As we get close to election day to elect the members of the European Parliament for the coming five years, the European Union also gets closer to the establishment of a new European Commission. A Commission, which will mostly likely be headed by the incumbent president, Ursula Von Der Leyen. Well, an incumbent EU Commission president who has seemingly forged deep alliances with the current president of the EU Parliament. It is obvious that Ursula von der Leyen is trying to push the current President of the EU Parliament to be either her High-Representative Vice-President, replacing Josep Borrell (HR/VP) or for another post within the EU Commission. The proposed split in the duties of the current HRVP Josep Borrell at the EEAS, as well as delivering on the pledge of a new Defence Commissioner, makes much more sense today. It is indeed the doing of the EPP.
Last week I received a call, and the rumour of having an HRVP from the EPP, rather than the S&D speaks of a person who is presently running for a member of the European Parliament in Malta, and who will most likely be re-elected, because she had that role, irrespective of the fact that she has not been very present at home over the last five years. If this rumour holds water, then we understand why it is been declared already by another member of the EU Parliament that they will be voting against the nomination of Dr Fearne for EU Maltese Commissioner. And now we understand why the elevated profile of the EU Parliament when it comes to Common and Foreign Security Policy.
With such rumours one further understands the reasoning behind the prompt, and controversial decision, to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel back in October 2023. A prime minister whose respect for the international rules based order and the rules of engagement has been put into question by some, and shunned by others. All doubt stemming from the numbers of deaths of innocent lives suffered both in Israel and in Palestine. That official visit by the President of the EU Commission and the European Parliament president held in Tel Aviv on 13 October 2023 was indeed a message which we had to read between the lines. For some it will remain one of the most controversial, if not the most controversial, meetings of any person holding a top-job within the European Union. And it is obvious that it was done to weaken Josep Borrell. Now, you may understand why I called them the sisters from Occhi di Gatto. A backroom deal that sent one of the worst political messages during a conflict. Furthermore, we can now understand why the current marathon to collect trophies.
