Mujtaba Rahman is the head of Eurasia Group’s Europe practice and the author of POLITICO‘s Beyond the Bubble column. Latest news, analysis and comment on migration in Europe and beyond. In her first Brussels press conference since taking over from Jean-Claude Juncker, von der Leyen said she will lead a … At the same time, there is a risk that the economic crisis and internal divisions will make member-states more inward-looking. 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. Latest news, analysis and comment on security in Europe and beyond. First foreign trip of the new President: Ethiopia. At one point this summer Ursula von der Leyen said her Commission will be “geopolitical”, as opposed to the “political” Commission of Jean-Claude Juncker. It is no coincidence that Macron believes that a proper EU defense policy is the key to his “sovereign Europe,” and that Thierry Breton, the French commissioner, now straddles a joint internal market and defense portfolio in Brussels. European Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen has presented her proposed team and the jobs she wants her Commissioners to carry out. New European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has a plan to boost the EU’s role on the world stage. Last year Ursula von der Leyen promised to lead a ‘geopolitical’ Commission. This now forms the basis of von der Leyen’s approach to trade, technology and defense. In fact, one could be excused for getting the impression that the EU already is a geopolitical … A geopolitical force already? A world that is green, digital and fair, with equal opportunity for all. The EU’s “geopolitical Commission” is squandering its vaccine diplomacy moment. The EU should be careful not to make promises it can’t keep. 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. in the EU and internationally. EU strategy and foreign policy. But if they neglect the international challenges Europe faces, they will only store up bigger problems for the future. President von der Leyen entrusted me with the role of Commissioner for International Partnerships in my mission letter, and asked me to ensure that the European model of development evolves in line with new global realities. The makings of a ‘geopolitical’ European Commission Nov 28,2019 - Last updated at Nov 28,2019 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. 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. Explore the live extension of our journalism, The wonk's survival guide to the EU Green Deal, April 19 — Rewriting the Transatlantic Tech Playbook, April 20 — The coming shakeup of the EU Emissions Trading System, May 18 — POLITICO Virtual Interview: In Conversation With Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Meet von der Leyen’s ‘geopolitical Commission’, European Commission fears frenemy infiltration, POLITICO Pro Briefing Call: Loi climat française et Green Deal européen, What ‘Sofagate’ says about Charles Michel, European sovereignty has lost its biggest champion, How to fix Brexit’s Northern Ireland protocol problem. Recognising that the Union’s … The journey of the new ‘Geopolitical Commission’ started in December 2019. The EU intends to become more assertive in this area, for example, by making compliance with the Paris climate agreement a precondition for new deals and by retaliating in kind against punitive tariffs. Latest news, analysis and comment from POLITICO’s editors and guest writers on German politics. | Olivier Hoslet/EPA, Campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the EU. As Commissioner for International Partnerships, I drive this vision in our work with partners, leveraging the strength of our different policies abroad. The World Economic Forum in Davos saw real friction between the U.K., France and the U.S. on the issue of “tech taxes.” Von der Leyen wants the EU to act alone if there is no global solution by the end of the year. It’s time to get real on putting that into practice, argue Nicole Koenig and Nils Redeker. Campaigning, lobbying and political influence in the U.K. What’s driving the day in Paris, en français, The weekly digest of the best stories in U.K. politics. In this ever changing, complex and competitive world, our generation is being tested by global calamities such as inequality, climate change and biodiversity loss, brought into sharper focus by COVID-19. He laid out the building blocks of his approach in an interview with the Economist last year. But the danger for Europe is that the process of U.S.-China decoupling — which predates Trump but has been accelerated by his arrival — risks hustling it into poor decisions. 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.) Forget about a geopolitical Commission with the ambition to project European values on the world stage; we cannot even agree on making value-based decisions in our immediate neighbourhood. COVID-19 makes a more geopolitical Commission more necessary than ever. