Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. keywords The new European Commission takes office against a backdrop of global challenges emanating from near and far, including climate change, trade wars and cyber threats. This is in contrast with its predecessor which (at the outset) could set as its over-riding priority the restoration of … Since Trump in 2018 scrapped the nuclear deal Iran signed with world powers in 2015, European leaders have been powerless in salvaging it for fear of “secondary sanctions” that the US imposed on individuals and companies, including the directors of SWIFT – the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication. She has promised to lead a commission that will avoid a scenario in which, as French President Emmanuel Macron recently warned, Europe might “disappear geopolitically” amid an escalating Sino-American rivalry. Log in. The makings of a ‘geopolitical’ European Commission. To succeed, she will need to pass seven tests, in areas ranging from climate change to cybersecurity and competition policy. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Mark Leonard is Co-Founder and Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations. To be sure, the European Union has the largest market in the world, the second-highest defense spending (after the United States), 55,000 diplomats, and the world’s largest development-assistance budget. The two approaches the author suggests – adopting “a piecemeal fashion,” or pursuing “a grand bargain that gives real meaning and shape to the next five years of EU policymaking” – need to be considered in the context of an issue – both are realistic. On 1 December, Ursula von der Leyen will finally take office as president of the European Commission. Clearly, Germany’s historical legacy is no longer sufficient to discredit geopolitics as a false model for a new European Commission. The Suez Canal incident: Lessons learned for the geopolitics of critical infrastructure, TIU Canada vs Ukrainian oligarch, Igor Kolomoisky, The last deception, worse than the first*. For more than 25 years, Project Syndicate has been guided by a simple credo: All people deserve access to a broad range of views by the world's foremost leaders and thinkers on the issues, events, and forces shaping their lives. After the special European Council meeting on Belarus in August, the presidents of the European Council and Commission stressed that this crisis was not a geopolitical one. Even before the new European Commission took office, the credibility of the EU as a geopolitical player was called into question several times. Only then will “geopolitical commission” be a turning point, not a sound bite. By clicking on 'Allow' or any content on this site, you agree that cookies can be placed. Sabotaging the boss in the European Commission or just flirting with the Balkan strongman? Lurking in the shadows – the source of the next financial crisis? However, as a reproach to the ambition of being a great power, this is short-sighted. Rather than dealing with these issues in a piecemeal fashion, von der Leyen should pursue a grand bargain that gives real meaning and shape to the next five years of EU policymaking. But, even if the carbon tariff is safeguarded against formal objections, trade partners might still perceive it as overreach and threaten or adopt retaliatory measures. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket via Getty Images. The new European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, spoke of establishing a “geopolitical Commission.” (The term “geopolitical” as used by EU politicians usually connotes an approach to foreign policy focused on the distribution of military and economic power and the resulting power dynamics.) Voters in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia are ambivalent about whether climate change needs to be addressed at all. If you would like to update your name, please do so here. European Commission, European Neighbourhood Policy – Strategy Paper, Communication from the Commission, COM (2004) 373 final (12 May 2004) Brussels. To find out more, read our updated Cookie policy, Privacy policy and Terms & Conditions. But each challenge will require genuine unity among Europeans, with EU institutions and member-state governments working together seamlessly.”Indeed, von der Leyen faces a herculean task. The question is not just whether she can direct an effective European response to climate change, but whether she can prevent the issue from becoming another front in the culture war between the EU’s western member states and the cohort in Central and Eastern Europe. 18. In addition to establishing common screening procedures, the EU should empower the Commission to veto foreign investments on security grounds, with the European Council retaining the final say (through qualified majority voting). We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. How real is the Russian threat to the Baltic States? This strategy has already proved effective in the standoff over auto tariffs. But some of Biden's biggest priorities, like his ambitious infrastructure program, are facing opposition from both sides of the aisle. European leaders like to use the weighty language of geopolitics - but ultimately continue to stare doubtfully at the changing world. If von der Leyen’s Commission does not take steps to bring these populations on board, the European Green Deal could reprise the politics of the euro and refugee crises, when marginal EU constituencies felt neglected by more powerful actors in the EU core (many of whom were clearly convinced of their own moral superiority). While the former Commission President, Jea n-Claude Juncker, had claimed to lead a 'political Commission', his successor, Ursula von der Leyen has pledged to lead a ', geopolitical Commission'. Rebuilding Social Trust in Post-COVID America, Joshua Prieto/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images. The