p.23 p.20 p.

KYIV
Next weekend in
ECR Party ECR Group
TRAINING ACADEMY - MADEIRA COMMITTEE CHAIRS APPOINTED

Issue #9 | September 2019

A fortnightly Newspaper by the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Party | theconservative.online

ECR Group
MEPs HOLD
MEETING
ON IRAN
ECR MEPs Bert Jan Ruissen and
Anna Fotyga hosted a confer-
ence on ‘Iran, Europe and the
United States’ at the European
Parliament in Bruss­ els where
Dr. Dan Schueftan from the Uni-
versity of Haifa was the main
guest speaker. p.3

Poland
POLAND BOOSTS
TRANSATLANTIC
RELATIONS
Both Poland and the United States
are working towards a deepen-
ing of relations in the face of the
ongoing threat from Russia – a
threat mostly ignored by Western
Europeans. p.4

Viktor Karvatskyy
Third Maidan:
AN ELECTORAL

LEADERSHIP IN EUROPE
REVOLUTION
Forr the first time of Ukrainian
history, a single party won enough
mandates to govern on their
Last week, Ursula von der Leyen, change for Europe. It will therefore be Commissioner who before taking office also submit a series of written ques- own with 254 seats of which
President-designate of the next important for her to have a team around in their designated role must pass tions to the candidates which must be 226 came from single member
European Commission, released her that she can rely on. In this issue, The through a series of scrutiny steps in the responded to at least 48 hours before constituencies. p.5

details of the policy portfolio that Conservative hosts a special feature that European Parliament. the start of their hearing.
each commissioner is set to be looks in detail at the candidate Commi­ Each candidate Commissioner must Following each hearing the Commit-
allocated. ssioners, their strengths, weaknesses and first submit to the parliament a miss­ tees responsible will evaluate the perfor- Conservative Music

T
he von Der Leyen Commission will
backgrounds. Some are familiar faces,
others are brand new. Some are old, and
ion letter and declarations of finan-
cial interests, together with their CVs,
mance and suitability before submitting
a letter of recommendation to the Parlia- Is it OK to enjoy
take over on the 1st of November, a
day after the expected exit date of
another is the youngest ever nominated.
And for the first time ever, the Commission
before they are subject to a three hour
hearing in the relevant Parliamen-
ment’s Conference of Committee Chairs,
before the hearings are declared closed.
MARXIST MUSIC
by Jay Nordlinger
the United Kingdom. The former German is close to a full gender balance. tary Committee(s), which will take Then on Wednesday 23rd October, Par-
Defence Minister and mother of seven will The EU treaties stipulate that each place between 30th September and 8th liament votes on whether to endorse the What if there were a piece called
take over the Berlaymont at a time of great EU Member State can nominate a October. Parliament’s Committees can whole college. CONTINUED ON p.9
The Führer Dances? No one would
sit still for it, right? p.21

p.8
When the Green CONTINUED ON p.17

Revolution comes
Conservative Books
Homer’s
by Andrianos Giannou the School Strike 4 Climate. The young THE ILIAD

A
Swede, who shuns air travel, is in New by James Delingpole
s 16-year-old climate-­activist-of- York to address the United Nations Cli- Written sometime between
the-moment Greta Thunberg’s mate Change Summit later this month. 760 ­ and 710 BC, and originally
zero-emissions, solar-powered In this past year, she has become a sta- designed, of course, to be recited
sailboat docked at North Cove Marina ple of leadership gatherings: she has spo- rather than read, The Iliad came
in Manhattan on 28 August, follow- ken at Davos, the European, British and
before the main Greek philoso-
ing a two-week trip across the Atlantic, French Parliaments and has also shaken
phers, the Roman Empire, Chris-
gathered crowds erupted in cheers and hands with the Pope. As she stepped off
tianity, the Renaissance and the
applause. Inspired by her decision to skip the boat onto the yacht-filled harbour,
school to picket the Swedish Parliament the press corps was at hand to record a Enlightenment. This is Western
last August, millions of pupils around short statement: “Let’s not wait any lon- civilisation in its rawest, wildest,
the globe have skived off classes on Fri- ger. Let’s do it now.” the message comm­ most untutored state. p.21

days in what has come to be known as enced. Do what exactly?

 2 EDITORIAL theconservative.online theconservative.online EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT 3

Reforming European Conservatism by Richard Milsom CONTENTS ECR Committee

Chairs appointed
I T
t has been ten years since the founding of a This message remains important as we move into governing less from the centre and upholding the And on social issues as well, the European Con- Welcome to the 9th edition of The
new conservative movement in European the new mandate and MEPs begin to work on new principle of subsidiarity. The cost of running the servatives and Reformists will continue to be the Conservative. In this edition, we he European Conservatives and for Labour in her native Slovakia, and
politics and a great deal has changed. The policy. With the other political groups abandoning European Union has continued to increase with defenders of traditional values and the principles of take a look at the faces that will Reformists Group in the Euro- also served as a Vice-Chairwoman of
world has moved on in many ways, govern- their traditional positions in blind support of ever each passing administration in the Commission. the enlightenment. It is not for the European Union make up the new European Com- pean Parliament has success- the Slovak National Assembly. She has
ments have changed and events have taken hold. closer integration, and the Commission being given With the United Kingdom set to leave the Euro- to dictate social policy, but for member states, whose mission, profile the new British fully elected two new Committee Chairs. been a staunch activist on issues related
The agenda has shifted since 2009, from the after- a blank cheque to carry out its plans, it’s clear that pean Union before the end of the year, it is clear that sovereignty is constantly being eroded without Prime Minister and a look at the Lucia Duris Nicholsonova from Slova- to minority inclusion, an area that the
math of the ‘Great Recession’ to the migrant cri- only the ECR stands ready to offer a constructive there will be a substantial hole in the budget. We do just cause. Whilst the ECR believes in cooperation recent elections in Ukraine. All of kia has been elected as the Chair of the European Union has historically been
sis and Brexit; and with those changes, so must the and workable alternative. This can be achieved with- not believe, as the Socialist, Greens and some Liber- between member states on areas of mutual impor- this and more from Brussels pre- Employment Committee, whilst Flem- incredibly weak on.
conservative movement. out abandoning the ECR’s traditional als do, that this means that the European tance, such as the external border and the fight mium conservative publication. ish MEP and former Belgian Finance As well as bringing experience to
During their council meeting in June, the Alli- values, as set out in the Prague and Union should levy pan-European against terrorism, it is hard to justify the creation of Minister Johan Van Overtveldt has been their respective committees, they also
ance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe Reykjavik declarations. taxes to fill this gap. Such a move new bodies that oversee social policy issues which ••• elected to chair the Budgets Committee. help to balance out the distribution
approved statute changes which, amongst other On economic issues, we would only harm ordinary could easily be managed from a local level. Both Members of the European of Committee Chairs. As it stands, Ms
things, included a name change. Henceforth the will continue to advocate Europeans by increasing Finally, on foreign policy, the ECR will continue With MEPs due to vote on the Col- Parliament were elected for the first Duris Nicholsonova will be one of only
European conservative movement will be called a policy of freer trade, their tax burden. Instead, to lead the way. In the last mandate, ECR MEPs lege of European Commissioners time this year, and both bring a wealth two legislative leaders in the Euro-
the European Conservatives and Reformist Party. not just within the com- we believe that the Euro- together with members of the Council of Europe nominated by EU Member States of experience to their roles. Mr Van pean Parliament from central-Eastern
The name change reflects the need for both mon market, but also pean Union should take were instrumental in opposing Russian aggression over the Summer recess, we have Overtveldt served as the finance min- Europe. And Mr Van Overtveldt will be
Party and Group to work closer together towards with the rest of the steps to economise, and in Europe. We have established ourselves as the taken a look at future faces of the ister of Belgium from 2014-2018, when the only Committee Chair representing
reformation of the European Union. It also world. For we, as an use this opportunity to staunchest friends and allies of the United States, Von Der Leyens Commission. In our his NVA Party was in coalition. Before the interests of regional parties.
brings the ECR Party in line with the rest of the alliance of conserva- cut back on some of the Canada, Israel and Ukraine. This is because we con- in depth profiles of each nominee that he had written extensively on We have no doubt that between them
‘establishment’ since the European Peoples tives and classical lib- reckless spending that tinue to believe in the importance of the trans-At- you will find where they stand on economic matters, including a book they will serve as strong role models for
Party, the Greens and Socialists all bear the same erals, understand that has been allowed to lantic relationship, and the importance of engaging the key issues, what experience about the Chicago School of Economic a more classically liberal approach to
name as their respective group in the European trade is what makes the take place over the last with our near neighbours, especially those with they bring to the table, and which thought that boasted members such as European politics, and help to find con-
Parliament. lives of others better. few decades. which we share common values. nominee has released their own F A Hayek and Milton Freidman, both sensus on two very important areas for
Despite the name change, the European Conser- Free trade, with less and Not only would doing so The European Conservatives and Reformists Christmas album. of whom are thinkers that underly the the centre-right, namely ensuring fair
vatives and Reformist Party will continue to stand smarter regulation, can send a clear message to the will continue to be the natural home of conserva- The vote for the new European ECRs approach to economic issues. employment practices and reigning in
for those same principles that we have championed bring prosperity to people by people of Europe that the EU tive and classical liberal parties in Europe. And as Commission will shape the direction Ms Duris Nicholsonova on the other control of excessive government spend-
for the last ten years. Because now, more than ever, lowering the cost of household is in touch, it would also offer a we continue to expand in the future, we will ensure of European Policy over the next five hand was previously a Secretary of State ing. ■
there is a need for pragmatic policy-making that goods. It is the position of the ECR chance to restructure the Union that we never compromise on our core beliefs. At years, and we believe that it is our
keeps the interests of the people at heart. that by reducing the regulatory burden in a more efficient way. Many European the same time, however, we want to ensure that the duty to give our readers a fair view
The European elections earlier this year showed on businesses, companies can work to create more resent the fact that whilst they have had to endure ECR continues to be at the centre of European pol- of who it is that will run the European
us that European people are not happy with the goods for people in Europe and beyond, whilst at strict austerity since 2009, the EU institutions have itics and leading from the front on the issues that Union. Perhaps made more import-
ECR MEPs discuss

Photo: Thierry Monasse, STA

status quo, and that they are ready to see funda- the same time creating jobs. It is, after all, busi- continued to expand in Brussels, Strasbourg and matter to us and our voters. The coming years will ant by the fact that once again the
mental change to the political system in Brussels
and Strasbourg. The ECR’s message during the last
election was one that chimed with the electorate,
nesses that create jobs, not the state.
So it is with this notion in mind that we must
also ensure that the European Union does not grow
Luxembourg. Many voters in the last election used
the ballot box as a means of expressing their dis-
satisfaction at the luxuries and indulgences that
be challenging ones for the European Union, and
we are committed to find common ground wher-
ever it exists, in order to ensure that the citizens of
Commission seems to be gearing up
to become more intrusive in the daily
lives of European citizens.
Mobility Package
proposing a move towards a Europe that ”does less beyond its means. The EU does not need to be as bureaucrats have awarded themselves, whilst oth- Europe can continue to live in peace and growing ECR Group MEPs met in Brussels in place rules that restrict interna-
but does it better”. large as it currently is, especially if it is serious about ers have had to tighten their belts. prosperity. ■ ••• with transport ministers before tional transport services which would
the Summer. Ministers from exclude hauliers from operating cross
We alos focus on the shift of power Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, border.
that has taken place in the European Lithuania and Poland came to The ECR have always the Euro-
Union, as almost all of the top jobs discuss the EU’s controversial pean Parliament’s leading voice
in the European Commission, Coun- Mobility Package. in  support of the EU’s single market

D
cil, Parliament and European Cen- and Group Vice-Chair and Transport
tral Bank have gone to politicians uring the last parliamen- spokesman, Roberts Zile, said after
from Western Europe. Only two tary term a small majority of the meeting: 
of the Committee Chairmanships MEPs  endorsed the package “The Single Market is held up as a
in the European Parliament have during a vote. It also sharply divided great success of the EU but the Mobil-
gone to people from Central-East- Member States, predominantly along ity Package would drive a wedge right
ern Europe. We look at what this East-West divisions, and was rejected through it. Some countries like the
shift means for European unity, as by 10 countries within the Council of single market when they can freely
it starts to look more and more like Ministers. When announced the Pack- export their cars and vehicles but
the EU is governed from the West. age was originally claimed to necessary seem to like it a loss less when it works
to improve the working conditions the other ways. It’s a double stan-
SERVING PROMOTING DEFENDING CONSERVING ••• of truck drivers throughout the EU, dard and we cannot accept regressive
COMMUNITIES CONSERVATISM FREEDOM NATURE In our European news section, we
however if approved its clauses would
reintroduce barriers within the sin-
and protectionist measures that are
designed purely to thwart cross bor-
have extensive coverage of the gle market. It would do this by putting der operators.” ■
recent elections in Ukraine, that have
seen the country receive its first Par-
liamentary majority in history. The
‘Servant of the People’ party, led by
the recently elected President Volo- ECR MEPs hold
dymyr Zelensky, won 254 seats in
the recent elections, seeing long-
standing politicians replaced with
meeting on Iran
relative newcomers. We look at what ECR MEPs Bert Jan Ruissen is really depressing” said Schueftan
these elections mean for the coun- and Anna Fotyga hosted a as he described the situation in the
try that is still facing economic hard- conference on ‘Iran, Europe region.
ships and a war with Russia. and the United States’ at the At the same time he strongly crit-
European Parliament in Brussels icized the role of the EU as it is “miss-
••• where Dr. Dan Schueftan from the ing realism”. On the recent EU action to
University of Haifa was the main circumvent the US sanction regime on
CHAMPIONING CELEBRATING FREEDOM TO STANDING UP FOR Boris Johnson has taken over as guest speaker. Iran via the Instrument in Support of

D
Trade Exchanges he is clear:
WOMEN CONSERVATIVES WORSHIP BUSINESS leader of the Conservative Party
and Prime Minister of the United r Schueftan reflected on the “Europe pretends they play a role
Kingdom – we take a look at the current tensions between in Iran, but they do not. Europe makes
background and upbringing of the the US, Europe and Iran but promises but cannot keep them. They’ll
man who will lead the country out extended his scope to the Arab region lose respect”. In his view Europe should
of the European Union in a few and the position of Israel. He expressed refrain from its peace and democracy
months time. We also look at what his worries about the current ‘very vio- policy in the Middle East and rather
DISCLAIMER EDITORIAL BOARD DESIGN his background in the Classics tells lent and structurally unstable’ situation focus on assisting the countries in their
ECR Party, formerly known as VIDEOR o.d. (videor.ba) us about his views towards govern- in most of the Arab world. needs on areas like agriculture, envi-
Alliance of Conservatives & Reformists EDITOR
Richard Milsom ing and Europe. He shared his deep concern at the ronment and infrastructure.  “The rest
in Europe (ACRE) is a Belgian EUPP No: HOW TO CONTACT US
current situation in Iran with its ‘bar- of the world is not Europe. And does not

Photo: Thierry Monasse, STA

The Conservative is a fortnightly newspaper available 0820.208.739, recognised and partially MANAGING EDITORS ADDRESS European Conservatives
••• baric regime’ trying to influence the want to become as we are. Democracy is
in print and online, owned by the ECR Party, funded by the European Parliament. Themistoklis Asthenidis and Reformists (ECR) Party
formerly known as Alliance of the Conservatives Rue du Trone 4, B-1000,
larger region via proxy wars, military a sexy thing, but not in today’s Middle
Robert Tyler
and Reformists in Europe (ACRE). The views and opinions expressed Brussels, Belgium Since we launched the Newspa- expansion and economic pressure. He East. Different cultures have different
in the publication are solely those
ADVISORY BOARD
WEB theconservative.online
per back in March, we have had an warned: “if Iran takes the power, not priorities. That’s the reality. Cultures
The Conservative can be read online at theconservative.online of individual authors and should
Jan Zahradil MEP
EMAIL info@theconservative.online overwhelmingly positive response only the Middle East will be in trou- matter and differ from each other. I, as
Anna Fotyga MEP from our readers. However we are ble, but the whole world”. In this light, an Israeli, feel part of the Western civi-
not be regarded as reflecting any
Raffaele Fitto MEP constantly looking to improve, he welcomed the tough stance of the lization, in Europe I feel like home, but
REPRODUCTION RIGHTS official opinion or position of the ECR INFORMATION FOR AUTHORS
Prof Ryszard Legutko MEP including by welcoming submis- US towards Iran: “the US president it’s not the case of the whole region” - with a positive note by arguing that Dr. Dan Schueftan is the Head of
All content and materials of The Conservative are copyrighted, Party, formerly known as Alliance of Please address submissions and
Daniel Hannan MEP
unless otherwise stated. For permission to republish articles Conservatives and Reformists in Europe letters to the editor to: sions from our readers. We hope cannot afford to be nice. We have to said Schueftan. Israel and Iran (after the regime) are the International Graduate Program
appearing in The Conservative, please contact the Managing (ACRE), its leadership, members or Managing Editor / The Conservative that you’ll enjoy our next edition, face the reality despite we don’t like it. Schueftan concluded by praising the two countries in the Middle East in National Security at that university
Editor at editor@theconservative.online. staff, or of the European Parliament. EMAIL editor@theconservative.online which will be a Special Edition for The Middle East is in a stage of hope- the Iranian people for their courage to that are the most promising: “ In the of Haifa and was the Director of the
the Conservative Party Conference lessness. Looking not only from posi- stand up against the radical policy of long run I draw a silver lining around a National Security Studies Center at the
in the United Kingdom. tion of Jerusalem, the environment the regime. With this in mind he ended black cloud” University until last year. ■
 4 EUROPEAN NEWS theconservative.online theconservative.online EUROPEAN NEWS 5

