The headline announcement of the week was obviously the Commission’s Work Programme for 2017. However, as this document has already been seen by any lobbyist with access to Twitter, the three topics of conversation in the Mickey Mouse bar this week were the newly announced space policy; Martin Schultz’ bid for a third term presidency and, of course, whether our toasters will be banned under Ecodesign. We were also introduced to the newest acronym “BETIP” – British/EU Trade-Investment Partnership. The puns will write themselves!
In the eyes of the Brussels bubble the first two of these topics of conversation are symbolic of the grand ambitions of the European Parliament in the wake of Brexit. Far from the reports in the British press of an imminent break-up of the Union, many in Brussels are now viewing this as a great opportunity.
What better way to demonstrate your ambition and confidence then presenting a new space package? In an attempt to prove that Wallonia is not the final frontier, Europe has earmarked 12 billion euros for high-quality space projects in 2014-2020. Its Copernicus earth-observation programme will provide data for a whole host of activities ranging from natural disaster responses to crop management.
The package also made clear that the EU’s space programme will have both civil and military purposes. Such policies are perhaps further proof that the EU is looking beyond Brexit and pursuing policies unpalatable whilst the UK remains a member with a veto in the Council. No doubt we will soon here talk of a Financial Transaction Tax in the Commission corridors again...
Martin Schultz’s apparent bid for a third term Presidency is a fascinating one. With German elections imminent he clearly feels more at home in Brussels than Berlin. Despite accusations of breaching some agreed term limit, he clearly has the support of Presidents Junker and Tusk, and perhaps Chancellor Merkel. Whilst Schultz divides opinion, the Parliament will be confident in having a voice with him at the helm.
Leaked documents this week have suggested that the Commission are withdrawing plans to regulate the efficiency of household products, such as toasters, within Ecodesign. Whilst many will call into question the Commission’s ambitions and commitment to its Circular Economy Package, it does perhaps show a Commission far more aware of the effects that the negative tabloid press is having on the Commission’s ability to regulate and keep the peace.
The Commission have always been uneasy with the reputation of Ecodesign and perhaps this signals an intent by the European Commission to ramp up the Eco Label Directive and Renewable Energy Directive next year to fulfil its Circular Economy ambitions.
On a final note, lobbyists working in the field of environmental regulation were scrambling to discover if they had a good relationship with a certain Maltese MEP who this week has been made the S&D Group coordinator on environmental policy and whose father-in-law happens to be the EU Commissioner for Environment.