Job Alert – Europe’s Changing of the Guards

The end is nigh – at least of the Commission’s legislative period. Even those too buried in work to see the writing on the wall have now received word with a sledgehammer: Martin Selmayr, the Commission President’s Head of Cabinet and far and wide seen as informally the most powerful person inside the Commission, will change positions to become Secretary General of the European Commission as of 1 March – making him formally the most powerful civil servant inside the Commission.

This came as a surprise coup even to the Human resources chief, Commissioner Guenter Oettinger (who was told two days before the appointment). The appointment is viewed controversially in Brussels where nationality is downplayed but does play an enormous role: apart from the fact that Selmayr is not only respected but often feared, more and more top institutional positions are already or will be put into German hands.

Another German who held a former top position has now experienced a political rollercoaster in Germany, from being seen as his national party’s saviour to receiving open opposition for seeking a role as foreign minister within a few months, after having agreed in a second attempt to join a Grand Coalition between the conservative CDU and the social democrat party SPD.

Those who closely watched could see how emotions got the better of Martin Schulz – understandable yet somewhat sad and clearly adding to the situation, and leaving the potential new German government with a bumpy start. By 4 March, we will know if the SPD members at least support the coalition agreement he negotiated with the CDU: they are currently voting on it.

No German and no woman will get the number 2 position at the European Central Bank: Spanish minister of economy, Luis de Guindos, will become the vice president as of 1 June, having been the sole candidate for this position.

Meanwhile, the European Parliament at least focuses on content files. Two important votes with the EU member states on the electricity market design took place and already signal difficult trialogue negotiations on the energy front.

An even bigger issue is now the preparation for the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) – the challenges remain the same, but without the UK, the money will be far less. Commission and Parliament seek to square the circle in less than a year, but Member States already voiced their disbelief in keeping that timetable.

In any case, we know what we will be doing over the next months. As Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc recently stated at an event, there are now three Commission priorities: MFF, MFF and MFF. If that is your cup of tea, find attached some jobs and as usual more on politjobs.eu!

Irina Michalowitz – im@politapps.eu

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