Faroe Islands Health Russia Ukraine

The other Measles back in Europe Russian Government Third Maidan:
disunited Kingdom covering up AN ELECTORAL REVOLUTION
T
he World Health Organisa-
tion has reported that the dis-
ease measles has returned to nuclear accident

Photo: Shutterstock.com
Europe after cases were reported in the
UK, Czech Republic, Greece and Alba-

Photo: Shutterstock.com
nia. The disease had previously been
declared eradicated. Measles is a highly
contagious and potentially fatal ill-
ness that causes coughing, rashes and
a fever.
Close to 365,000 cases have been
reported worldwide this year, the WHO
said, almost three times as many as
in the first half of 2018. All regions of
the world saw an increase in measles results failed. The paper was deemed to pointing to the truth that MMR doesn’t
except the Americas, which saw a minor have been improperly peer-reviewed cause Autism, people continue to
decline - however the USA registered and was discredited. But the damage believe that they do because the media

T
its highest number of cases in 25 years. was already done. gave that view a platform.
The resurgence of the disease has The media had caught on to Mr Wake- The World Health Organisation rec- he Russian Government has doctors from a hospital treating patients
been attributed to the spread of fake field’s paper and the idea that MMR ommends that all children are vacci- been accused of attempting to that had been effected by the incident
news about vaccinations. In 1997, a caused autism was rapidly catching on. nated against measles, amongst many cover up a nuclear accident on spoke to the BBC and stated that they
British gastroenterologist published This was because the media had found other diseases, at an early age. The its Northern border with Finland. The themselves were worried about having
a fraudulent paper claiming that the the story and run it, long before the return of Measles to Europe and the explosion which took place at a missile been irradiated from contact.
MMR vaccine caused autism and facts were clear. This meant that mil- rest of the world is a sign of a deeper testing facility on the 8th of August led All the signs seem to point to a failed
bowel cancer. The paper, authored by lions of people who saw it, believed that failure to tackle fake news and educate to an evacuation of a neighbouring town test of a new nuclear powered cruise
Andrew Wakefield, was later revealed it had some validity. Even today, despite people on the importance of vaccinat- and the death of five nuclear scientists. missile. The existence of these missiles
to be false, and attempts to replicate his almost over 3,000 peer reviewed papers ing children. ■ Locals also reported that the govern- was only made known to the public after
ment had been handing out iodine tablets President Putin announced the creation
to residents of areas near the explosion. of a new nuclear programme during his
Poland Iodine tablets is used in the event of state of the union address in 2018. The
nuclear accidents to prevent people from development of these missiles demon-
Poland boosts Transatlantic relations absorbing too much radiation into their
thyroids and developing thyroid cancer.
strates a dangerous departure from
Russia’s compliance with international

O
In an equally puzzling move, Rus- treaties governing nuclear weapons.
n 31 August 2019, the second sian nuclear monitoring stations, as As details continue to emerge around
meeting of the U.S. - Poland well as those of several allied central the scale of the nuclear accident, many
Strategic Dialogue on Energy Asian countries, stopped reporting back Russia watchers can’t help but feel that
was held in Warsaw. The meeting was results in the aftermath of the explo- history is repeating itself. Although the
attended by a delegation of the Polish gov- sion. The last reported results of which scale of the incident doesn’t seem to be

G
ernment led by Secretary of State in the showed a spike in radiation coming from anywhere near as bad as the Chernobyl

O
eneral elections took place in Faroese people have expressed a desire Chancellery of the Prime Minister Piotr the area of the explosion. disaster, it is clear that the Kremlin is
the Faroe Islands on the 31st to break their ties with the Kingdom of Naimski and a delegation of the U.S. gov- The woes of the Russian state over the putting the same amount of effort into n the 21st of July, Ukraini- reforms are implemented. Zelensky
of October. The islands 36,000 Denmark and become and independent ernment chaired by Secretary of Energy, Nuclear Accident only worsened when covering up any wrong doing. ■ ans went to polls for the third said over and over during the elec-
voters cast their votes in elections state. Rick Perry, along with U.S. Ambassador time in 2019. The results aston- tion campaign that he is running only
for the Logting – the Faroese Parlia- The Logting is argued to be one of the to Poland Georgette Mosbacher. ishingly saw a 73% win for Volody- for one term. Recently while abruptly
ment. The elections played out the oldest parliaments in the world, with The agreement concerns cooperation myr Zelensky: and for the first time of firing the interim head of the fiscal
usual divisions within the island over records of it meeting dating back to the in the area of introducing reforms to the
Germany Ukrainian history, a single party won service he repeated that his team did-
whether they wish to continue as a
dependent state of Denmark, or go it
alone as an independent nation. The
900’s – with the first reference being
made to it in writing in 999 when Chris-
tianity was introduced to the Islands.
Ukrainian gas market, the Republic of
Poland’s infrastructure for import of nat-
ural gas, Ukraine’s infrastructure for stor-
Regional gridlock enough mandates to govern on their
own with 254 seats of which 226 came
from single member constituencies. It
n`t have enough time to linger. Con-
sequently, Ukraine will witness a
similar shock therapy, as that which
Viktor Karvatskyy
pro-independence ‘Peoples Party’, The most recent sitting of the Parlia- age and export of American LNG, as well gives the party an enormous amount of took place in much of Eastern Europe

Photo: Shutterstock.com
who are affiliated to the ECR Party, ment was a divisive one, with the gov- as gas connections within the region. The power not only to assign ministers and CEO of the Ukrainian think-tank in the 1990s. It was Timothy Snyder
“Ad Astra”
came in first place. ernment and opposition both having agreement was signed on 31 August 2019 pass legislation but to “govern” in every who said communist elites who were
The Faroe Islands, which are closer 16 seats each. These elections have by the Republic of Poland, the United sense of this word. ruling the country after the collapse
to Scotland than Denmark, have been a changed the balance slightly, giving the States of America and Ukraine.  The victory of “Servant of the Peo- of the USSR didn`t fit the role of Euro-
self-governing region since 1948, when Independence Party, an ECR Affiliated In another trip earlier in September, How did this happen? ple” in single-mandate districts was pean reformers.
they were granted autonomy at the same Party, more seats than in the previous American Vice President Mike Pence vis- near total. A vast majority of the con- The local elections in 2020 will be
time as Greenland. Throughout the Parliament. ited Warsaw. The visit included the sign- The best way to explain these elec- stituencies ended up being won by Mr important to ensure that these reforms
Islands history, the chain of islands have The calls for independence don’t ing of a “Joint Declaration of Poland and armed forces: “The President asked me prosperity of America first.  But as the tions is as an electoral revolution. Zelensky’s party, including a few sur- can take place on a regional level as
belonged to Sweden, Norway and now just come from the right – the social- the United States of America on 5G”. The to be here in Poland simply to say thank President has made clear, and as all of In terms of a change in administra- prise victories. A wedding photogra- well. For “the Servant of the People”, it
Denmark. The Danes gained control of ist ‘Republic Party’ also gained seats declaration pertains to the network which you.  First and foremost, thank you to you demonstrate each and every day, tion, it could be described as a the pher standing for the “Servant of the is of particular importance to demon-
the territory in 1812 as part of the Treaty during the election. Despite this, no will be of paramount significance for all of you for stepping up to serve, for America first does not mean Amer- third ‘Maidan’. If the 2005 ‘Orange People” in one district beat the incum- strate fast results in order not to upset

O
of Kiel at the end of the Napoleonic wars, clear majority exists in Parliament for national security. Poland and the United standing united to defend our freedom ica alone.  And the United States will Revolution’ and 2014 Euro Maidan bent MP and local oligarch Zaporizhia people who have voted for the party.
in which Denmark fought alongside the independence, with most parties taking States of America have declared to inten- and our collective security.  You come always stand with the people of Poland” n Sunday 1st of September, Ger- had attended a neo-Nazi rally in Greece were purely about changes of the Boguslaev. The lack of public support would trans-
French. As retribution for being on the a more pragmatic approach of favouring sify their cooperation in this regard. from the rest of us, but you are the best Both Poland and the United States man citizens living in Saxony according to a report by Der Spiegel. elite at the top, in 2019 the elections form the Third Maidan into a massive
wrong side of history, Sweden took con- regionalism. As part of the same visit, Vice Presi- of us.  You are heroes all.” are working towards a deepening of and Brandenburg went to the The former East Germany has also is about changing the state and the What does it mean for disaster as the whole system of the new
trol of Norway – which had owned the The next challenge for the island is to dent Pence also visited Polish Soldiers The Vice President went on to say: relations in the face of the ongoing polls to elect representatives for their for the longest time been a hot bed of way the government interacts with Ukraine? Ukrainian political reality is based on
Faroe Islands since 1035, leaving the form a stable majority and nominate a near the border with Russia. During “Under President Trump, the United threat from Russia – a threat mostly federal council. The results turned out socialism on the other end of the spec- the people. hope. If something goes wrong, people
Islands in Danish hands. In recent years Prime Minister. ■ his speech he paid tribute to the Polish States will always put the security and ignored by Western Europeans. ■ to be a disappointment for the cen- trum, with the far-left Die Linke often The motto of Mr Zelensky’s “Ser- First of all, it is important to take into will notice and this will negate the Pres-
tre-left and centre-right as the rise of performing well on the back of pre-1989 vant of the People” Party in these elec- account that “Servant of the People” ident`s idea of inscribing his name into
the populist Alternative fur Deutsch- nostalgia. Die Linke, came second in tions was “make them lose together”, doesn’t have a clear ideology on which history.
land (AfD) cut into the vote share of all Brandenburg in 2014 and formed a coa- an anti-establishment line, with “them” to base its next steps. Although they In the realm of foreign policy, Zel-
the major parties according to exit polls. lition with the Social Democrats, how- being the old elites. The line was used as claim libertarianism as an ideology, it is ensky will remain pro-European. It
In both states the AfD came in second ever this year they seem to have fallen a way to get Ukrainians to express their highly doubtful that many voters knew is crucial to understand that to be
place, making coalition building more back to fourth place, having lost votes to feelings at the ballot box instead of on what that meant in practical terms. The pro-European is mainstream and mor-
difficult. the Greens. In Saxony their vote share the streets. With decades-long corrup- left-right paradigm doesn’t bother any- ally right in the society that without
The regions that make up the former went down, however they still managed tion in the government, in the army, in one in most of Ukraine who worry more supporting the EU and NATO a party
East Germany have long been a hot bed to come out ahead of the Greens and the courts, and with an economic crisis, about personal welfare, peace, and eco- has no chance to govern. The result of
of political radicalism and the far right, Socialists. as well as with an ongoing war, it is easy nomic prosperity. Wheter a party sup- 13,05% of the pro-Russian party “Oppo-
in previous years the neo-Nazi National The ruling CDU Party also took a to see why a feeling of ‘us’ vs ‘them’ has ports Marxist or Keynesian policies sition Platform – For Life” obviously
Democratic Party won seats in the Saxo- hit on election night, with a 7% swing developed. doesn’t matter. The fact that the ancient confirms this.
nian legislative chamber. The Party has against them in both regions. However, In order to have an understanding regime couldn`t provide safeguards Ukraine will be trapped in an endless
seen it’s vote share collapse, with the rise the Classically Liberal Free Democrat of what happened, it is also crucial to for people was the main reason why it conflict with Russia, as Putin is still the
of the Alternative fur Deutschland. Party suffered the most, failing to win know that it was Mr Zelensky, not the failed three times in 2019. president and is unwilling to sacrifice
The elections themselves were some enough votes to enter either legislature. party that won the elections. The “Ser- Secondly, Ukraine now has a power Russian national interests. Kyiv will
of the most hostile and controversial The party has long struggled to find its vant of the People” is just a byproduct model in which the checks and bal- continue, more intensively in the realm
in recent years. A court ruling initially place in the new political environment of Zelensky`s rise to power. A comedian ances system fall behind not because of obligation fulfillment of the Asso-
blocked the AfD from running part of in Germany, despite its best attempts at in the past, who’s satire used to strike a of a power grip but because of people`s ciation Agreement, its Euroatlantic
their list, due to the fact that the party modernising. chord with the people, he was perceived firmest belief that only “the strong integration process. However, negotia-
had failed to fill out the correct paper- The task of forming coalitions in both as a slither of hope in Ukrainian soci- leader” may help in our situation. Mr tions without mediators between Kyiv
work. A higher court later ruled that Brandenburg and Saxony will now take ety. Regardless of rumors concerning Zelensky called the elections because and Moscow or Donetsk/Lugansk may
1 3 th - 1 5 th D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 9 • G R A N A D A • S P A I N they could run a longer list of candidates place, with parties trying hard to ensure his affiliation to a Ukrainian oligarch he was unable to command a majority happen but it`s doubtful that they can
as they were expected to win more seats the cordon sanitaire is maintained Igor Kolomoyskyi, he had a perfect in the Parliament. be successful. In any case, peace is the
than they had candidates for. The tone of around the AfD in order to prevent the past for a “new face” in Ukrainian pol- In the near future, Ukraine will paramount priority and its presence or
the elections was only darkened when it far-right from once more playing a role itics without having any experience in experience a short-term disrup- absence will determine success of Zel-
emerged that one candidate of the AfD in German politics. ■ nation-building or statecraft. tion period, as hastily implemented enskyy`s foreign policy. ■
 6 WORLD NEWS theconservative.online theconservative.online WORLD NEWS 7

Hong Kong Brazil India Bangladesh

Protests continue Brazil rejects G7 aid Autonomy stripped Fire leaves 10,000 homeless
from Kashmir
T A
he government of Brazilian Pres- fire in one of Dhakas largest

Photo: Shutterstock.com
ident Jair Bolsonaro has rejected slums has left at least 10,000
aid that the G7 has agreed to put people homeless. The blaze
forward. The G7 had offered to put up tore through the mostly tin shacks that
$22million in both logistical and finan- made up the homes of people in Mipur,
cial support. The agreement to send the one of the most densely populated areas
aid came at a meeting of the G7 coun- of Bangladesh. Many homes had plastic
tries in Biarritz, France. British Prime roofs, which helped the fire to spread.
Minister Boris Johnson had stated No deaths have been reported.
ahead of the summit that he would raise The Country has long faced difficulty
the issue of the “horrific loss of habitats in dealing with growing poverty. Most
and species around the world” and not of the residents of the slum work as low
just in the Amazon. Photo: Shutterstock.com
paid employees at a textile factory that