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Reddit VKontakte Odnoklassniki WhatsApp Telegram Share via Email. In her Mission Letter to her designated EU commissioners Ursula von der Leyen declared that ‘this will be a geopolitical Commission’. A few days after the global gathering, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross suggested the U.S. could also retaliate against carbon taxes, which the Trump administration views as essentially protectionist. Addressing these challenges alone is not an option. Over the past few years, the European Union’s major political fault lines have primarily arisen from internal challenges: Brexit; fears over Italy’s eurozone membership; rule of law problems across Central and Eastern Europe. It reflects the true change in paradigm towards equal partnerships. This document set a precedent for the EU by characterising a superpower as a ‘systemic rival’ and an economic competitor, as well as a negotiation and cooperation … This is a timely and important moment. 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. The EU should be careful not to make promises it can’t keep. In 2020 that seems likely to change. The EU still aims at building good or at least non-confrontational relations with all of the great powers: China, Russia, and the US. The last month alone saw the President von der Leyen entrusted me with the role of Commissioner for International Partnerships in my mission letter, and asked me to ensure that the European model of development evolves in line with new global realities. The pandemic has shown us that we will only confront challenges and succeed by working together. Latest news, analysis and comment on elections in Europe and beyond. Specifically, IDEA is responsible for contributing to the following Commission priorities: Geopolitics and Europe in the global order; Green Deal; Digital, technology and innovation; Social market economy; The future of Europe and the EU’s institutions Has Margrethe Vestager become too aggressive in her approach? News Post || Euro News: Though recently derided as a vaccine protectionist, the EU is, in fact, an export powerhouse. We want Europe to be stronger in the world. Visit of Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner, to the "Centre de formation et d'insertion professionnelle", in Dar Naim, Mauritania – 25/02/2020, copyright European Union, Geopolitical Commission builds on International Partnerships, Asia, Central Asia, Middle East/Gulf and Pacific, Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs). A more geopolitically aware EU will need to tread carefully to avoid stirring up unwelcome memories in certain parts … Doing so will allow the EU to be the guardian of multilateralism, actively defending itself against the vagaries of U.S. President Donald Trump and competing economic and political models wherever they may be found. Latest news, analysis and comment from POLITICO’s editors and guest writers on the continent. By logging in, you confirm acceptance of our POLITICO Privacy Policy. Latest news, analysis and comment on defense in Europe and beyond. The evident and much-debated solution is the introduction of a system called qualified majority voting (QMV). Sure, the EU is not about to stand up its own continental army. EU action on trade, tech and climate therefore risks provoking punitive tariffs on some of Europe’s more export-driven sectors such as autos and consumer goods, at a time when senior policymakers remain concerned, and have no immediate answers, over how to kickstart growth. However, it will take steps toward using its large internal market to break down cross-border barriers to military trade and technological development. Dave Keating is an American journalist based in Brussels covering European politics for France24. The neighbourhood, natural zone for a Geopolitical Commission The European Neighbourhood Policy was launched in 2003 to establish stability and prosperity with six countries in the East (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) and those on the southern shore of the Mediterranean, from Morocco to Syria. The EU institutions are certainly not helping. 3 minutes read. There is little meaning to it today. The commission is an odd hybrid of executive, civil service and watchdog. All the different services and EU departments will have to talk to one another, and EU embassies and representations abroad will have to take on appropriately trained staff to streamline geopolitics and the energy transition. The Commission President wants the EU to lead international negotiations to raise the ambition of other major emitters by 2021, and has pledged to put forward a comprehensive, responsible plan to increase the European Union's emissions reduction target for 2030, from 40 % … Key to his vision is the idea that the EU must become a political and strategic player with one voice and one purpose, first in its own neighborhood and then in the world. Though recently derided as a vaccine protectionist, the EU is, in fact, an export powerhouse. The EU’s pivot towards geopolitics only really