2019 starts with a bang, even though an expected one: 432 against 202 votes in the UK Parliament – Theresa May’s Brexit deal was overwhelmingly rejected with a historic majority. No deal or a referendum is what many pro-EU Brits now hope for – and things move quickly: another No Confidence vote on Wednesday night could well lead to a new general election and who knows, no Brexit after all?
These news let us almost forget the many other issues the new year brings: continuous protests of the yellow vests in France and a somewhat powerless French president Emmanuel Macron, finally a decision in Macedonia for a new name – triggering a government crisis in Greece, a major cyber security debate in Germany due to the embarrassing situation of a 20 year old student hacking himself into a multitude of politicians’ accounts, or a new Belgian government crisis over the UN Migration Pact and elections to follow in May 2019.
The EU itself has challenging battles beyond Brexit. First and foremost, Romania now holds the EU Presidency for the very first time – and to counter corruption concerns, the Romanian government had the brilliant idea to propose an amnesty for officials charged with corruption – no charge, no corruption, no concerns. Juncker was apparently afraid to rock the boat too strongly and diplomatically pointed out that Romania may be technically prepared for the Presidency, but does not get what a presidency is really about.
Italy, on the other hand, still has issues getting what EU financial commitments are about. The European Central Bank has now, for the very first time in its history, taken over control of a commercial bank to prevent a broader crisis. Experts say, to the relief of the populist government coalition that has long been venting against banks and their rescue, without offering a solution.
In the light of such internal problems, the latest move of US-President Trump to clarify his relations to the EU comes almost as a joke: the EU Ambassador to the US was apparently downgraded in his diplomatic rank (which he found out the hard way, by seating order at former US president George H.W. Bush’s funeral). Also with less serious implications for citizens, but not for the individuals in question and therefore in a more solemn tone, is the long good-bye of some long-term Members of the European Parliament, accompanying each election. German Elmar Brok (MEP since 1980) – Mr Foreign Affairs – has not been renominated by his party for the upcoming elections, and the Austrian Paul Rübig (MEP since 1996) – Mr Roaming – just announced that he is not running as a candidate anymore. We can be grateful for politicians like them, willing to dedicate their entire professional careers to the European idea.
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Irina Michalowitz
Featured Job
European Fintech Alliance sucht PraktikantIn Public and Governmental Affairs in Brüssel
Brüssel | Bewerbungsfrist: laufend | Arbeitsbeginn: 01.02.2019 | Vollzeit
Die European Fintech Alliance (EFA) ist eine Plattform für alle Unternehmen – große und kleine, etablierte und neu gegründete – die im Fintech-Sektor tätig sind. Das primäre Ziel ist es, die Mitglieder bei der Formulierung gemeinsamer politischer Positionen und bei der aktiven Kommunikation dieser Positionen gegenüber Entscheidungsträgern zu unterstützen, um so den regulatorischen Rahmen für innovative Unternehmen aus der Finanzbranche zu verbessern. ➡️ zur kompletten Ausschreibung
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