J
Fires started by ranchers and log- provides fabrics for the clothes industry.
ging companies in Brazil have quickly ammu and Kashmir has had its had its own judiciary. Laws governing Thankfully most of the residents were not
spread out of control and caused large autonomy stripped in an unprec- property rights in the region mean that in their homes as the fire struck, as they
scale destruction of one of the world’s edented move by Prime Minis- only Kashmiris can buy and own land were away for the Eid al-Adha holiday.
most diverse regions. A record num- harvesting of trees. Just as there is noth- Amongst many current threats to ter Modi. Mr Modi and his BJP passed within the territory. It is feared that as many as 50,000
ber of fires were reported in the Ama- ing new about the Forest Fires. The real- the environment are the ongoing wild legislation through the Lok Sabah that The move to strip autonomy was wel- people may be displaced by the fires
zon Rainforest in the month of August, ity is that the fires are less severe than in fires in the Arctic circle, the major- revoked the ‘Special Status’ of the auton- comed in India by Hindu Nationalists, and in the mean time the government
with blame being aimed at reckless log- previous years – there were more forest ity of which are taking place in Sibe- omous province of Jammu and Kashmir, many of who celebrated what they saw is offering those affected temporary
ging companies and ranchers. There fires of higher intensity between 2001- ria. The Russian government had effectively annexing a disputed territory as the completion of the Indian feder- accommodation in schools that are Dhaka is already facing a shortage of government to guarantee the safety and
have even been some suggestions that 2007 that destroyed much larger areas. failed to address the issue until inter- and turning into a state of India. ation. However the response in Kash- closed for the holidays. Others tried to humanitarian aid due to the large num- rights of the Rohingya people as they
the fires were started as a means to push One of the many issues on the agenda national pressure was placed on the The move had long been on the books, as mir has been much colder, with protests take cover under temporary tarpaulin ber of refugees the city took in as a result prepare to move some of the refugees
indigenous people off land that agricul- of the G7 was growing concern for the Kremlin. The fear was that the fires, at Mr Modi, who won re-election earlier this being supressed and the Indian govern- covers, however rain brought about by of the Rohingya crisis across the border home. More than 700,000 Rohingya fled
tural and mining companies wanted for health of our planets environment. In their height covering an area the size of year, promised in his manifesto to reor- ment issuing a lockdown in an attempt the Monsoon season caused many of the in neighbouring Myanmar. Attempts to Bangladesh after the military began
illegal exploitation of natural resources. particular concern for endangered spe- Europe, would contribute to melting ganise the disputed North Western prov- to maintain order within the province. fields to turn to mud. are being made by the Bangladeshi to crack down on them in Myanmar. ■
Of course there is nothing new about cies and the growing amount of man- the Russian permafrost and the polar ince into a state of India. The province of A full scale media blackout is in effect,
logging in the Amazon, especially illegal made waste in the Oceans. ice caps. ■ Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally with internet and phone lines being cut.
disputed territory with claims on the land These were finally restored on the 28th of
pressed by India, Pakistan and China. August after external pressure. New Direction report
CYBERSECURITY
An earlier agreement, ratified by the On 7 August, a meeting of the
United States United Nations had stated that Jammu National Security Committee decided

Cherokee Nation to appoint Representative and Kashmir was to be an autonomous

province of India, until such time that
to downgrade Pakistan’s diplomatic
relations with India. Pakistan’s ambas-
EXPENDITURE IN THE
to Congress India, Pakistan and China could come to
an agreement about the official status of
the territory, either as a state of India, a
sador from India was recalled and the
Indian ambassador to Pakistan was
expelled. The Ministry of Information EU MEMBER STATES

Photo: Shutterstock.com
F
region of Pakistan or an Independent and Broadcasting decided to ban all cul-

W T
or the first time in over 200 Nation. According to Article 320 of the tural exchanges with India, including echnology brings huge benefits administrators of public offices and
ide scale protests in Hong actions – most notably resulting in a years, the Cherokee Nation – Indian constitution, the Lok Sabah can banning the screening of Indian films to all of our daily lives. It shapes their counterparts in the private sec-
Kong have continued standoff at the cities main airport. Sev- a federally recognised tribe of give the Indian President the power to inside Pakistan. how we travel, how we work and tor. Therefore such a dialogue must
throughout the summer. eral thousand protestors blocked the first nation Americans – has appointed decide the status of the region. There are currently no signs that situ- how we spend our free time. But at the take place. The European Union and its
Originally started in opposition to the arrivals and departure halls, causing the a delegate to attend the US House of As a result of this special status, Kash- ation will diffuse in the near future, with same time, the threat of cyber-attack Member States need to devise a coher-
introduction of a new extradition law Hong Kong administration to suspend Representatives. Under the terms of mir was governed by its own laws, and the region now in an uncertain place. ■ risks our economies, private enter- ent protection system based on stan-
– that would have seen Hong Kong lose all flights from one of the worlds busiest the ‘Treaty of New Echoda’, signed in prises and personal wellbeing.  dards that apply to the areas affected
some of its special status as a self-gov- airports. 1835, the Cherokee Nation was uniquely The threat of cyber-attack has by cybersecurity, which is almost all of
erning region. The controversial pro- Tensions in the protests have also granted the right to send a non-vot- United States become increasingly dangerous with them. Cybersecurity is a matter which
posals would have allowed judges to been growing increasingly high, as fears ing delegate to the House of Represen- both states, and non-state actors cannot be considered in isolation. 
extradite people from Hong Kong to
mainland China. Many critics feared
of infiltration by Chinese plain clothed
police officers grow. One such scare
tatives, however up to this point they
had never expressed a desire to do so.
Democratic Primaries heat up demonstrating an ability to cause a
great deal of damage. 
The importance of strong coop-
eration amongst Member States can regulatory domain as well as financial
it could be used as a tool of oppression resulted in a Chinese journalist ending The controversial treaty also moved the Cybersecurity is a classic example be demonstrated by the Three Seas aid to the Community’s scientific and

Photo: Shutterstock.com
by sending critics of the Chinese gov- up in hospital, and offering the Chinese tribes from the Southeast of America to of a policy area that can neither be Initiative. The group, inaugurated in technological potential. Therefore it
ernment to mainland China where they Government the excuse they needed to the ‘Indian Territories’ beyond the then analysed nor solved within one sector August 2016 by presidents of twelve will be vital to plan the EU’s Multian-
would not enjoy the same rights that brand the protestors as dangerous. Con- borders of the United States, and the exclusively. In order to ensure the digi- countries is an economic and politi- nual Financial Framework (MFF) to be
they do in Hong Kong. It would be the cerns have also grown amongst protes- land that they used to occupy became tal security of the state, its institutions cal project aimed at deepening inte- properly implemented after 2020. 
greatest erosion of Hong Kong’s auton- tors about their own safety, as videos part of modern day Georgia. The move- and its citizens, it is vital to establish gration processes in region’s states This publication by New Direction is
omy since the introduction of the cur- emerged of a protestor losing an eye to ment of the Cherokee people became both dialogue and partnership among while strengthening their position in devoted to the analysis of cyber secu-
rent constitution in 1997 – when the rubber bullet, and others being injured part of the trail of tears, an apology for many entities.  the European Union and North Atlan- rity expenses at the macroeconomic
territory was handed over from the when police deployed tear gas in a metro which didn’t come till 2009. What’s needed is a common strat- tic Alliance. The initiative is chiefly level. The report reviews and analyses
United Kingdom to China. station. The New Cherokee announced on Rico, American Samoa, the US Virgin official responses from the United egy to be developed in cooperation to enable collaboration on many lev- international cyber security strategies
Large scale protests have blocked the Despite the increased clamp down 25th August that they would now take up Islands, the Mariana Islands and the States government. Statehood would with representatives of the adminis- els, guaranteeing common eco- and estimates spending in this domain
streets of the former British territory, by Hong Kong police, and the threat of the seat in the House of Representatives United States Capital – Washington DC. give them full voting rights within the tration responsible for action plans nomic, infrastructure and security by EU Member States. The report con-
with estimates of attendance as high as intervention by mainland China, many and would nominate Democrat Kim- A number of these other represen- United States House of Representative, and with entrepreneurs experienced in undertakings.  tains conclusions and recommenda-
1 million people. Chinese police have protestors remain defiant. They con- berly Teehee, a former advisor to Presi- tatives spend their time lobbying for entitle them to two Senators and in the tackling online threats.  The European Union needs to play tions that can serve as a reference for

T
refuted that claim and said that the pro- tinue to protest for the preservation dent Obama. If Ms Teehee is able to take statehood for their delegates. Both case of Puerto Rico allow citizens free There is also a need to manage a considerable role in the field of discussion on cyber security expendi-
tests only drew crowds of several hun- of their democracy – with the British her seat, she will join six other non-vot- Washington DC and Puerto Rico have movement to the rest of the country as he big political news from the Other surprising candidates have operational activities undertaken by cyber security. This applies both to a ture in state budgets. ■
dred thousand. The protestors have Union Flag being adopted as a symbol of ing members of the House of Represen- voted in referenda on applying for well as the right to vote for the US Pres- United States over the summer also managed to capture the attention
been growing increasingly bold in their freedom against the Chinese. ■ tatives who represent Guam, Puerto full statehood but have yet to receive ident. ■ continued to be the race to see of Democrat Party Members in the You can download report at
which Democrat would take on incum- early debates. The youngest candidate www.newdirection.online
bent Republican President Donald on the stage, Pete Buttigieg, has gained
Trump in next year’s presidential elec- a core following as being an openly gay
tions. The Democratic primaries have mayor from a traditionally conserva-

PROJECT
seen over twenty candidates face off tive state.

MAJA
against each other in a bid to become the The other candidate to attract a
parties nominee for the country’s high- great deal of recent attention, and build
est office. momentum, is Andrew Yang. Mr Yang
Engaging European The unusually crowded field has seen has managed to build up a strong support
politicians in social a number of high profile veterans of base after several successful appearances
action and charitable American politics come up against lesser in the media and during the debates.
activities across the known newcomers. The early frontrun- An entrepreneur by background, he has
continent ner has been former Vice President Joe never held public office, but instead runs
Biden, who is widely seen as the moder- a non-profit organisation that helps new
10th Anniversary ates choice. However he has faced tough
competition from hard-line socialist can-
tech start-ups. He is a strong defender
of what he calls ‘Human-Centred-Cap-
didates Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth italism’ and his flagship policy is a ver-

10th-13th OCTOBER Warren and Vermont Senator Bernie

Sanders – both of whom are seen as repre-
sion of Universal Basic Income that he
describes as his ‘freedom dividend’.

SARAJEVO
For more information and registration please visit: ecrparty.eu/projectmaja
senting the future direction of the party. As the race intensifies, it is clear that
Mr Biden has also faced tough criti- the battle between the top candidates

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

EARLY BIRD
DISCOUNT 250€ REGULAR PRICE
after 21st September 500€ cism from California Senator Kamala
Harris, who questioned the Vice Presi-
dents record on race related issues, after
will only become more fractious. There
have already been warnings that if the
Democrats don’t come up with a unifying
he praised two former colleagues from his candidate, that whoever enters the race
ECR Party is formerly known as ACRE PPEU. Registered in Belgium as a not-for-profit organisation and partially funded by the European Parliament. time in the Senate that were opposed to will struggle to defeat President Trump
the desegregation of schools by bussing. in the race for the White House. ■
8 PROFILES theconservative.online theconservative.online NEW EUROPEAN COMMISSION 9

Andrianos Giannou

W I
hat do Boris Johnson, of Württemberg, exclaims: “There are t is easy to misunderstand Boris “studied insult to ordinary Greek feeling
the United Kingdom’s various other castles that I will have Johnson. One does not need to but intellectually honest.” He carries on
new Prime Minister, to capture in the course of my gen- look any further than the plethora claiming that “early Greeks are challeng-
and Ursula von der eral hoovering-up of the thrones of of bitter polemic editorials against ing, they are original, and they are willing
Leyen, the President-elect of the Euro- Europe, but this is a good start.” In him, authored by the global progressive to express their feelings in a way that has
pean Commission, have in common, a light moment with the cameraman press corps upon his recent appointment never happened before,” continuing that
you might wonder? No, it is not solv- who follows him, approaching the as Prime Minister of the United King- “Greeks were the first to express their vul-
ing the Brexit conundrum: the German entrance of the palace, he says of the dom. In equal measure, the bitter tone nerable egos, and as all egotists, they were
politician will take over her duties only rest of the filming crew: “Obviously of the myriad of lines written on social extraordinarily competitive.” Isn’t that
the day after the 31st of October. Yes, they have gone ahead to tell them media by leftist in reference to the future the very same freedom-loving, unconven-
you might need to know that for the that I am coming back, haven’t they? of the country under his leadership could tional yet enlightened, and ambitious if

THE NEW
next EU pub quiz. The answer is: they I am bringing the luggage later.” He be equally catalogued as superficial knee- not egocentric approach that one can dis-
both attended European School, Brus- might not be picking any fights with jerk reactions of the kind he is accused of, cern in Boris Johnson?
sels I, situated in the European capi- European royal houses over ances- not unlike the criticism of United States More than that, one could also explain
tal’s leafy – and posh – suburb of Uccle tral property, but he faces a seemingly President Donald Trump’s election. his contempt for what the European
and set up for the offspring of Euro- equally colossal task of persuading But what is Boris really like? What Union has become based on the same
crats. Kudos to those of you who chose Brussels, Berlin and Paris to re-open would be fairer than letting the Prime principle: they did not like “to be bossed

EUROPEAN
“they both speak English, German and the Withdrawal Agreement nego- Minister speak for himself? What he cer- around,” he says of the Athenians of the
French” or “they have both lived in tiated by Teresa May in attempt to tainly cannot be accused of is laconicism Age of Pericles, in the very same way he
the United States” as the right answer. remove the Irish backstop. It will cer- or diffidence. A masterful wordsmith, he believes good old Britain should not be
Close enough, but not as surprising. tainly not be easy. is a prolific writer: he has published no less patronised by self-serving bureaucrats
  It might come as a shock to many,  The documentary also reveals com- than eleven books – including historical ensconced in Brussels. It is his love of

COMMISSION
but Boris Johnson’s background is pelling leadership traits of John- nonfiction volumes, a guide to cars, poetry that pure form of freedom – reasoned
the most culturally rich of any British son’s: his determination to deliver, on family life, and political prose – and has and educated – that clashes with what he
Prime Minister: he counts Ali Kemal, and his sense of purpose. His paternal been writing for world-class newspapers probably sees as an ill-defined model of
an Interior Minister of the Ottoman great-grandfather, Ali Kemal, an eth- – first as a reporter and more recently as a paternalistic federalism (contrary to the
Empire, Karoline von Rothenburg, an nic Turk, played an important role in columnist – for more than three decades. well-defined efficiency of the American
illegitimate daughter of Prince Paul of the events around the dissolution of He is the opposite of camera-shy. A model, which one could assume that he
Württemberg (who in turn was a son the Ottoman Empire and the founda- 2016 live-streamed debate between Boris might trust).
of Frederick I, king of the land that tion of the modern Turkish republic. Johnson and Mary Bread, a Cambridge Further, his performance at this
today makes up the German state of During his short-lived tenure as a Min- University classicist, on Greece against debate is an additional testament to
Baden-Württemberg), Jules Arnous ister of the Interior in 1919, he signed Rome, might go a long way in revealing some of the most poignant differences
de Rivière, a 19th Century French off on the dismissal of Mustafa Kemal the ideas and ideals that have influenced between him and Donald Trump, to
chess master, and Elias Avery Lowe, a Atatürk – who went on to found the Boris’ thought. The discussion was hosted whom he is often compared by his crit- The Von Der Leyen Commission will take over on the 1st of
distinguished Jewish Russian-Amer-
ican Oxford and Princeton palaeog-
Republic of Turkey in 1923 – a power-
ful and popular Major General of the
by Intelligence Squared – “the leading
forum for live, agenda-setting debates,
ics. They are quick to point out an ata-
vistic instinct in both men. But Boris November, a day after the expected exit date of the United
rapher, as ancestors. Described as a
“one-man melting pot,” his family
Ottoman Army, in an attempt to quell
vocal dissatisfaction among nation-
talks and discussions around the world”
that seeks to “[engage] with the most bril-
Johnson is an erudite, a scholar and an
expert. Trump’s articulacy has been
Kingdom. The former German Defence Minister and mother of
background was the subject of an epi- alist military ranks with the Ottoman liant minds in the world,” per their own compared to that of a Queens car sales- seven will take over the Berlaymont at a time of great change and
sode of the BBC “Who do you think government in Istanbul. That move account – and is available on YouTube. man. Trump could as well be a philis-
you are?” genealogy documentary cost him his position and eventually What is frequently mistaken as goof- tine. Johnson is none of that: he will take difficulty for Europe. It will therefore be important for her to
series. his life: soon after his resignation, he iness – to use an American term – or on anyone who is willing to have a go at
  Does this confer him the title of a was lynched by an angry mob loyal to English eccentricity, his proclivity to debating him – for the sake of argumen- have a team around her that she can rely on.
“serious Euro-toff”? His full last name Atatürk. Official modern Turkish his- gaffes and a tendency for colourful lan- tation and the logical process – and will
is de Pfeffel Johnson, after all. This is toriography portrays Ali Kemal as a guage might as well be the “arsenal of do an intellectually brilliant job at it. 
not how Johnson feels: “I can’t hide
it from you, even in this, you know,
traitor. But Johnson, upon learning of
the events, concludes: “It was not so
intellectual fireworks” – an expression
used by the debate’s moderator for both
He might be pleased to have won. His
scruffiness might often cause a kerfuffle.
The nominations for European Commissioners from the 27
European - in our common European much a political blunder that he cre- participants – of a brilliant mind that His idealisation of former British glory remaining member states has now closed, and we have taken a
home, I am particularly thrilled to find ated, but the natural conclusion of his does not abstain from self-deprecating – not unlike his idealisation of Athens
that I have some British royal ances- opposition to the nationalists.” jokes either as a form of defence or a way – occasionally amounts to cherry-pick- look at those individuals who have been put forward for the top
jobs in the European Union. We believe that it is important for
try as well.” King George II is John-   Boris Johnson might be seen by of being. Is self-sarcasm a sign of intelli- ing. Europeans might find it difficult to
son’s great-times-eight grandfather, Eurocrats as another figure of the gence? Oscar Wilde would think so. After understand his absurdity and dramatic
through the Württemberg lineage.
  Importantly, the Prime Minis-
English establishment, seemingly
insensitive to the higher ideas behind
all, Johnson’s inclination to freely speak
his mind might be sourced in an other-
flair. But he is not an actor. He is a charac-
ter. One with a brilliant mind of an intel-
our readers to know who will be governing Europe for the next
ter takes pride in being “a product of
incomers, a product of newcomers to
the European Union’s raison d’être:
peace and harmony among the peo-
wise very English interpretation of what
freedom of speech amounts to, which is
ligence that flirts with self-destruction.
European leaders have an obligation to
five years, and ensure that they are the right people for the job.
Britain.” This ease and contentment ples of Europe. However, throughout nothing else than the right to offend. understand him. They owe that to Euro-
with his foreign background might the documentary, it becomes obvi- Boris Johnson answers that question pean citizens; that also includes the Brit-
explain why his cabinet is the most eth- ous that Johnson not only takes pride himself during the debate, in his exal- ish. That process does not only go through This special feature by The Conservative looks in detail at the
nically diverse in British history. He
basks in being “the product of many
in his family’s multi-ethnic ancestry,
but importantly, his background has
tation of the rationality of pre-Socratic
philosophers, who were the first to write
modern Britain, but Ancient Greece as
well: it is the “fecundity, generosity, open- new Commission, their strengths, weaknesses and backgrounds.
countries.”
  In what seems to be an omen of
come to shape his worldview: he is
an offspring of newcomers who were
about the superficiality of the ancient
Greek gods. Johnson equates their “utter-
ness, and originality” of the Athenians,
and its modern transposition in Great
Some are familiar faces, others are brand new. Some are old, and
things to come, Boris Johnson, at the embraced by the same British toler-
ance and openness that he has been
ing of the most shocking profanities” – Britain, that Boris believes the European
Union has taken away and he has a his-
another is the youngest ever nominated. And for the first time
sight of the splendour of Ludwigsburg Anaxagoras believed that the until-
Palace, the residence of the monarchs actively promoting as a politician. ■ then venerated sun was a rock – with a toric duty to restore. ■ ever, the Commission is close to a full gender balance.
10 NEW EUROPEAN COMMISSION theconservative.online theconservative.online NEW EUROPEAN COMMISSION 11