second challenge is to stand up to the “weaponization” of the US dollar. The journey of the new ‘Geopolitical Commission’ started in December 2019. On her watch the EU would be a geopolitical force to be reckoned with, at a time when the bloc is under pressure to reinvent itself amid the ongoing rivalry between the two geopolitical and economic giants – the US and China.The seven challenges she needs to tackle are enormous. Namely, analysis of these documents shows three things: (1) the European Commission will increase its focus … Fourth, von der Leyen’s Commission must reconsider the EU’s competition policy, which currently focuses only on state aid and other unfair practices within Europe, while ignoring unfair competition from abroad. She must avoid creating “another front in the culture war” between the EU’s old member states and the new ones. The makings of a “geopolitical” European Commission. While China and the US are both adept at integrating geopolitics with their economic interests, the EU stubbornly acts as if these were separate agendas. You will also directly support our mission of delivering the highest-quality commentary on the world's most pressing issues to as wide an audience as possible. If von der Leyen is to succeed in building an effective “geopolitical commission,” she will need to pass seven big tests. Cancel. Please be civil and avoid name-calling and ad hominem remarks. That is why we must be a Geopolitical Commission". The first includes the French, who want to achieve European strategic autonomy and end the bloc’s dependence on the US. The first will be to build unity behind her proposed European Green Deal, which she has made one of her central priorities. It is a network that enables financial institutions worldwide to send and receive information about financial transactions in a secure, standardized and reliable environment.Third, Europe’s defense divides the EU into three camps. We appreciate well-informed comments and welcome your criticism and insight. European Commission, Wider-Europe-Neighbourhood: A New Framework for Relations with our Eastern and Southern Neighbours, COM (03) 104 final (11 March 2003) Brussels. The Makings of a “Geopolitical” European Commission As if incoming European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was not already inheriting a full plate of major challenges, she has also promised to reshape the EU into a "geopolitical" force to be reckoned with. As a subscriber, you will enjoy unlimited access to our On Point suite of long reads, book reviews, and insider interviews; Big Picture topical collections; Say More contributor interviews; Opinion Has It podcast features; The Year Ahead magazine, the full PS archive, and much more. "What we do at home will affect our place in the world and shape relationships with our strategic partners and competitors. The first includes France, that calls for “strategic autonomy” and an end to reliance on the US. As if incoming European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was not already inheriting a full plate of major challenges, she has also promised to reshape the EU into a "geopolitical" force to be reckoned with. US President Joe Biden appears to be making an early bid for greatness – since taking office, he has tackled the COVID-19 pandemic and other urgent issues. Poland has offered to build a military base named after Trump. This should not be read as a call for the European Commission to abandon its geopolitical plans. Advocates of stepping up a geopolitical approach and action maintain that ‘modern’ geopolitics has nothing in common with the late nineteenth century’s Darwinistic geodeterminism and insist that today it is indispensable. European Commission Green Deal and geopolitical language with critical/green thought, this paper aims to provoke reflections on a re-imagination of the European Union as part of a larger regional and global community that lives together within a green and diverse planet. Please note that the link will expire twenty-four hours after the email is sent. Specifically, the EU’s new leaders should transform ENISA (the EU Agency for Cybersecurity) into a well-staffed and well-financed institution with centralised computer emergency response teams (CERTs), cyber forensic squads, and legislative representatives to push for stronger security protocols across the bloc. As if incoming European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was not already inheriting a full plate of major challenges, she has also promised to reshape the EU into a "geopolitical" force to be reckoned with. A new reply to this comment has been posted. Register for FREE to access two premium articles per month. On December 1, Ursula von der Leyen will finally take office as president of the European Commission. Password To be sure, the European Union has the largest market in the world, the second-highest defense spending (after the United States), 55,000 diplomats, and the world’s largest development-assistance budget. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The challenge for a geopolitical commission, then, is to identify areas where US companies are asymmetrically dependent on Europe, and where European sanctions (or the mere threat of sanctions) could be deployed to maximum effect. New European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has a plan to boost the EU’s role on the world stage.. Kessler’s legacy as anti-fraud chief left an enduring mark on the EU, OPEN LETTER: To U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, A Bridge Not Too Far: Connecting Serbia-Greece-Cyprus, France fines Google €1.1 million over ‘misleading’ hotel ranking practices, Twitter to remove COVID vaccine conspiracy tweets, Suspected Russian hackers spied on US Treasury emails, Belgium postpones planned easing of measures after spike in cases, Brussels warns six EU countries against travel restrictions, Germany floats grounding almost all