur
• Dedicated first official speech to the
Single European Sky
Violeta Bulc, Commissioner for Transport
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New Faces
• Controversial nominee due to oil
shares and sexist comments
• Former Minister of Agriculture in
government of Mariano Rajoy
• Questions over combination of
climate change and energy
Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action & Energy
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New Faces
• First experience in Brussels chairing
meetings of finance ministers during
Danish Presidency in 2012
• Has put consumers at heart of EU
competition policy since taking office
• “It is not sound industrial policy to
protect companies from competition
at the cost of consumers.”
Margrethe Vestager, Commissioner for Competition
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New Faces
• Qualified lawyer, with past
experience working with European
funds and in tourism policy
• Tasked with a focus on consumers,
Mr Jourová will oversee attempts to
finalise the reform of the Air
Passenger Rights Regulation
• Broad portfolio may lead to
overstretch
Věra Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers & Gender Equality
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New Style
• Sleek and focussed Commission Work Programme for 2015
• 80 proposals withdrawn and only 23 new initiatives proposed
• Most important developments:
• Investment Plan for Europe
• Aviation Package
• Groundhandling Regulation withdrawn
• Security Charges Directive withdrawn
• Proposed withdrawal – subsequently rescinded – of National
Emissions Ceiling Directive
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New Parliament
• Populist parties gain 18.6% seats in the European Parliament
• Disruption minimised by main party groups collaborating
• Green MEP Michael Cramer elected Chair of TRAN Committee
• Sky and Space Intergroup re-established
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New Appointments
• German Green MEP
• Initiated “Iron Curtain Trail” – a 160km
cycle path – in previous legislature
• “Change transport, not the climate”
• Heavily against weakening of Air
Passenger Rights Regulation
Michael Cramer, Chair of the Transport & Tourism Committee
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Ongoing Legislation
• MEPs remain divided over EU PNR
• Trilogues on Air Passenger Rights and SESII+
• Work continues on National Emissions Ceiling Directive
• Gibraltar issue delaying many proposals, including Slots
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ConclusionsCommission
• Political focus on “better regulation” and deregulation• More horizontal organisation• Split priorities for some DGs• Lack of detail and vision for aviation
Parliament• Work continues relatively unhindered by populist parties• Green Chair of TRAN• Many old faces return to TRAN Committee• Political positions on many legislative files remain similar