Photo: Shutterstock.com

Photo: Shutterstock.com
Photo: Shutterstock.com
Ursula von der Leyen
I
t is unclear whether there
had been a plan to nomi-
School, Brussels I, an institu-
tion set up for the children of
summer – was tarnished by a
series of internal scandals that Margrethe Vestager Josep Borrell
M T
nate Ursula von der Leyen the new bureaucratic elites. Her paint an image of nepotism and

Photo: Shutterstock.com
for the position of the President father went on to serve as Prime maladministration. What is argrethe Vestager When entering office as EU dominance in internet search by he nomination of Josep the Ministry of Economy and company and he had misused.
of the European Commission all Minister of Lower Saxony from known in Germany as the “Con- is a Danish politi- Competition Commissioner, tying together their service and Borrell –  who has been Finance, before taking on the  His short tenure at the helm
along. But when her name was 1976 to 1990. Ursula had to flee sultant Affair,” significant ques- cian who has been she declared that she found ‘it other mobile apps with Android. serving as Spain’s Min- portfolio of Minister of Pub- of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
officially announced on 2 July to London in 1978, where she tions have been raised as to the the EU’s Competition Commis- only natural that competition This year, Mastercard received a ister of Foreign Affairs, Euro- lic Works and Transport, a post – he assumed that office in June
after a marathon Council ses- lived for more than a year under powerful role that external con- sioner since 2014. Before that, policy is political,’ while adding €570 million fine, for prevent- pean Union and Cooperation he held for five years until 1996. last year – has not been without
sion, it caught many by surprise. a different name and Scotland sultancies have gained in the she was a member of the Danish that when it comes to enforce- ing European retailers from since June 2018 – to the posi- He rose to prominence in 1998, controversy: reports have sur-

Frans Timmermans
The initial Franco-German Yard protection, due to the affairs of the ministry. Another national Parliament, since 2001, ment, ‘there is simply no room shopping around for better pay- tion of the European Union’s when he ran against PSOE Pres- faced of his ordering of the mon-
proposal that would have seen increased risk of kidnapping by red flag that a Federal Audit representing the Danish Social for political interference’. But ment terms. top diplomat – which carries ident Joaquin Almunia in the itoring of personnel of Catalan
Frank Timmermans – the Dutch communist terrorists she faced Office report raised – the doc- Liberal Party (Radikale Ven- the Commission has in fact been As motivated as Vestager the title of the High Represen- party’s first primary for the des- governmental representations

F
Social-democratic Spitzenkan- as the daughter of a prominent ument was leaked to the media stre), which she has been leading making clear political choices was hen it comes to enforcing tative of the European Union ignation of the prime-minis- abroad (he is a vocal opponent
didat – take over as Jean-Claude politician. While in London, she in August 2018 – concerns the rans Timmermans is a at the Nancy-Université in up with a huge amount of new from 2007 until she entered the when deciding whether to take the grey areas of competition for Foreign Affairs and Security terial candidate for the 2000 of Catalan secessionism). The
Junker’s successor did not make enrolled at the London School lax implementation of procure- Dutch Social Democrat, Nancy, France. During his Dutch financial regulation. This has European Commission in 2014. action against countries it feels law, like the question whether a Policy – might have raised flags election, a context he unex- spying scandal known as Bor-
it much further that the EPP of Economics, before continu- ment rules and procedures. It is who has served in the army service, he worked for the been branded by some as hys- She has also been Danish Min- have violated its competition tax ruling is open to all, she has in different quarters in Brus- pectedly won. His success did rellgate is expected to cause him
pre-Summit meeting of heads ing her studies in a new field, unclear whether von der Leyen previous Commission as as First Dutch Military Intelligence and teric, given how not lack of reg- ister of Economic Affairs and policies. In practice, this meant been much less visible when sels and beyond but should not not last long: he had to resign difficulties in the Committee on
of state, at which the Croatian that of medicine, at the Hanover had any direct involvement in Vice-President of the European Security Service as a Russian ulation but expansive monetary Danish Interior Minister from a further politication of compe- it came to fighting clear viola- have come as a surprise to any- the nomination in May 1999 Foreign Affairs (AFET) hearing,
and Hungarian leaders, in par- Medical School, after her return the scandal. A parliamentary Commission and European Prisoner of War interrogator.  policy is seen by many experts 2011 to 2014. She speaks Danish, tition policy, very much in line tions of the rules, like bailouts one who has closely followed after a fraud investigation was a part of the confirmation pro-
ticular, voiced significant oppo- to Germany in 1979. A Doctor of investigation is ongoing, and she Commissioner for Better Regu- His nomination is quite as the cause the 2008 financial English and some French. Her with Jean-Claude Juncker’s or nationalisation.  the veteran Socialist politician’s launched against two officials cess: Diana Riba MEP, a member
sition. It was enough for Italy’s Medicine, in 1986 she married a could be called to testify at any lation, Interinstitutional Rela- unique due to the fact that his crisis. The number of propos- first job was an internship in view that the EU Commission She allowed the Italian govern- career. he had appointed to senior posi- of the committee, is the wife of
and Poland’s rebuke to bury the fellow physician, Heiko von der point. (Imagine the impact that tions, the Rule of Law and the social democratic party is not als may tell one thing, but the the European Parliament. She should be “political”. ment to bail out banks – despite   First elected to political tions during his time at the Min- imprisoned Catalan leader Raül
Timmermans presidency for Leyen, born to a wealthy silk such a development could have Charter of Fundamental Rights. part of the Dutch governing coa- actual overall impact of regu- was the inspiration for the main This however led to increased new EU rules aiming to hit inves- office in the late 1980s – a period istry of Economy and Finance. Romeva.
good as soon as it reached the merchant family, with whom upon the fragile relationship He was also the so-called “Spit- lition. The reason is that for a lations matters in the end. On character in “Borgen”, a popular tensions with both EU member tors instead of taxpayers first. of high tension that was marked  He kept his mandate as Mem-   His recent praise of the Ira-
Council. she has seven children, born between European citizens and zenkandidat” of the the Party of long time, he was in the race to that front, the regulatory impact Danish TV series about a female states and the United States.  Also French president, Emman- by Spain’s transition to democ- ber of the Spanish Congress nian government on Twitter
 French President Emmanuel between 1987 and 1999. the Brussels elite: any smidge of European Socialists, before EU become EU Commission Pres- institute has complained that Prime Minister.   Belgium, the Netherlands, uel Macron, wasn’t too con- racy in the aftermath of the col- of Deputies for Barcelona –a – he commended improving
Macron rushed to take credit for  Her profile is far from that of trust towards the establishment leaders decided to bury the idea, ident, so PM Mark Rutte’s gov- a lot of proposed EU legisla- During her term as Minis- Luxembourg and Ireland have cerned, as his government was lapse of the Francoist regime position he was first elected to literacy rates under the theo-
putting forward von den Ley- the average European citizen. Is would evaporate.) However, acknowledging voters made up ernment decided to continue to tion has still been issued with- ter of Economic Affairs in the all been attacked by Vestager allowed to nationalise a French – the 72-year-old’s involve- in 1986 – until 2004, when he cratic regime and their role in
en’s name. She has “the DNA that the DNA of the European what is certain is that the cul- their minds based on national back him as EU Commissioner out proper impact assessments government led by PM Helle over their tax agreements – ‘rul- shipyard to prevent it from being ment in successive scandals and made a shift to European poli- the Syrian conflict, among other
of the European community,” Union? Ursula von der Leyen is ture that the leadership of the figures.  after the Visegrad countries had being undertaken. Thorning-Schmidt, she has ings’ – with big companies, often bought by an Italian company.  proneness for gaffes are only tics, accepting the invitation of things – will not help him in his
he enthusiastically claimed. In the product of German and Euro- Ministry has instilled, with von Before that, he served as managed to block him and von Apart from that, Timmer- been implementing cuts in from the US. In the case of Bel- It may be one of the reasons matched by a seemingly perma- José Luis Zapatero to lead the new duties either, if confirmed:
other words, she ticks all the pean aristocracy. She does not der Leyen at the top, is one of Dutch Foreign Minister, from der Leyen was chosen instead.  mans has also been very active unemployment benefits, in gium, Vestager was overruled why for a long time, Macron nent ability to reinvent himself party’s list in the European Par- he will be expected to handle
boxes. hide that. But if that is the idea opacity, a system based on per- 2012 to 2014 and as State Sec- When he was Foreign Minis- in attempts to supervise mem- response to an economic down- by the EU Court of Justice in appeared to support Vestager to and reemerge on the surface. liament elections. He went on the US-Iran fallout and the dis-
  Ursula von der Leyen was of a European identity that Pres- sonal connections and favours. retary for Foreign Affairs, from ter, he condemned an anti-Is- ber states on possible breaches turn. She then also decided to Luxembourg.  succeed Juncker.    Born in 1947 in the region to be elected President of the agreement between the United
born Ursula Albrecht on 8 Octo- ident Macron has, then it looks   More, in 2015, researchers 2007 to 2010. Timmermans lam sticker campaign started by of rule of law, something where grant some tax cuts for start- U.S. President Trump, angry Vestager further also rejected of Catalonia’s mountainous European Parliament, a posi- States and the European Union
ber 1958 in leafy Ixelles, an afflu- highly unlikely that the urgent alleged that 43.5% of the pages should be considered as a “real Dutch rightwing populist Geert he has clashed with the visegrad ups. During this time, as she over her persecution of U.S. plans by German companies ridge, the son of bakers who had tion he held for the first part of on how to proceed. 
ent Brussels neighbourhood. need to bridge the gap – if not of von der Leyen’s 1991 doctoral European”. He went to elemen- Wilders’, saying that “The Neth- countries, who deny that their was chairing the EU’s Council firms, dubbed her the ‘tax lady’ Siemens and France’s Alstom returned from Argentina, he was the legislature’s five-year term. To top of it all, in his previous
Papa Albrecht, Ernst, the off- rupture – between the European thesis contained plagiarism. tary school in Brussels, Bel- erlands cannot be held respon- judicial reforms undermine the of economic and finance min- and the CEO of Apple, which she to merge. Arguments that they a gifted student who progressed His next role as President of capacity as the Spanish Parlia-
spring of a prominent Hanover establishment on the one hand, She was cleared by a Hanover gium, before attending, from sible for the adolescent behavior rule of law. Timmermans has isters of the European Union saddled with a retroactive tax had to be stronger to stand up to obtain multiple degrees in the European University Insti- ment’s pointmant on the Con-
family, was one of the Eurocrats and the European citizens on the Medical School committee of 1972, the private Saint George’s of a single parliamentarian” and stated that he has “no doubt” the (ECOFIN) during Denmark’s bill of billions of euros, called her against a Chinese mega compet- different disciplines – aero- tute – a position he assumed in vention for Europe – which
to join the European Commis- other, will be addressed. Does which the director she knew English School in Rome. His that Saudi Arabia is “deeply new commission will be tough presidency of the Council of policy ‘total political crap’. She itor were not accepted. This put nautical engineering, applied 2010 – also ended in disappoint- drafted the Treaty establishing
sion upon its establishment in she symbolically embody Presi- personally and had previously secundary education took place offended by the sticker action.”  on rule of law.   Ministers, Vestager announced had ordered Apple to pay a fine her on a collission course with mathematics and economics – ment, being forced to resign a Constitution for Europe back
1958. His first role was as Chef dent Macron’s understanding of worked with, on the basis that in the Netherlands, hometown During his mandate as EU He has also been vocal in his that the European Union would of €13 billion, plus interest, in France and Germany. It is also including postgraduate degrees in 2012 over conflict of inter- in 2003 – he unsuccessfully
de Cabinet of German Euro- the European Dream? Then there no proof existed of an intention of Heerlen. He speaks six lan- Commissioner for Better Reg- support for the EU’s mandatory cede two of its seats on the board unpaid Irish taxes for the period one of the reasons why von der from Stanford University and est allegations, having failed tried to include a call for a “fed-
pean Competition Commis- is no doubt that the new Fran- to deceive. guages: Dutch, which is native, ulation, he has failed to deliver. migrant quotas within the EU, of the International Monetary between 2004 and 2014. This Leyen intends to create a 100 the French Institute of Petro- to declare his paid position as eral model”in the text, as well as
sioner Hans von der Groeben, co-German alliance will primar-   The overall image that is apart from English, French, The Brussels regulatory which created a lot more hostil- Fund to emerging economies. constitutes the largest tax fine billion euro sovereign wealth leum and a PhD in Economics director of the board of Aben- remove any mention to Europe’s
before rising to the position of ily strive to maintain specifically drawn is the stereotypical one German, Italian and Russian. machine could simply continue ity against the EU in central and She then also fought EU poli- in history. The Irish government fund, which goes against the from the Complutense Univer- goa, a Spanish energy company. “Christian heritage.” Should he
Director-General for the Direc- that, a Europe of the elites. disenfranchised European cit- During the EP campaign, he with business as usual. From Eastern Europe. Many at the EU cies for stricter liquidity rules dragged it feet in implemented spirit of the EU Treaty which sity of Madrid. In 2018, he was fined €30,000 by choose to promote similar views
torate-General for Competi-   There are more worrying izens have of the status quo: went into debate with EPP 2014 until 2018, the Juncker level have now abandoned sup- for banks, which were an imple- this, fearing that big corpora- intends the EU Commission to   A member of the Party of the Spanish security regulator in his new role, he is guaranteed
tion, a post he held between signs coming from von der Ley- elites that serve their common “Spitzenkandidat” Manfred Commission came up with 370 port for this idea, also following mentation of the international tions would no longer invest as be an actor to fight state aid and European Socialists-affili- for ordering the sale of Aben- to draw the ire of many Member
1967 and 1970. Young Ursula – en’s side: her reputation at the interests and protect each other, Weber on German TV. legislative proposals, which rep- the failure to redistribute peo- Basel III standards. This was much in the EU. Also Google, not organise it.  ated Spanish Socialist Workers’ goa shares a person close to him States. 
known as Röschen, a diminu- helm of the German Federal trading favours and sharing the He went to university in resents a drop from the period ple within the Schengen area partly due to the high Danish Fiat, Starbucks, Amazon.com Ursula von der Leyen stated Party, between 1982 and 1991 he held only a few days before the Most Brussels insiders expect
tive of Rose, among her family Ministry of Defence – a posi- spoils of a captured state. That Nijmegen, where he obtained an between 2009 and 2014, but is in a voluntary manner, which levels mortgage debt. She then and Gazprom have been sin- in July that Frans Timmermans occupied the positions of Gen- company declared bankruptcy a rocky ride, both at the state of
– was raised bilingual – speak- tion she held from 2013 until is an ominous start for a Com- MA degree in French Literature, in line with the problematic sit- was always going to be difficult, however also didn’t slow down gled out by Vestager’s admin- and not Vestager would remain eral Secretary for the Budget in 2015, information the reg- the hearings but also in Borrell’s
ing German and French – and her nomination as President of mission that will be afforded no before reading European law, uation before 2009.  given the lack of border checks steps towards stricter rules for istration. Google was fined First Vice-President, contrary and Public Spending and Sec- ulator deemed he was privy to potential tenure as High Repre-
was educated at the European the European Commission this grace period by events. ■ French Literature and History After 2008, Brussels came within Schengen. ■ systemically important banks. €4.3 billion for entrenching its to initial rumours. ■ retary of State for Finance in thanks to his position with the sentative. ■
12 NEW EUROPEAN COMMISSION theconservative.online theconservative.online NEW EUROPEAN COMMISSION 13