international flights to combat new COVID variants. The “geopolitical commission” that President-elect Ursula von der Leyen announced implies, most importantly, that the EU has to adapt to a world of great powers. The “geopolitical commission” that President-elect Ursula von der Leyen announced implies, most importantly, that the EU has to adapt to a world of great powers. By proceeding, you are agreeing to our Terms and Conditions. China’s antagonistic response to concerns over the use of forced labor in Xinjiang suggests that its leaders believe that the Chinese market is simply too lucrative for Western firms or governments to abandon. The makings of a “geopolitical” European Commission. The European Commission has made clear that a carbon tariff should be compatible with the rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), to ensure that countries cannot retaliate based on WTO rules. In her first Brussels press conference since taking over from Jean-Claude Juncker, von der Leyen said she will lead a “geopolitical Commission.” With European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s ambition to lead a “ geopolitical Commission ,” the EU opens a new external front that could exacerbate internal splits — especially between Berlin and Paris — while simultaneously risking the bloc’s relations with the rest of the world. In 2020 that seems likely to change. Please log in or register to continue. Mark Leonard says Ursula von der Leyen will need to pass seven tests “in areas ranging from climate change to cybersecurity and competition policy” in order to succeed. It appears that you have not yet updated your first and last name. The distribution of competences between the European Commission, other EU institutions and the member states is clearly delineated by EU treaties and varies depending on the issue area. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. At the same time, there is a risk that the economic crisis and internal divisions will make member-states more inward-looking. A recent piece in IPS warned that the Commission should refrain from playing geopolitical games. To start her she must unite the bloc, convincing voters in Eastern Europe who doubt climate change to rally behind her “green deal” – one of the key priorities of her agenda. The third, represented by Germany, advocates “strategic patience,” based on the hope that Trump’s eventual departure will allow for a return to normality. They may be overplaying their hand. She has promised to lead a commission that will avoid a scenario in which, as French President Emmanuel Macron recently warned, Europe might “disappear geopolitically” amid an escalating Sino-American rivalry. support from Eastern European countries that have been alienated by recent emphasis on the rule of law. A geopolitical European Union must first learn to crawl, before it can walk— let alone run. Among other things, that will require creative thinking about the next seven-year budget framework, which should be used to marshal the resources that Europe needs to establish itself as a global player, and to advance innovative measures like green bonds, digital taxation, and carbon pricing. She has promised to lead a commission that will avoid a scenario in which, as French President Emmanuel Macron recently warned, Europe might “disappear geopolitically” amid an escalating Sino-American rivalry. Nov 28, 2019 Mark Leonard. To achieve this, "the internal and external dimensions of our work should be harmonised (...) to ensure … We use cookies to improve your experience on our website. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Moreover, it would allow Europe to bail out countries facing fiscal or financial crises in the event that the US or China tie the hands of the International Monetary Fund or other institutions. According to Ursula von der Leyen’s Mission Letter to the High Representative, the new European Commission will be a geopolitical one. After posting your comment, you’ll have a ten-minute window to make any edits. The problem is not the goal itself, but rather the way it has been pursued. 65 Commentaries. In order to untangle how the term geopolitics will be tied to the next Commission’s work, it is necessary to take a look at the “Political Guidelines for the next Commission,” the “Main principles of the working methods,” and the “Mission Statements” given by von der Leyen to the commissioners-designate. The world is watching closely whether she would use the resources appropriately and turn Europe into a global player, that would “advance innovative measures like green bonds, digital taxation, and carbon pricing,” etc.The EU needs to be headstrong and be able to resist meddling and sabbotage from the US and Russia. We hope you're enjoying Project Syndicate. By helping us to build a truly open world of ideas, every PS subscriber makes a real difference. Reset Password As the new EU leadership is coming in, we must give punch to our strategy, and make sure we have the power to make … The EU still aims at building good or at least non-confrontational relations with all of the great powers: China, Russia, and the US. © COPYRIGHT 2021 NEW EUROPE | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. There are three discernible camps. We use cookies to tailor your experience, measure site performance and present relevant offers and advertisements. A Geopolitical Commission in Africa: Streamlining Strategic Thinking on Trade and Cooperation Luca Barana* The new European Commission lead by Ursula von der Leyen has outlined ambitious goals for the future, highlighting her objective to make the Commission more “geopolitical” so as to boost the EU’s standing as a “global actor”. So far, the EU has not taken a strategic approach to reshaping the global financial architecture, and its response to China’s global investment and development activities has been timid at best. political priorities that would shape the working programme of the