materialised in March 2019 with the adoption by the Juncker Commission and High Representative Mogherini of a joint communication presenting the strategic outlook on China. The EU’s “geopolitical Commission” is squandering its vaccine diplomacy moment. It is of course good news that the EU seems ready to accept some cold hard realities. European Green Deal The Commission’s ambitions to lead the world in action on climate change will continue to rub against member states’ imperatives to manage the economic costs. It has extensive powers in some areas, such as competition and product regulation, but few in others. If the Commission wishes to be taken seriously as a geopolitical actor, it will first have to develop the institutional mechanisms to translate the EU’s theoretical power into actual power. Everyone talks about geopolitics, but apart from vague references to the need for a robust partnership with China, investing in international organisations, and support for Africa, they do not deliver. We want Europe to be stronger in the world. On 1 December, Ursula von der Leyen will finally take office as president of the European Commission. As Europe enters 2020, the new “geopolitical” European Commission has declared its intention to make the European Union a more assertive player on … While large in size, the EU is lacking teeth when it comes to geopolitics; But the EU is waking up to a new reality. But seen from the U.S., this will be an affront, especially since few EU capitals have fulfilled and are likely to fulfil their NATO promises on defense spending. There was no meaning to the adjective back then. The European Green Deal must accept the reality of our geopolitical age – an ambitious task for the new Commission. December 4, 2019 4:23 pm. Indeed, in her Mission Letter to the High Representative the term ‘geopolitical Commission’ appears twice and in her speech at the Paris Peace Forum von der Leyen even spoke of wanting to foster a “ truly geopolitical Commission.” As the new EU leadership is coming in, we must give punch to our strategy, and make sure we have the power to make our ideas work in the real world. | Patricia De Melo Moreira/AFP via Getty Images. The journey of the new ‘Geopolitical Commission’ started in December 2019. Take trade. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has set her stall out — but is it too ambitious? These tensions will be exacerbated by what the EU wants to do on defense. EU’s foreign policy ambitions put at risk of overreach. In 2020 that seems likely to change. If the Commission wishes to be taken seriously as a geopolitical actor, it will first have to develop the institutional mechanisms to translate the EU’s theoretical power into actual power. By Lili Bayer. Log in to access content and manage your profile. For many of us, this past year has been particularly hard. It will do this by establishing and acting upon a new form of common “European sovereignty” — at once economic, military and strategic. This means working hand in hand with partners, setting agendas, taking initiatives and ensuring effective implementation of our actions for the ultimate benefit of people across the world. The swift response to the pandemic could indicate a change of heart; Germany would be a natural leader of the bloc, but lacks military force and a willingness to invest in it. Such a Commission will have a political agenda in which reinforcing the EU's role as a relevant international actor, and trying to shape a better global order through reinforcing multilateralism, is to become a key priority ('A stronger Europe in the world'). However, I am optimistic for what the future holds. European leaders like to use the weighty language of geopolitics - but ultimately continue to stare doubtfully at the changing world. French President Emmanuel Macron is the most important driving force behind this change. National governments and the Commission also want to more effectively tackle the problem of “Chinese dumping” — competing with Chinese firms that have received state subsidies — and for China and the U.S. to open their public procurement markets to European firms, closing off EU markets to their firms if they don’t. Gender equality issues took center stage Wednesday in Brussels a day after Ursula von der Leyen, one the EU's most powerful executives, was treated like a second-rank official during a visit to Ankara. If they really want a geopolitical EU, then they need to be willing to allow for a powerful Commission, even if that means diluting their own power. In-depth reporting, data and actionable intelligence for policy professionals – all in one place. The position of the High Representative will gain further importance. Macron wants to push for more binding EU-wide screening of Chinese investment into infrastructure projects via Beijing’s mega-Belt and Road project. Rather than stepping into the growing space left by U.S. and Chinese unilateralism, the EU could overreach, advertising and brutally exposing its strategic shortcomings.