Photo: European Union 2019 - Source : EP

Photo: TOMMI TUOMI/OTAVAMEDIA

Photo: Shutterstock.com
Didier Reynders Elisa Ferreira Janusz Wojciechowski Jutta Urpilainen
B D J T
elgium has nominated Belgian state to guarantee an after the May election, which eputy central bank Gov- powers to monitor “financial sta- specifically suggested to “ensure anusz Wojciechowski, aged to the Supreme Audit Office. of the Committee on Agricul- he Finnish govern- consider leaving the Eurozone Urpilainen went on to become
Foreign Minister Didier overly large part of Dexia, which produced a stalemate, the cur- ernor and former leftist bility in the euro-area” and to effective financing of the deposit 64, is Poland’s nomination He served as Under-Secretary tural and Rural Development. ment has nominated rather than to pay other coun- the leader of the Finnish social
Reynders as a candidate. had been lending excessively rent government coalition does MEP Elisa Ferreira has be involved “in EU-wide mac- insurance systems for deposit for the position of the coun- of State in the Cabinet Office He resigned his position in the social democrat Jutta tries’ debts in the currency democrats from 2008 until
He’s by far the longest serv- and is currently being wound not have a majority in Parlia- been put forward as Portugal’s roprudential supervision of sys- transfers”, even remarking that try’s European Commissioner. with responsibility for Legisla- European Parliament to join Urpilainen, who served as area.” In the end, however, she 2014. Before she went into pol-
ing Minister in the Belgian gov- down as a “bad bank”.  ment, but as Parliament isn’t candidate to become EU Com- tematically important financial “for that, a revision of the appli- The Polish politician has been tive Affairs between 1994 and the European Court of Audi- Finance Minister from 2011 to agreed with eurozone bailouts.  itics, she worked as a school
ernment, having managed to At the end of 2011, when a needed to nominate a Commis- missioner. She has held minis- institutions.” In 2015, she co-au- cable state aid rules would be serving as a Member of the Euro- 1995. He returned to the Polish tors in 2016, where he serves in 2014, during the height of the She’s a strong proponent teacher. 
be a Minister for 20 consecu- Belgian federal government was sioner, the three governing par- terial posts between 1995 and thored a report complaining that required.” pean Court of Auditor since 2016. Parliament in 2001, becoming the Chamber for the sustainable eurocrisis.  of the EU, having been presi- In 2002, she came out with a
tive years, since 1999. First, he finally formed after one and a ties decided to put Reynders, 2002. Since she became an MEP “in the European internal mar- She’ll be the first Portuguese   A lawyer by training, he its Deputy Speaker and leading use of natural resources and Then, she threatened that  dent of the Young European CD of her own Christmas car-
has been serving as the coun- half year without a government, forward. This means that the in 2004, she has served on the ket capital flows freely and large woman to become European served as a judge before leading its Committee on Codification on the Audit Quality Control “Finland would prefer to Federalists of Finland in 2001. ols. ■
try’s Finance Minister, presid- Reynders became Minister for Francophone liberals, to which Economic and Monetary Affairs companies report their activi- Commissioner. Because of the Poland’s Supreme Audit Office Changes until his election to the Committee.
ing over some modest income Foreign Affairs, Trade Foreign Belgian PM, who’s about to suc- Committee of the European Par- ties on a consolidated basis but fact that Portugal already has as its President between 1995 European Parliament in 2004,  He is a member of European
tax cuts and the 2008 finan- Affairs and European Affairs, ceed Donald Tusk as EU Coun- liament, until 2016, when she tax is collected nationally by tax the post of Eurogroup chairman, and 2001. He was first elected to where, among other responsibil- Conservatives and Reform-
cial crisis, which saw two major which he once again became cil chairman in November, will was appointed at her country’s authorities exchanging very little with its Finance Minister Mário the Sejm – Polish Parliament’s ities he has served as a member ists-affiliated Law and Justice
Belgian banks, Dexia and For- in 2014, when a new coalition have two EU top jobs.  central bank.  information among them.” Last Centeno, it may not be possible lower house – in 1993, a position of the Committee on Budget- political formation, Poland’s
tis, collapse. Reynders has been entered office. Following the At the moment, Reynders is During her time as an MEP, year, she complained in a speech for her to get a financial portfo- he held up until his appointed ary Control and Vice-Chairman governing party. ■
accused of carrying the respon- government crisis of Decem- still one of the two politicians she has drafted the EP commit- on financial stability in the euro- lio, despite her background.
sibility for the sale of Fortis at ber 2018, he also obtained the who were charged by the Belgian tee’s own-initiative report on zone that “Europe has stopped She holds economics degrees
an unacceptably low price to Defense portfolio.  King to start the informal coali- closer coordination of economic moving and currently stands from the universities of Porto
French bank BNP Paribas, while Given how Belgium still hasn’t tion talks for a new federal gov- policies, calling for the European in the middle of a very sensi- and Reading, where she also
at the same time agreeing for the got a new federal government ernment, so far without success. ■ Central Bank (ECB) to be granted
Photo: Rattardphoto tive and unstable ‘bridge’.” She obtained her phD. ■

Helena Dalli
5 Kadri Simson

Photo: Shutterstock.com
6-year-old Helena Dalli the 2015 Gender Identity, Gen-
is one of Malta’s most der Expression and Sex Charac-

Dubravka Šuica
E
successful Labour poli- teristics Act, which simplified
ticians. She was first elected to gender assignment procedures, stonia’s Prime Minis- were to serve without taking on investigation. According to the

6
the Parliament of Malta in 1996, including the introduction of ter Jüri Ratas – serving any duties. That did not work newspaper, she once claimed
2-year-old Dubravka destination. She was recognised succeeding in every election binary and non-binary forms a second mandate since either: her confirmation by the medical reasons to justify her
Photo: Thierry Monasse, STA
Šuica has been a Member
of the European Parlia-
in the 2016 World Mayor Top 10
list and won the World Mayor
ever since. She was appointed
a Parliamentary Secretary for
of identification in public doc-
uments, and the Marriage Act Johannes Hahn 29 April 2019 – moved swiftly
in nominating Kadri Simson – a
European Parliament was post-
poned until autumn, given that
absence from the Riigikogu,
Estonia’s Parliament, while she

J
ment since 1 July 2013: she was Award in 2009. She also served Women’s Rights in the Office 2017, which – for the first time Minister of Economic Affairs and the Committee on Employment was holidaying in the Carib-
part of the first batch of MEPs to as a Vice-President of the of the Prime Minister imme- – conferred the right to marry ohannes Hahn, a mem- laboratory in the world. He While responsible for enlarge- Infrastructure in his first cabinet and Social Affairs (EMPL) failed bean. More, her partner, Teet
join that European institution Council of Europe’s Congress of diately after her first election, to same-sex couples, beyond ber of the centre-right argued that the cost was too high ment and neighbourhood policies, – once it became apparent that to elect a chairperson in time Soorm, falsely claimed busi-
after Croatia’s accession to the Local and Regional Authorities championing gender equal- civil partnership. In 2017, she Austrian People’s Party, as it took up 70% of the Austrian he has been arguing to start EU incumbent Andrus Ansip might for her scheduled hearing (the ness travel expenses for holi-
European Union and she was between 2004 and 2014. ity and progressive issues ever introduced an Equality Bill, has been the Austrian EU Com- government’s bduget for mem- accession negotiations with North vacate his seat on the College of Committee twice rejected for- day trips with Simson, as well
subsequently re-elected in the
2014 and 2019 scrutinies, occu-
  She was elected a member
of the Croatian Parliament on
since. First appointed a minis-
ter in 2013, she was serving as
as well as a Human Rights and
Equality Commission Bill, both Janez Lenarčič missioner since 2010, first
serving as European Com-
bership of research associations,
but the Austrian Chancellor
Macedonia and Albania, while
urging Serbia and Montenegro to
Commissioners early to take up
his position as a Member of the
mer Polish Prime Minister Beata
Szydlo’s bid on 17 July, before
as other executives of HKScan
– Estonia’s largest pig farming

J
pying the second place in the three separate occasions, serv- the Minister for EU Affairs and acts currently under consid- missioner for Regional Policy blocked the plan. improve the rule of law first.  European Parliament following electing Lucia Ďuriš Nicholson- company of which he was the
EPP-affiliated Croatian Demo- ing between 2000 and 2011. Equality until her nomination eration before the legislature. anez Lenarčič, who serves Director of the Office for Dem- under Barrosso and after that When responsible for EU As the one responsible for EU May’s elections. On 6 June, Sim- ová as Chair a day after). Given CEO – and their families. Sim-
cratic Union’s list both times. She was a member of that by embattled Party of European As the Times of Malta reports, as Slovenia’s ambassa- ocratic Institutions and Human as European Commissioner for Regional Policy before 2014, he relations with Switzerland, he son was voted by Estonia’s gov- that no portfolio was allocated, son failed to provide any proof
 A linguist by education – she assembly’s Tourism Commit- Socialists-affiliated Maltese in 2016, “she won the Hero dor to the EU, has been Rights within the Organization European Neighbourhood Pol- implemented some reforms, has not been successful in con- ernment as the country’s choice the hearing was expected to take to substantiate her claim that no
studied English and German at tee and Vice-Chair of the Euro- Prime Minister Joseph Mus- of the Year Award during the nominated by the former Yugo- for Security and Co-operation icy and Enlargement Negotia- linking it closer with EU eco- vincing Switzerland to agree to for the remainder of Juncker place in front of the Conference rules were breached. (There are
the University of Zagreb’s Fac- pean Integration Committee cat, a position she immediately sixth edition of the European slavic republic, which is also in Europe (OSCE). tions under Juncker. In Austria, nomic governance and mac- an update of their relationship Cabinet’s term as well as the new of Committee Chairs, instead several lawsuits pending before
ulty of Humanities and Social between 2008 and 2011. resigned to focus on the upcom- Diversity Award held in Lon- the place of birth of Melania In between his diplomatic he has been minister for science ro-economic conditions, with the EU. Instead, an escala- mandate. Ansip resigned his Com- of the corresponding Commit- the courts on different grounds
Sciences – she started off her Having served as Vice-Chair ing hearings in the European don.” Prime Minister Joseph Trump. This year, his country roles, he has been working as and research from 2007 to 2010. however staying clear of pro- tion occurred, with the EU cut- missioner’s portfolio on 17 June. tee in the absence of one. How- against Soorm initiated by his
career as a teacher in her of the European Parliament’s Parliament (her successor in Muscat expects her to obtain a clashed with the ECB over legis- advisor to the foreign minister When active in the youth wing posals whereby richer member ting off access for Swiss stock European Commission Pres- ever, the Conference could not former employer.) In the past,
native city of Dubrovnik. She Delegation for relations with the Ministry was sworn in a day portfolio that “will reflect her lation protecting investors who of Slovania (from 2000 to 2001) of his party, he was among the states would no longer have to exchanges, because the Swiss ident Juncker initially opposed be constituted until all Commit- she has also been accused of
went on to serve as director of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and after her nomination was offi- experience.” lost money during a 2013 bank and from 2002 to 2003 he was pro-EU wing, while many then pay for funds that would go to have so far refused accepting the the idea of new nominees tem- tees — including EMPL — had conflict of interest, arising out of
Dubrovnik High School. She Kosovo (DSEE) in the previous cially announced by the Prime   A once Miss Malta beauty bailout, ignoring warnings from State Secretary in the Office of were still in doubt about EU their own poorer regions.  arbitration mechanism former porarily filling the vacancies left returned a chairperson. her role as a Minister in award-
also was a professor of German legislature, she is now a mem- Minister). pageant winner and action film the European Central Bank the prime minister. From 2006 membership. He’s a survivor of This proposal, issued by the UK PM Theresa May accepted open by the resignation of out-   It seems that 42-year-old ing financial support to pig
at the city’s American College of ber of the Committee of For- Dr Dalli has made a name actress – she portrayed a police- that this breaches euro-area to 2008, two years after the cancer, which he was diagnosed think tank Open Europe, would for the UK, while also ruling out going Commissioners who had Simson might have another rea- farmers. The politician – whose
Management and Technology. eign Affairs (AFET), among out of her strong support woman in 1972 Italian-Amer- rules. The dispute involved EU country joined the EU, he was with at the very young age of 22.   have benefited both richer and that Switzerland would need to chosen to take their seats in the son to worry, beyond the delay, Center Party is affiliated to the
  She was the first female other positions. She was also for civil liberties, introduc- ican production Final Justice legal action over Slovenia ille- State Secretary for European As Austrian minister for sci- poorer member states, as richer automatically take over updates European Parliament after the though: Eesti Päevaleht, one of Alliance of Liberals and Dem-
mayor of Dubrovnik, a posi- elected the First Vice-Chair ing ground-breaking legisla- – Dalli holds a doctorate degree gally seizing confidential ECB  Affairs. ence and research, he proposed member states would have been of EU regulations. In a leaked let- elections. However, his objec- Estonia’s most circulated daily ocrats for Europe (ALDE) and
tion she held between 2001 and of the Group of the European tion, including the Civil Unions in Political Sociology and has documents. In 2014, he was also secre- ending Austria’s 50-year mem- able to transfer funds directly to ter, it has appeared Hahn refused tion was overruled by the Coun- newspapers, in an article pub- the Renew Europe group in the
2009, which coincided with the People’s Party in June and has Act of 2014, which introduced lectured extensively on social Lenarčič is a career diplo- tary of state in the cabinet of the bership of CERN, a European their own poorer regions, with- to be more flexible towards Swit- cil of the European Union, and lished this August, accuses Sim- European Parliament – might
emergence of the historic port been a Vice-President of EPP equal rights for same-sex cou- justice and public policy at the mat without outspoken polit- Slovenian Prime Minister Miro research organization that oper- out having to transfer the funds zerland, fearing that this may a compromise was reached: the son of dishonesty, claiming have some explaining to do,
city as an international tourist Women since 2012. ■ ples, including adoption rights, University of Malta. ■ ical affilations. He used to be Cerar. ■ ates the largest particle physics to the EU first. otherwise help the UK. ■ replacement Commissioners irregularities uncovered in an however late the time comes. ■
14 NEW EUROPEAN COMMISSION theconservative.online theconservative.online NEW EUROPEAN COMMISSION 15

Paolo Gentiloni
F
ormer Italian PM Paolo the ecological movement and
Gentiloni has been nom- he became the director of ecolo-
inated by the new Ital- gist newspaper La Nuova Ecolo-
ian governemnt as the country’s gia (“The New Ecology”). During
Commissioner. Under a Council these days, he got to know Fran-
agreement, he would be appointed cesco Rutelli, for whom he became
as vice-president and new com- the spokesman when the latter
petition Commissioner, but it is was elected as Mayor of Rome.
unclear to what extent this will be Gentiloni then became Tourism
honoured, as it was a deal with the Councillor until 2001, when he
previous Italian government. was elected as a Member of the

Photo: Shutterstock.com
Gentiloni has the titles of Nob- Italian Parliament. In 2006, he

Photo: Máthé Zoltán/MTI/MTVA

ile of Filottrano, Nobile of Cin- became Minister for Communi-

Nicolas Schmit

Photo: Shutterstock.com
goli, and Nobile of Macerata and cations in Romano Prodi’s sec-
one of his relatives was an import- ond government for two years.