European Commission over the next five years. BERLIN – On December 1, Ursula von der Leyen will finally take office as president of the European Commission. She has promised to lead a commission that will avoid a scenario in which, as French President Emmanuel Macron recently warned, Europe might “disappear geopolitically” amid an escalating Sino-American rivalry. The challenge for a geopolitical commission, then, is to identify areas where US companies are asymmetrically dependent on Europe, and where European sanctions (or the mere threat of sanctions) could be deployed to maximum effect. This strategy has … COVID-19 makes a more geopolitical Commission more necessary than ever. The third, such as Germany, advocates “strategic patience.” They hope that a post-Trump era would “allow for a return to normality. Giving the EIB and the EBRD a global remit to fund projects outside of Europe would help to reverse this failure. The question is not just whether she can direct an effective European response to climate change, but whether she can prevent the issue from becoming another front in the culture war between the EU’s western member states and the cohort in Central and Eastern Europe. The second camp, epitomised by Poland, favors “strategic servitude,” and wants to double down on the transatlantic relationship by purchasing more US equipment and establishing “Fort Trumps” to keep the US engaged on the continent. 17. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. If you are in a position to support us, please subscribe now. Please provide more details about your request. We want Europe to be stronger in the world. These cookies do not store any personal information. But there is no doubt that we, like so many other media organizations nowadays, are under growing strain. While China and the US are both adept at integrating geopolitics with their economic interests, the EU stubbornly acts as if these were separate agendas. Please enter your email address and click on the reset-password button. She has taken office on December 1 as the European Commision’s new president, after winning a comfortable parliamentary majority for her pledge to build a green superpower, reaching a “European green deal... for the health of our planet, our people and our economy.”The author says not only has von der Leyen inherited “a full plate of major challenges,” she has also vowed to secure Europe’s status as the world’s trading superpower, combat climate change, and use its heft to lead the world in a digital economic revolution. thinks the country's antagonistic response to Western concerns over forced labor in Xinjiang will backfire. Already have an account? Fifth, the new Commission will need “to develop a screening mechanism for foreign investments that both protects sensitive sectors and compensates EU member states that are asked to turn down foreign capital.” And the Commission must have the power “to veto foreign investments on security grounds, with the European Council retaining the final say (through qualified majority voting).”Sixth, it is crucial to develop “a European cyber defense agency worthy of the name….the EU’s new leaders should transform ENISA (the EU Agency for Cybersecurity) into a well-staffed and well-financed institution with centralized computer emergency response teams (CERTs), cyber forensic squads, and legislative representatives to push for stronger security protocols across the bloc.”Finally, the author proposes a “repositioning” of the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as “credible counterweights" to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The only way to reconcile these views is to strengthen Europe’s contributions to NATO, so that it is seen as a better partner to the US.” Fourth, the EU’s competition policy needs to be reviewed, with more focus on “unfair” competition from abroad, and not on state aid and other unfair practices within Europe. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 29 Nov 2019 | Mark Leonard. If you are not already registered, this will create a PS account for you. You should receive an activation email shortly. The Challenges and Constraints facing a "Geopolitical Commission" in the achievement of European sovereignty. Finally, von der Leyen will be tasked with repositioning the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development as credible counterweights to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. But each challenge will require genuine unity among Europeans, with EU institutions and member-state governments working together seamlessly. Please note that we moderate comments to ensure the conversation remains topically relevant. If you can't find this email, please check your spam folder. The “geopolitical commission” that President-elect Ursula von der Leyen announced implies, most importantly, that the EU has to adapt to a world of great powers. The geopolitical banner under which President von der Leyen has organised her Commission’s work is a recognition of the fact that the EU inhabits a more hostile world defined by competition between states; a more multipolar, less multilateral world; a world in which issues previously belonging to the realm of low politics, such as transport and telecoms (cf. Before posting a comment, please confirm your account. With this in mind, Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen, in her opening statement and mission letters, communicated a vision of a commission that is “more strategic, more assertive and more united” in its … On December 1, Ursula von der Leyen will finally take office as president of the European Commission. To receive email updates regarding this {entity_type}, please enter your email below. Remember me? Thank you. Each of these seven tests is in an area where the EU could potentially become a key global player, capable of holding its own with other great powers. Registration is free and requires only your email address.