Highlights from ECDPM’s Talking Points Blog, Great Insights, Volume 3, Issue 8 (September 2014)
The Top Jobs in Commissioners’ Private Offices – Planning Fantasy Football with your Team. Talking Points, Andrew Sherriff, 12 September 2014
The Commissioner portfolios have now been allocated, but there are still a few jobs up for grabs in the private offices. These private offices known as Cabinets of the Commissioners for Trade – Cecilia Malmström, Development – Neven Mimica, Humanitarian Affairs – Christos Stylianides, Enlargement – Johannes Hahn and the High Representative/Vice President (HRVP) – Federica Mogherini, play a highly influential role in the EU’s international effectiveness ...
New European Commission Structure Should Lead to More Effective EU Global Action. Talking Points, Melissa Julian, 12 September 2014
On Wednesday, European Commission President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker put forward his proposals for European Commissioner portfolios and a new Commission structure. The new College will have seven Vice-Presidents, including the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Policy and Security Policy, each leading a project team. They will be steering and coordinating the work of a number of Commissioners. This aims to ensure a dynamic interaction of all Members of the College, breaking down silos and moving away from static structures. Vice-Presidents will also have a strategic filtering role. As a general rule, the President will not put any new initiative in the Commission Work Programme or on the agenda of the College that has not received the backing of a Vice-President. The First Vice-President- designate, Frans Timmermans, responsible for Better Regulation, will seek to ensure that every Commission proposal respects the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality ...
How can The Netherlands most Effectively Contribute to Achieving Sustainable Food Systems? Talking Points, Jeske van Seters, 2 September 2014
A review of Dutch food security policy is underway. By the end of this year, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economic Affairs will send a joint food security policy paper to the Dutch Parliament. The Food & Business Knowledge Platform has launched an online consultation to ensure that the newest topics and debates on food security are included in the paper. The consultation is structured according to the five international targets of the Zero Hunger Challenge. Jeske van Seters adds her contribution to number 3 – ensuring ‘all food systems are sustainable‘ ...
Breaking Heads over Questions of Change. Talking Points, Frauke de Weijer, 27 August 2014
The approach is commendable, but we might ask whether the tools presented would be used by those elites that are in the position to use them effectively ...