A
ant conservative politician. He has He managed to enter government
lready in 2018, the of Labour, Employment and studied political sciences at the again in 2014, after having backed
government of Lux- Immigration of Luxembourg. Sapienza University of Rome and Matteo Renzi as leader of the cen- After Renzi resigned in 2016, He also forced NGOs to subscribe
embourg agreed to During this time, in 2015, the was a journalist, before he entered ter left, and was appointed Min- Gentiloni was asked by President to a code when rescuing asylum
nominate Nicolas Schmit, a government lost a referen- politics. He speaks English, ister for Foreign Affairs. During Mattarella to form a new govern- seekers at sea. In 2017, his govern-

László Trócsányi Margaritis Schinas social democrat, as the next

Commissioner. He’s an econo-
dum over the question whether
to grant voting rights to resi-
French and German. During his
student days, he was part of the
this term, he declared that “if
needed, Italy will be ready to fight
ment. On the following day Gen-
tiloni was officially sworn in as
ment also decided a peacekeeping
mission which included sending

L M
mist, trained in France, at the dents without Luxembourgish far left Movimento Studentesco in Libya against the Islamic State, the new head of the government, 450 soldiers to Niger, to help local
ászló Trócsányi, Hunga- of the European Parliament’s will the Parliament approve it? argaritis Schinas is   He was not included in serving as its Resident Director Institut d’études politiques nationality who have lived in and after that, he was also regional because the Italian government continuing with the same coa- forces in the fight against human
ry’s proposal, has a rich Committee on Constitutional   Trócsányi, who is known to a European Com- the lists of Greek EPP mem- in Athens. d’Aix-en-Provence. He is the the country for more than ten secretary of the Workers’ Move- can not accept the idea that there lition, which was then defeated smuggling and Islamic terrorism.
resume: a lawyer by pro- Affairs (AFCO), ahead of a meet- be close to Orbán, in response mission insider who bers of New Democracy in   In November 2014, upon chairman of the EPSCO net- years. At the moment, there is ment for Socialism, a far-left Mao- is an active terrorist threat only in the 2018 elections by the Five Gentiloni is a strong supporter
fession – specialising in consti- ing of the Committee’s coor- to criticism over the concept of has been nominated to serve the 2009 European elections. the assumption of the Com- work of the Party of European a requirement to take manda- ist group. This was at a time when a few hours from Italy by boat.” Star Movement and Lega. As PM, of the EU and has also been engag-
tutional law – he taught law and dinators the following day. He “illiberal democracy” put for- as Greece’s incoming Commis- He returned to the European mission presidency by Jean- Socialists. tory Luxembourgish lessons if the atrocities of the Mao regime, For this, he received death threats he signed a deal with the gov- ing with China’s leaders regard-
politics at the University of Sze- had already taken the item off ward by the Hungarian Prime sioner. With a background in Commission in 2010, when Claude Juncker, he became the He has served as the coun- one wants to obtain citizenship, which caused 50 million deaths, from ISIS. In 2015, he then also ernments of Libya and Tunesia ing their Belt and Road initiative,
ged before taking residence in the agenda twice before in July. Minister, declared for Euractiv legal and political studies, Schi- he was appointed Director of European Commission’s Chief try’s Minister-Delegate for which only just over half of the were already widely known.  backed normalisation of relations whereby both countries pledged as well as with Russian President
Brussels as Hungary’s ambas- As he wrote to ACFO’s chair, in 2015: “Democracy is a very nas started working for the the Bureau of European Pol- Spokesperson. Since December Foreign Affairs and Immigra- inhabitants of Luxembourg While moderating his views, between Cuba and the U.S., by vis- to try to halt migration, some- Putin, urging to loosen sanctions
sador to Belgium and Luxem- former Parliament President important European value. It European Commission in 1989, icy Advisers – as the European 2015, he has also been serving tion and after that as Minister have. ■ Gentiloni became involved in iting Cuba. thing that had only limited effect. against Russia. ■
bourg from 2000 to 2004, and Antonio Tajani, he was unable exists in the European treaty. where he held various positions Political Strategy Centre, the as the Deputy Director-General
then again until his next assign- to take on such a responsibility, But in constitutional law, there until 2007 – including as Head Commission’s think tank, was of the Directorate-General for
ment as the country’s top diplo- given the increased workload his is debate surrounding democ- of Cabinet to former Cypriot known then – by then-Com- Communication.
mat in France. A fluent French role as Hungary’s pick for Com- racy. There are two different Commissioner Markos Kypria- mission President José Man-   57-year-old Schinas is mar-
speaker, he served as a member missioner entails. However, it interpretations: the neo-liberal nou – when he resigned his posi- uel Barroso. In April 2013, he ried to Mercedes Alvargonzález,
of the Venice Commission of is speculated that the reason school and the more conserva- tion to serve as a Member of the was promoted to the position who works as the Head of the
the Council of Europe between might be different altogether: tive school. These are two com- European Parliament as first of director with the Commis- EPP Group Chairman’s Cabinet
2005 and 2013 and as a mem- since the Socialists and Liber- pletely different approaches runner-up, following the depar- sion’s Directorate-General for – that is Manfred Weber – in the
ber of the Hungarian Constitu- als decided – in July – to vote centered largely on individ- ture of Antonis Samaras. Economic and Financial Affairs, European Parliament. ■
tional Court from 2007 to 2010. down all of Fidesz’s candidates ual rights and collective rights.
Interestingly, the 63-year-old for higher office in the Euro- We should respect the com-
succeeded Hungary’s current pean Parliament, the Hungar- mon good. How do we find the
European Commissioner, Tibor ian governing party’s proposals right balance between indi-
Navracsics, as the Minister of for Committee leadership posi- vidual rights and the common
Justice in 2014, a position he tions have struggled to get off good? That is debatable.” In May
held until he was asked by Prime the ground. Two other MEPs, last year, the Brussels-based

Photo: Reuters
Minister Orbán to head Fidesz’s Andrea Bocskor and Balázs Laic Jewish Community Cen-

Photo: European Union 2019 - Source : EP

European elections party list. Hidvéghi have faced similar tre expressed their consterna-

Photo: Shutterstock.com
He has yet to resign his seat problems in the Committee on tion at the invitation addressed
as a Member of the European Culture and Education (CULT) to Trócsányi to speak at a col-
Parliament.
  There might be a reason for
and Committee on Civil Liber-
ties, Justice and Home Affairs
loquium on migration hosted
at the city’s UCLouvain Saint- Stella Kyriakides
P
that. On 2 September, he had (LIBE), respectively. Will Ursula Louis – Bruxelles university,
to withdraw his candidacy for von der Leyen put his nomina- labelling him “xenophobic, rac- resident of Cyprus Nicos Rally President Averof Neofy-
the fourth vice-chairmanship tion forward? And, in that case, ist and anti-Semitic.” ■ Anastasiades took Brus- tou requested the eventual can-

Phil Hogan sels by surprise when he

nominated Stella Kyriakides as
didate Commissioner to first
run for an MEP position, but

Rovana Plumb
I
the choice of the island repub- his suggestion was overruled.
reland’s Phil Hogan has claims to want to “modernise lic’s next Commissioner. Cyprus’ There are more storm clouds on

R
been serving as EU Com- and simplify” it, he has not outgoing European Commis- the horizon: the two men seem
missioner for Agricul- called for the complete abol- ovana Plumb, aged 59, 2012 and 2014, Minister of sioner Christos Stylianides – to disagree on whom – out of the

Photo: European Union 2019 - Source : EP

ture and Rural Development in ishing of “direct payments”, is the pick of Romania’s Labour and Social Justice who holds the Humanitarian runners-up – should succeed
the outgoing EU Commission. which are EU subsidies for government – led by from 2014 to 2015, and Minis- Aid and Crisis Management Kyriakides in Parliament.
Before that, in Ireland, he was owners of agricultural land, the Social Democratic Party, ter of European Funds, a posi- portfolio – is well-regarded in   63-year-old Kyriakides has
Minister for the Environment, without any requirement to a Party of European Social- tion she held between January Berlaymont circles and he is been serving as a member of
Community and Local Govern- actually produce. Direct pay- ists member – to serve as the 2018 and April 2019. She also considered to have had a suc- the House of Representatives
ment and Minister of State at the ments account to more than country’s European Commis- served as a Member of the cessful term in office. His per- for Nicosia since 2006. She
Department of Finance. During 70 percent of the €340 billion sioner. She has been serving European Parliament between formance at the Parliamentary was elected Vice-President of
that period, he was responsi- that is spent over seven years. as a Member of the European 2007 and 2012. hearings in 2014 was labelled as the Democratic Rally in 2013,
ble for implementing some of Particularly troubling is that Parliament in the new leg-   Plumb’s nomination has impressive. What raises further a position she still holds today.
the measures of the so-called 2% of beneficiaries (121,000 islature, where she has also not been without noise: Roma- questions is the fact the Stylian- The chairperson of the Cypriot

Maroš Šefčovič
EU “Troika”, after Ireland had farms) receive 30% of the total been elected a Vice-Chair of nia’s largest opposition parties ides comes for the same party delegation to the Parliamen-
been requesting a eurozone bail- direct payments envelope. the Socialists and Democrats have called for the withdrawal as the President, the EPP-affil- tary Assembly of the Council
Photo: Shutterstock.com

out. This included introducing When EP President Tajani group. of her candidacy and have iated Democratic Rally, as does of Europe (PACE) since 2012,

S
a full property tax based on site suggested to abolish this, he   Plumb is a veteran politi- already announced that will the new candidate. After all, it she has occupied various exec-
lovakia’s Maroš Šefčovič Union, a job he may keep. As a diplomat, he has served valuations.  quickly changed his opinion, cian of the PSD, the Romania’s vote against her in the Euro- was Anastasiades who put Sty- utive functions in the insti-
has been member of the During his term, secured that as the first Permanent Repre- As EU Agriculture Commis- following protest coming from dominant Social Democratic pean Parliament’s confir- lianides’ name forward back in tution, having also served as
European Commission fifteen countries from central, sentative of the Slovak Repub- sioner, being responsible for the “European Landowners’ Party. She joined the party in mation process, due to her 2014, then lamenting the loss of its 30th President for a four-
since 2009. As he served for a eastern and southeast Europe lic to the European Union, the biggest spending post in the Organisation”, a well-con- 1994, going on to hold a num- involvement in a series of con- a valuable comrade to the Euro- month period in the aftermath

Mariya Gabriel
few months in the first Barroso signed a deal to speed up the from 2004 until 2009. In 2019, EU budget, which amounts to nected lobby group.  ber of powerful positions: she troversies. In 2017, a National pean cause. of Pedro Agramunt’s resigna-
Commission, he’s about to enter building of gas links, improve he stood as a candidate in the around 30% of the EU’s near-1 Hogan did defend the EU’s was elected Vice-President of Anticorruption Authority   Adding to the controversy, tion in October 2017.
his fourth term, making him a security of supply, reduce their Slovak presidential elections, trillion budget, he spent €500 free trade deal with Mercosur, the party and President of the investigation for alleged com- Cyprus has expressed the   A British-educated psychol-

B
true Brussels insider. reliance on Russia and develop which he failed to win, even if million in assistance to help pro- which had been causing unrest women’s organisation in 2005, plicity to abuse office was desire to keep the same port- ogist, she specializes in the psy-
ulgarian national making her the youngest Com- political formation led by Boyko First, he was responsible for a fully integrated energy he enjoyed support by the gov- ducers in the European Union among Irish beef farmers, say- before taking over as Pres- blocked by the PSD-domi- folio for their incoming Com- chological effects of childhood
Mariya Gabriel – her missioner in the history of the Borissov, the country’s Prime Education, Training, Culture market.  erning  Smer–SD party, which cope with Russian sanctions, ing compromises had to be ident of the PSD’s National nated Parliament, which voted missioner. Why would anyone and teenage cancer. Between
maiden name is Ned- institution. Minister. She was Vice-Presi- and Youth, in 2009 and 2010, He has been studying in has been recently suffering a especially in the the dairy and made. In the past, he has also Council in 2015 and interim against the removal of Plumb’s remove their own success- 1979 and 2006, she served as
elcheva – assumed the office of  Gabriel is a linguist and polit- dent of the EPP Group and Head before he became Vice-Pres- Moscow from 1985 to 1990, significant drop in public confi- pigmeat sectors. He also pro- firmly defended free trade, party President in the sum- immunity. In what is known ful Commissioner while aim- a clinical psychologist in the
the European Commissioner ical scientist by education, hav- of the Bulgarian Delegation to ident of the European Com- at  Moscow State Institute of dence for, as an LSE scholar puts posed improve a school scheme arguing that trade “deals have mer of the same year. She has as the Belina case, the prose- ing to retain the same position Department of Child and Ado-
for Digital Economy and Soci- ing held the position of teaching the same political grouping in mission for Interinstitutional International Relations, and it “at best, being unable to stem to offer free fruit and milk to not harmed European agri- also served as a Member of the cutors accused Plumb of facil- for their country? Wouldn’t it lescent Psychiatry of the coun-
ety in July 2017, following the and research assistant at the the European Parliament. She Relations and Administration before the fall of the Iron Cur- the tide of crime and corruption, children throughout the EU and culture”, explaining that “as Romanian Parliament in three itating the transfer of state have made much more sense try’s Mental Health Services.
resignation of Bulgaria’s Com- Bordeaux Institute of Political resigned her MEP position upon (2010–2014), when he nego- tain, he was also a candidate or, at worst, being accomplices pushed for overall simplifica- people in Asia and Africa have legislatures: 2004-2007, 2012- property – as a Minister of the for Stylianides continued? And She has also held the position
missioner Kristalina Geor- Studies. her nomination to the European tiated administrative reforms for membership in the Com- to it”. tion of the Common Agriculture more disposable income, we see 2016 and 2016 until today. She Environment – to a company wouldn’t that have increased of President of Europa Donna
gieva, who left the European  She was elected to the Euro- Commission. Earlier this sum- within the EU Commission.   munist Party of Czechoslova- Šefčovič has said he is “against Policy. they want to consume Euro- also has a long record of minis- controlled by now-imprisoned Cyprus’ chances of retaining – The European Breast Cancer
Commission to lead the World pean Parliament in 2014 with mer, she was re-nominated by Since 2014, he has been the kia, which he became on 1 June creating European superstate” He hasn’t been pushing for pean food and drink, and our terial responsibilities: she was former PSD President Liviu the Aid portfolio? In a sign of Coalition, as part of a lifelong
Bank.  She was 38 years old at GERB, a Bulgarian Euro- Borissov as Bulgaria’s choice for Vice-President of the European 1989, just before the collapse of and also opposes the EU’s sanc- major changes to the EU’s agri- trade agreements open up these the Minister of Environment Dragnea, who used it as his strained relations with Presi- dedication to the fight against
the time of her appointment, pean People’s Party-affiliated the European executive. ■ Commission for the Energy Communism.  tions against Russia. ■ cultural spending. Even if he growing markets.” ■ and Climate Change between fishing estate. ■ dent Anastasiades, Democratic cancer. ■
16 NEW EUROPEAN COMMISSION theconservative.online theconservative.online OPINION 17

WHEN THE GREEN

REVOLUTION COMES
Photo: European Union 2019 - Source : EP

CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT PAGE use less fuel to achieve the same result,
There is nothing wrong with a teenager reducing CO2 emissions along the way.
fighting for her ideas; on the contrary, As a result, they could be more environ-

Photo: Shutterstock.com
it is admirable. It takes courage, dedi- mentally friendly than electrical cars,
cation, perseverance and sacrifice. Yet, were the electricity used to charge the
the radicalism of her message – panic is car produced from less efficient sources.
the appropriate response to the climate Laurence Edmondson, ESPN’s Formula
emergency according to the young activ- One Editor was writing in 2016: “in a

Sylvie Goulard ist –is often been obscured by a utopian

ignorance of how the world goes around.
country like the USA, where at least 66
percent of electricity comes from coal-

Valdis Dombrovskis
S
Idealism might be a distinct – or even and oil-fired energy stations and just
ylvie Goulard, the deputy was a member of the Commit- “Spinelli Group”, which advo- desirable – characteristic of youth. Greta 13 percent from renewables, an F1 car

4
governor of the French tee for Economic and Monetary cates transferring more pow- Thunberg is doing the right thing. What is arguably greener. The thermal effi-
Central Bank and a for- Affairs and substitute member of ers and financial resources to 8-year-old Valdis Dom- among other roles. of the Zolitūde Maxima shop- is alarming and should raise questions ciency of Mercedes’ class-leading hybrid
mer MEP, has been proposed the Committee for Constitutional the EU level. She is also the for- brovskis currently holds  Upon his first election to the ping centre roof collapse that is the propagation of the same message F1 engine has now [2016] exceeded 45
by French President Emmanuel Affairs.  mer president of the European the position of the Euro- Saeima – the Latvian Parliament resulted in the death of 54 peo- by the adults in the room who should percent, with 50 percent thermal effi-
Macron to enter the European In 2017, she was appointed as Movement in France.  pean Commission Vice-Pres- – in 2002, he was appointed ple, Latvia’s worst disaster since have known better (not to mention the ciency a very real target in the next cou-
Commission. She aims to secure Macron’s Defense Minister, but She has studied at the Ecole ident for the Euro and Social Minister of Finance, a position the 1950s. He denies he was exploitation of the mediatic value she ple of seasons. By contrast, coal and oil
the trade or climate portfolio. she was forced to resign after nationale d’administration Dialogue, Financial Stability, he held until 2004, when he was forced by the Latvian President carries by political leaders, who oth- power stations achieve thermal effi-
She was an adviser to European less than a month following an (ENA), the French elite school Financial Services and Capital elected a Member of the Euro- to do so. A parliamentary inves- erwise intend to as much for climate ciency of around 33 percent, meaning
Commission President Romano investigation into potentially which Macron has decided to Markets Union, and has been pean Parliament, serving in the tigation committee later found as any of their credible electoral oppo- the power used to drive an electric car
Prodi between 1999-2004, when fictitious employment of Euro- shut down in a bid to appease re-nominated as his native Lat- Committee on Budgets (BUDG). him and another six individu- nents). Pragmatically, the role of activ- is likely to come from a less efficient
was involved with the European pean Parliamentary assistants “yellow vests” protestors. She also via’s candidate Commissioner  He returned to Latvia in Feb- als, including the mayor of Riga, ists like her is to raise awareness and source than an F1 engine.” In Europe,
Convention presided by Valéry by her political party, MoDem. holds a law degree from the Uni- for another term. ruary 2009, this time to serve as morally and politically responsi- make a point, however symbolic. (No conventional thermal power plants run
Giscard d’Estaing, something that Goulard herself isn’t however versité Paul Cézanne Aix-Mar-   An imposing figure, Dom- the Baltic country’s Prime Min- ble for the tragedy. one expects World Economic Forum at an efficiency of 50%.
ultimately resulted in the Lis- subject of the investigation, seille III and has studied at brovskis has an academic back- ister. The coalition he had put In 2014, he threw in his name participants to take a 32-hour train ride This does not mean that electric cars
bon Treaty. In 1989, she worked which is continuing.  Sciences Po in Paris. She has been ground in physics, having served together received the green light for the position of the European to Davos as she did. But by doing so, she are not the vehicle of the future. It sim-
in the French foreign ministry She’s a European federal- a teacher the College of Europe in as an assistant at an assistant at on 12 March 2009, but Dom- People’s Party’s Spitzenkandi- set a counter-standard.) Transforming ply means that for those to reach that
on German reunification.  As an ist, having been involved with Bruges.  She is fluent in French, the University of Latvia’s Insti- brovskis resigned his position in dat, before withdrawing to Jean- that into a global movement that can potential, a series of other conditions
MEP between 2009 -2017, she the creation of the so-called English, Italian and German. ■ tute for State-State Physics, November 2013 in the aftermath Claude Juncker’s favour. ■ carry enough political leverage to trans- will have to be fulfilled, such as greener
late beliefs into actions is of a totally electricity production. That renders
different order. More, for such trans- Human activity has accelerated – not created – oversimplification and generalisa-

a natural process of global warming that started with

formation to steer clear of inequitable tion – for example, absolutisms such as
disruption, it requires wisdom. That is “electric cars are better than fuel ones” –
what is demanded of those actors – not
of Greta Thunberg, at least for now, but the end of the last ice age 20,000 years ago. dangerous, at least now and in the fore-
seeable future. If the carbon footprint
of the political actors – that have chosen
to ride the climate bandwagon.
Climate changes are nothing new. of sourcing materials for, producing,
assembling, transporting, assembling
  There are several questionable and operating wind turbines and solar
aspects – if not outright wrong – with the European Parliament endorsed a thousands of years. But our descendants panels is added into the equation, such
this message of panic – expressed in rad- plan to ban certain types of single-use – however distant – will have to deal green mantras might turn out to be
Photo: Paulius Peleckis/Fotobankas

ical and simplistic terms – that we are plastics by 2021, along with other similar with such issues. Today’s green envi- rather misleading, for now.
being served. First, what has ended up measures. All plastic bottles should con- ronmentalism should be stripped of any The same applies to other generali-
becoming green populism shares the tain at least 25% recycled material by moral considerations about future gen- sations: the environmental efficiency
exact same traits with other populist 2025, for example. A study conducted by erations and just be called what it is: our of trains, Greta Thunberg’s preferred
worry about our own quality of life and

Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TT

movements Green parties claim to offer the Helmholtz Centre for Environmen- transportation medium, varies across
an alternative and be opposed to. In an tal Research – a research centre based in survival. types, the number of passengers, routes
increasingly polarised world, radical, Germany – found that ninety percent of As with all dogmatic belief systems, and countries. According to research
abstract, simple solutions to complex all the plastic that ends up in the ocean Andrianos Giannou radical or authoritarian environmen- from the BBC, “a train trip from Paris
Political strategist and communicator talism tends to exclude theories – and

Virginijus Sinkevičius
issues – such as the many proposed bans comes from 10 river systems, the Yang- to Bordeaux (about 500km) emits just
– will only sow and nurture division, tze, Indus, Yellow, Hai He, Ganges, Pearl, @a_giannou in this case, solutions – that do not fit 4.4kg of carbon dioxide per passen-
they will not bridge it. It is another divid- Amur and the Mekong rivers in Asia and the established narrative. One such case ger, while a journey between the Polish

W
ing line that is being drawn, another wall the Nile and the Niger in Africa. can last, allowing it to be kept for up to 15 is the improvement or efficientisation cities of Gdansk and Katowice (about

Ylva Johansson
ere he to be approved Farmers and Greens Union, the raised. It is understandable that there is   Switching away from plastic pack- days in the fridge and cutting food waste of internal combustion engines (not to 465km) emits 61.8kg.” That is because
by Parliament, Lithu- country’s largest political party. urgency in fighting climate change: the aging will increase the cost for produc- in half. An unwrapped cucumber would mention nuclear power). 75% of the electricity in France comes
ania’s pick, Virginijus Even though the party sits in result could prove to be catastrophic. ers. Such increases are more often than last just two days at room temperature In the past few years, engineers at from nuclear power. In Poland, 80%

Y
Sinkevičius, will only celebrate the Greens/European Free Alli- However, radical solutions seldom work not passed on to consumers, dispropor- and 9 days if refrigerated,” according to Formula One – of all places – have made comes from coal. Were Poland to start
his 29th birthday three days ance group in the European lva  Johansson is now AB, a which was partially owned for all. Given that both sides of this argu- tionately affecting the poor. As the BBC the BBC.  “Putting grapes in their own strides towards enhancing the thermal building nuclear reactors, Greta Thun-
after taking office, on 4 Novem- Parliament, its membership a social democrat but by the Swedish Municipal Asso- ment claim to possess the absolute truth reported last year, “more than one third individual plastic boxes has been found efficiency of the engines of their racing berg – she opposes nuclear power – and
Photo: Reuters

ber. Aged 28, that will make him does not extend to the Euro- once was a member of ciation and a number of trade on climate matters, the risk of societal of the food in the EU now comes pack- to cut food waste by 75%.” cars. Thermal efficiency indicates the other activists like her would protest.
the youngest European Com- pean Greens. It has no interna- the far left, even having elected unions. In the summer of 2004 cleavages on the issue is rather high. aged in plastic.” An alternative to PET  Another controversial element of this fraction of the heat that is put to work. Diesel locomotives in the United King-
missioner in history, beating the tional affiliation. However, the as a member of the Riksdag for she resigned as CEO and one year  It should come as no surprise that the packaging could be biodegradable plas- polarising rhetoric is that it nurtures In the case of international combustion dom emit 90g. The electric Intercity
current record holder – serv- agrarian party – the policies of the Left Party - Communists later, the company was closed most likely victims of this radicalism are tics – made from starch, from example illusions: first, it is the illusion that solu- engines, which belong to the category 225 emits about 45g. An average car

Věra Jourová ing Digital Economy and Society

Commissioner Mariya Gabriel
which can better be described
as center-right – has little green
(VPK) in the 1988 general elec-
tions. She is still considered to
down, with losses then amount-
ing to 200 million SEK. 
the poor. Take the Amazon rainforest
fires: a probable cause is the increased
– that can completely disintegrate in
nature within weeks or months. How-
tions can be immediately implemented.
Switching away from plastic packaging,
of heat engines, thermal energy from
fuel combustion or burning is trans-
with four passengers emits about 43g.
Is carpooling more efficient than train

T
was 38 when she took over from credentials. This might sour be part of the left wing of her She is a fan of football and need for land cultivation due to over- ever, it costs significantly more. In the an industry that has developed over sev- formed into mechanical energy. What travel? It could be. But such fact is not
he Czech government area of EU regional funds. Kristalina Georgieva – by a good Ursula von der Leyrn’s attempt party. She has been Sweden›s has been chairman of the Stock- population or financial need, through United Kingdom, the price of a bio- enty years, will require a complete over- portion of that thermal energy is trans- promoted, given that it does not fit into
has nominated Věra Before she became EU Com- ten years.  Age is definitely a con- to portray Sinkevičius’ nom- Minister for Employment since holm’s Football Association. forest clearing. In Brazil and elsewhere, degradable takeaway fork is 3.5 times haul or even substitution of the supply formed into mechanical energy is what the prescribed narrative.
Jourová, who has been missioner, she was Minister cern: “I cannot dispute the argu- ination as an overture to the 2014. Between 1994 to 1998 She was also elected honorary slash-and-burn agriculture or fire-fal- higher than that of a plastic one, accord- chain. This could take decades. More, the efficiency of the engine essentially Where does this leave us? If one les-
responsible for Justice, Con- of Regional Development for ment about my age as I cannot do Greens, who will otherwise gain and between 2004 to 2006 she member of Hammarby football low cultivation is a common practice. ing to the British broadcaster. When it the green narrative that is being pro- is. The Second Law of Thermodynamics son is to be taken away from previ-
sumers and Gender Equality about half a year in the Czech that. And in terms of my work, it’s no other commissionership. already served as a Minister, club in 018.  Condemning developing countries comes to the soft drink industry, switch- moted puts forward the idea that the stipulates the limitations of heat trans- ous dogmatic movements that sought
in Juncker’s team. She would government. She is a promi- been visible over the past three “This does not at all satisfy our respectively for schools and for Swedish think tank Timbro for employing methods the developed ing to glass bottles from the current PET radical changes required will be benefi- fer, and specifically, “it sets out the spe- to implement their agenda is that the
reportedly be interested in nent member of the ANO party, years,” Sinkevičius declared for requests,” group co-chair Ska Welfare.  has criticised her policies, stat- world used in our earlier developmen- standard will require 40% more energy cial to all. This might be the case in the cific idea that heat cannot be converted aggressive and authoritarian pursuit
moving on up to the trade or which is led by current Czech The Baltic Times after his nomi- Keller declared for Politico. “I Johansson holds a Master of ing that Sweden would have the tal stages and as late as the last century only for their transportation, given the long-term. But the victims of the eco- entirely to mechanical energy.” What of their goal, and the societal division
internal market portfolios. PM Andrej Babiš, who is being nation. “I am not a perfect candi- don’t know [Sinkevičius] per- Science in education and worked lowest unemployment rate in – in Thunberg’s native Sweden, slash- significantly higher weight of glass bot- nomic shock that will have to take place is not transformed into mechanical such an endeavour will bring about,
When the Czech Republic investigated by both Czech date and will never be one. I am sonally and I hope we’re going as a teacher from 1992 to 1994. the EU by 2020, but that due to and-burn was widely practiced at least tles compared to plastic alternatives. for such change to take effect might energy is waste heat. In cars, that waste might derail the project itself. The cli-
entered the EU, she was leading Police and the European Anti- self-critical and know I will need to meet in September. It’s great In 1998, she became the sub- her policies “locking the unem- until the early 20th century – amounts It is not only the direct financial cost: think otherwise. Further, the same nar- heat is dissipated in the coolant and mate cause might be an exception: our
the Czech team that negotiated Fraud Office (OLAF) for irregu- to work hard and make an effort that he’s going to be there, defi- ject of a love story between two ployed into programmes that to bigotry, unless we are willing to share in a report by the American Chemistry rative feeds the illusion that a green rev- exhaust fumes. survival and well being depend on it.
EU funds with the European larities with EU funds. as issues at the European Com- nitely. But he’s not a member of acting Swedish Ministers. Swe- keep them away from the labor our wealth to increase living standards Council and Trustcot – an environmen- olution could eradicate global warming. An average car’s thermal efficiency However, what is needed is a middle-
Commission and European During her term as EU Com- mission are really very complex.” the European Greens.” den’s Minister for Finance Erik market”, this wasn’t realised as elsewhere, beyond mere humanitarian tal accounting firm – “the environmen- Human activity has accelerated – not ranges between 20 and 30%, and it has of-the-road approach when asking peo-
Investment Bank. She has been missioner, she was responsible   Currently serving as Lith-   Gitanas Nausėda, the Presi- Åsbrink announced his and “Sweden is now one of the coun- aid. On top of that, the criticism targets tal costs would be five times higher if the created – a natural process of global remained so for the last 50 years. It ple to sign up. Spreading panic will not
accused of corruption with EU for implementing the so-called uania’s acting Economy and dent of Lithuania, hopes for an Johansson’s wish to “publicly tries in the EU that has the low- counties we have been outsourcing our soft industry used alternative packag- warming that started with the end of the means that 70-80% of the heat from work. Explaining the benefits to each
funds and then spent more General Data Protection Reg- Innovation Minister, a posi- important portfolio for Sinkev- confirm that we are in love” while est per capita GDP growth and production to, while our economics have ing like glass, tin or aluminium instead last ice age 20,000 years ago. Climate burning fuel is lost – or rather trans- one of us, as well as the risks, might be
than a month in pre-trial deten- ulation (GDPR), which came tion he has held since Novem- ičius, based on his competence.  also stating they would separate the unemployment figures are been focusing on the service industries. of plastic.” changes are nothing new. The Earth has formed into other forms that are irrel- a better strategy. Shunning other ideas
tion, but the prosecution was into force in 2008 and pro- ber 2017, Virginijus Sinkevičius The candidate holds an under- from their respective partners. considerably gloomier than   But one need not go that far away  A switch will also impact food waste: been getting warmer. Certainly not at evant to the car’s primary function. that might bring about the desired effect
halted in mid-2008, when she voked fierce debates between was first elected as a Member graduate degree in Economic and She left the government soon the government is aware of”, in order to get a sense of the economic the technology of plastic materials has this pace, but it has. Humanity would Attempts have been made to develop simply because they do not serve the
was cleared of any wrongdoing. opponents and proponents, as of the Seimas, the Lithuanian Social Studies from Aberystwyth after that and joined the private further noting that “the gov- impact such practices will have. Despite developed over time to extend the shelf- eventually have to face phenomena such waste heat recovery systems in cars. interests of the pack or the promoted
Between 2006 and 2013, Jou- implementation looks patchy, parliament, in 2016, represent- University and a Master of Arts sector. From 2000 until 2004 ernment is hiding the actual the fact that research has shown that the life of food. “The shrink wrap used on as rising sea levels or desertification. Most importantly, in the last five years, narrative will not help either. Most peo-
rová was an independent con- also due to the unclear nature ing a Vilnius constituency. He in European Studies from Maas- she was deputy CEO and CEO of unemployment figures, through vast amount of plastic in oceans comes cucumbers for instance, can more than Perhaps not in this generation or gen- Formula One cars have broken the 50% ple will be willing to help. Unless they
sultant offering services in the of some of its provisions. ■ is a member of the Lithuanian tricht University. ■ the education company Att Veta unemployment subsidies”. ■ from Asia and Africa, earlier this year, double the length of time the vegetable erations to come in hundreds or even efficiency barrier. That means that they are pushed to. ■
18 OPINION theconservative.online theconservative.online OPINION 19

THE GREAT
the lack of solidarity. will imply the existence of intent – it does, the rhetoric went. The citizens As federalisation by stealth was the is dependent upon: poverty. A pre-
The list of factors that have caused might be simply the inability and unpre- of the East bought into the offer. How- tactic of choice in the development of dominantly Western – and politically,
a rift continues into questions over paredness of the dominant Western ever, fifteen years into this exercise, the the European Union before the East- almost entirely Franco-German – mid-
respect for the rule of law, a fundamental forces to deal with an unexpected rebel- promise of catching up has yet to mate- ern enlargement, so is exclusion to the dle-class question, the environment is a
value of the European Union, with both lion in the East. If the possibility that rialise. People in the East will claim challenges to the status quo that come post-materialist issue that ignores the

EUROPEAN DIVIDE
Hungary and Poland currently facing the will to share power never existed – that the four freedoms of the Single from the East. What is alarming is that struggle for what most of the Eastern
potential suspension of certain rights which will amount to another proof of Market have only worked to the bene- the new leadership lacks answers or a members and a big part of Western soci-
as members for flaunting the rules, mens rea – is excluded, giving the West- fit of the West: Western companies and plan to address such fundamental ques- eties still face: material wealth. (Among
under the procedure foreseen in Article ern leaders the benefit of the doubt, the goods now dominate their markets, tions, and one in particular that can be the 2004, 2007 and 2013 enlargement
7 of the Treaty of the European Union. architects of the Union and their heirs and their offspring have left for richer echoed both in the West and the East: cohort, the Greens only elected Mem-
(Poland is subject to three infringe- might have never contemplated that the shores. What’s in it for them? If there what is in it for me? The erstwhile sell- bers of the European Parliament in
ment proceedings under Article 7 for East would become ing point of peace three: Czechia, Latvia and Lithuania,
breaches of the bloc’s founding values.) critical to the gift of will not cut it any- from the Pirate Party, the Russian ethic
Romania has also faced criticism for the membership and its more, particularly minority party and an agrarian party

I
same reason. It is telling that prior to the conditionalities fol- with the younger with little green credentials, respec-
n the early hours of Friday, 23 jobs and positions of responsibility have
been given out to Westerners? A big
European elections last May, in early
April, France and Germany presented a
lowing fifty years
of totalitarian rule.
However, ruling by dividing is a generations. It is tively.) An unfettered focus on green

short-sighted strategy. The challenge

August, Hong Kong’s pro-de- security – both issues could become a new dividing
mocracy activists – well into theme of the election that has just gone, common statement at a meeting of EU Weren’t newly-liber- financial and physi- line. Another dividing line can be dis-
their sixth month of anti-govern-
ment demonstrations – united in hold-
As white smoke emerged from the is that all Europeans, no matter where
they are from, would have a voice in the
Affairs ministers in Luxembourg calling
for further hearings on this matter after
ated members states
simply expected to has moved from the periphery to the cal, or even cultural
– that is required.
cerned in Emmanuel Macron’s ear-
lier attempt to rebuild a core nucleus
ing hands to form a human chain that Europa building where the leaders new administration. But so far it looks as the elections. rejoice at rejoining core: the Eastern front has moved to The new leadership around the common currency, further
stretched fifty kilometres in length. It
was a unique gesture, unlike any other met, it was confirmed that those though that voice has been smothered.
One might argue that the stance of
Further, there is the emergence of
a new European culture war frontier:
the free world from
which they have been the home front. Eastern Europeans
was chosen on the
wrong criteria: it is a
institutionalising an implicit variable
geometry at the expense of Eastern
in their prolonged struggle to safeguard
the territory’s autonomy from Beijing’s
member states that sat on the wrong Western States – led by either France or
Germany, or, at times, by both countries
most Eastern states oppose what they
see as a new form of cultural imperi-
violently unrooted
in the dark days of as much as Western Europeans compromise by peo-
ple of the status quo
European states.
Western states have managed so far
interference. Unlike the unprecedented side of the Iron Curtain thirty years under the auspices of an ambivalent alism stemming from Brussels, which World War Two, no demand answers. for people of the sta- to exploit cleavages between Eastern

ago had been – once again – left

violence since riots erupted last March, Franco-German alliance – is motivated seeks – in their opinion – to undermine questions asked? tus quo. There is no states. It is telling that both Hungary
this protest was peaceful; not even by revenge. The new Eastern members, Christian values and morals in favour of If one excludes agenda that all mem- and Poland voted in favour of Ursula von
the notorious Hong Kong traffic was
disrupted.
out. None of the five vacancies that in unison, smaller groupings or even
unilaterally have caused many a head-
a liberal agenda. The Eastern members
strenuously protest to dress a strait-
systemic challenges associated with
modern democracies (corruption, the
is nothing in it materially beneficial to
them, anyway, why should they accept
ber states have rallied behind. In real-
ity, there is very little policy at all. That
der Leyen’s nomination, despite the fact
that she has previously criticised both
The day picked for picked for the pro- were negotiated went to an Eastern ache to Western leaders: the opposition jacket – made in Brussels – on their per- drive of elites to maintain power, polit-
ical planning that lacks long-term focus
– on top of that – to be criticised about
their beliefs?
remains to be seen. states’ stance on migration and rule of

European.
test was the anniversary of thirty years of the four countries of the Visegrád ceptions and social norms, whereas the What is crucial at this point is for law issues, respectively. (They did so to
ago when in the two million Lithuanians, Group (Poland, Hungary, Czechia and West and the Commission reads that and only revolves around the electoral The same logic has spread to a good the agenda that will be drawn up to be avoid a Timmermans presidency, seen
Latvians and Esthonians formed what Slovakia) to refugee relocation quotas attitude as Euroscepticism and an appe- cycle, or the self-interest of national part of the West, where the social con- truly inclusive. The interests of East- as a bigger evil.) However, ruling by
came to be known as the Baltic Way: negotiated largely among heads of state leadership of the European Union very throughout the 2015 migrant influx and tite for cherry-picking, blaming the leader to bash Brussels for electoral tract was tacitly based on another – yet ern member states, as well as those of dividing is a short-sighted strategy. The
a human chain across the three then-­ in a marathon session at the beginning firmly seems to belong to Old Europe. the crisis that ensued is seminal. Accu- protesting members for an opportunis- gain, for example), the explanation very similar – foundation: stealth deci- the people left behind in the West, will challenge has moved from the periphery
Soviet republics, in an effort to draw of July. Even the division of Committee chair- sations of “blackmail and diktat” over tic, transactional approach against the could be found in unfulfilled expecta- sions – towards more Europe – were have to be taken into account for the to the core: the Eastern front has moved
attention to the cause of independence. As white smoke emerged from the manships in the European Parliament the attempt to link future disburse- wholehearted belief in European pro- tions. The promise of membership in tolerated or even legitimised by the European project not only to thrive, to the home front. Eastern Europeans
That symbolic act – its strength found Europa building where the leaders met, has an anti-Eastern bias. Only two of the ments of EU funds to participation in gressive federalism that until recently the late 1990s was formulated around electorate as long as the promise of but – first – to survive. The first signs as much as Western Europeans demand
in the emotionally and visually-cap- it was confirmed that those member twenty-two Committee and Subcom- the scheme were directed towards Brus- went unchallenged in the West. the basic tenet of catching up: open up prosperity and security was acted upon are discouraging. A focus on the envi- answers. Despite ominous signs, the new
tivating picture of citizens of all ages states that sat on the wrong side of the mittee chairmanships went to members sels and key capitals, most importantly If it is not revenge that guides the your markets – and societies – on our delivered. The financial and migration ronment – to counter a perceived surge leadership has the benefit of starting off
and from all walks of life, raising hands, Iron Curtain thirty years ago had been from Eastern Europe in the newly-con- Berlin. The German Chancellor recip- exclusion of Eastern politicians from terms and your people will soon enjoy crises have shuttered that narrative; the of the Greens – will ignore a far big- with a clean state. It would be wise to use
holding flowers and flags, bringing the – once again – left out. None of the five stituted legislature. Again, that is equal rocated by noting what she perceived as the European Union’s top jobs – which the same standard of living the West pact is all but undone. ger challenge that even climate change it to their advantage. ■
world around them to a silent standstill, vacancies that were negotiated went to to 9%. The chairmanship of the Employ-
in a demonstration of their desire for an Eastern European. The newly-ap- ment Committee was prevented from
freedom and self-determination – ranks pointed head of the European Commis- going to a former Polish Prime Minister.
along other equally powerful images that sion who will succeed retiring President At the end of previous term, there were
came to symbolise the plight of Europe- Jean-Claude Juncker – a Luxembourg- eight Committee Chairs from Eastern
ans against the two evils that faced the ian – is Ursula von der Leyen, a – West – Europe.
continent in the second half of the previ- German. The proposal for the new High The consolation prize that was offered
ous century: communist totalitarianism Representative is Josep Borrell of Spain, to the East adds insult to injury: in
and the division it brought about. who, unless voted down by Parliament, another of French President Emman-
The symbolic power of the images will take over from Federica Mogherini, uel Macron’s not-so-carefully-choreo-
taken on the 23 August 1989 have had an Italian. Incoming Council President graphed pirouettes aiming to blow smoke
such an impact as to motivate protesters Charles Michel comes from Belgium; in everybody’s eyes, Kristalina Georgieva,
in Hong Kong, but the message seems to the outgoing President is Donald Tusk, a citizen of Bulgaria, has been nominated
have fallen on deaf ears closer to home a Pole and the only East European to to head the International Monetary
in Brussels, where, in parallel to the have ever occupied one of the five high Fund, an institution in which the United
demonstrations in the Asian city-state, offices. The newly-elected President of States of America has the unique power
the elites of European power have been the European Parliament is David Sas- to veto major decisions by itself. Unless
scrambling to put together a new admin- soli, an Italian who has replaced Anto- there is another bailout of a European
istration following May’s European Par- nio Tajani, a co-national of his. Unless Union member state in the near future,
liament elections. anything changes, at the helm of the the effective impact on the daily lives of
European Central Bank will sit Chris- European citizens that that position can
tine Lagarde, a Frenchwoman, as the bring about cannot be even remotely
fourth President. The third President, compared to the power that any of the

One could potentially explain or

whose term expires on 31 October 2019, other positions on offer can yield.
is Mario Draghi, an Italian. What emerges is a clear pattern of
overlook such an alarming paradigm All but one come from the club of the
Original Six. None of them comes from
division. It is neither a recent phenom-
enon nor a change: the systematic exclu-
in the early years of accession: any of the countries that have joined sion of Eastern European politicians
from the top jobs has been present from
mistrust and the lack of experience
the bloc after 1986, when Spain and
Portugal became members. They also the very beginning of their integration
in the ways and means of the share borders: one could travel on land
to all five countries the new leadership
into the bloc. It is only getting worse.
A divide that was thought to have been
European bureaucracy could provide comes from without crossing any other
state’s borders. Since the first wave of
brought down over a quarter of a cen-
tury ago has re-emerged.
a borderline-tenable justification for enlargement to include Eastern Euro- One could potentially explain or over-
the absence of appointments. pean states in 2004 – fifteen years ago –
a single East European has occupied any
look such an alarming paradigm in the
early years of accession: mistrust and the
of the top five positions: Donald Tusk. lack of experience in the ways and means
This year provides the opportunity Since 2004, when the first eight East of the European bureaucracy could pro-
for a total change of direction at the top European countries accessed the Euro- vide a borderline-tenable justification
level: a new President of the European pean Union, the top four positions in for the absence of appointments. (Yet,
Commission will take over on 1 Novem-
ber, as will a new High Representative
the three main institutions of the Euro-
pean Union have been negotiated for a
even this logic is greatly problematic:
why would anyone accept new members
What is crucial at this point is for
for Foreign Affairs and Security Pol- total of twenty times (there have been that they would not trust in their exclu- the agenda that will be drawn up
icy, the second most coveted position
in the executive branch of the Euro-
seven terms of Parliament presiden-
cies, five terms of Council presidencies,
sive club? One is legitimately entitled to
enquire about the motives.) But what to be truly inclusive. The interests
pean Union. On 1 December, a month
after the new Commission will be sworn
four terms of Commission presidencies
and four terms of High Representative
about this summer’s appointments?
Could one claim that East European
of Eastern member states, as well
in, the next President of the European tenures). Donald Tusk has occupied his leaders are still learning the ropes? Roy as those of the people left behind
Council will also take office. A new Pres-
ident of the European Parliament has
position for two consecutive two-and-
a-half-year terms. Since 2007, when the
Jenkins, a Brit who served as European
Commission President between 1977 in the West, will have to be taken
already started his mandate on 3 July.
In a rare coincidence, which makes the
first Eastern member joined the Euro-
zone – Slovenia – there have been two
and 1981, was appointed to that position
only four years after the United King-
into account for the European
reshuffle complete, the position of the appointments of ECB Presidents. None dom had joined. What is wrong with the project not only to thrive,
President of the European Central Bank
– an office that carries a term of eight
has been an East European. That sums
out to two appointments out of a total
East? Or, perhaps, what is wrong with
the West? but – first – to survive.
years – is also up for grabs. All five top of twenty-two. That is nine percent of What kind of message does it send
jobs at the European Union level were all appointments. That is to say that the to Eastern Europe, when all of the top
20 CULTURE theconservative.online theconservative.online CULTURE 21

IS IT OK TO ENJOY
MARXIST MUSIC
N
ot long ago, the New York politics – such as music. When I was a
Philharmonic began a con- student, there was a slogan: “The per-
cert with The Chairman sonal is the political.” This I rejected
Dances, a 1985 piece by emphatically and I recommended that
John Adams, the American composer. others do too.
It has a subtitle: Foxtrot for Orches- The students would have none of it
tra. (Shostakovich wrote a Tahiti Trot (many of them). They had never heard
– his orchestral treatment of the popu- the slogan “The personal is the politi-
lar song “Tea for Two.”) The Chairman cal” but they liked it. Believed it. Right
Dances springs from a bigger Adams down to one’s musical preferences.
work, Nixon in China, an opera. This I found sad and a little alarming.
The smaller piece has long been In 2004, President George W. Bush
popular on American orchestral pro- was running for reelection against
grammes. And Peter Martins, the Dan- Senator John Kerry, and Linda Ron-
ish choreographer, made a ballet of it. called Dreams, which is apolitical, so stadt was giving concerts. At each one,
In the manner of other Adams far as I can tell. It’s true that Rzewski she dedicated a song to Michael Moore,

KYIV
works, The Chairman Dances begins employs a tune of Woody Guthrie, the the Leftist documentarian and a great
with peppy minimalism. It grows old singer-songwriter-activist. But it’s foe of Bush. She let it be known that
screwy, psychedelic, corny, yawpish a children’s song, and innocuous. she was uncomfortable with Republi-
and eerie. It is a strange and clever Rzewski’s magnum opus is The Peo- cans and fundamentalist Christians in

Next weekend in
piece. And an enjoyable one. Few can ple United Will Never Be Defeated!, a her audience.
dislike it. set of 36 variations. Levit has recorded Okay. But a lot of people, of many
I myself am uneasy with it. There is this work to considerable acclaim stripes, have always loved Linda. Does
a shadow over the piece, for me. Why? alongside two canonical works: Bach’s she really mean to kick them (us) out?
Well, because of the Chairman: Mao Goldberg Variations and Beethoven’s The other day, I was in a restau-
Zedong. Diabelli Variations. rant or a store when an oldie came on:
If you’ll forgive the arrogance, I sim- The tune came from Chile in 1973 “Steal Away”, from 1980. It is a song by
ply know too much about him. He is (“¡El pueblo unido jamás será ven- Robbie Dupree. A marvellous song, it
more than a figure in an Andy War- cido!”). It is an anthem of the Latin filled me with gladness and warmth. I
hol print. He is more than the Great American Left. Two years later, Rze- decided I would tweet about it – and
Helmsman. He is one of the great wski composed his variations, in sol- look up Dupree on Twitter. I found
tyrants, murderers, and horrors of all idarity. Speaking of solidarity, there him, and read some of his tweets. They
time. Even in the line-up of totalitar- are other tunes in these variations – were scaldingly political. He is no fan
ian dictators, he stands out. I know including “Solidarity Song”, whose of the likes of me, politically speaking.
many Chinese whose greatest dream is words are by Bertolt Brecht and whose But I’m a fan of his. I tweeted that, as
this: the tumbling down of Mao’s por- music is by Hanns Eisler. far as I was concerned, “Steal Away”
trait in Tiananmen Square. A curious fact about Eisler? He was as timeless as a Schubert song.
Now, the rule is, you’re never sup- wrote the national anthem of East Politics casts a shadow over so much.
Ukraine is a country that is often overlooked by European travellers, posed to mention Hitler. This is not a
rule I always follow. What if there were
Germany – or the “German Demo-
cratic Republic,” as the Communists
I say, keep it at bay, when you can. ■

and yet in recent months there has been a renewed interest in a piece called The Chancellor Dances? styled it.
Or The Führer Dances? No one would The very notion of this work – the
visiting one of the continents biggest best kept secrets. sit still for it, right? Rzewski “People” piece – is obnox-
There are no words to The Chair- ious to me. But... it is a commendable,
man Dances. It’s just music. Yet I have admirable piece of music. The varia-
a hard time divorcing the music from tions are interesting. They are various,

When to go? Where to go? Where to stay?

the person named in the title. The as variations should be. They are uni-
piece leaves a bad taste in my mouth, fied (like the People?), they compel. In
I guess. fact, The People United Will Never Be
A highlight of any trip to Kyiv is a visit to the cities Orthodox cathe- On another night in New York, Igor Defeated! is one of the best long works Jay Nordlinger
drals, all of which are elaborately decorated with golden icons of Levit played a recital. He is a Rus- for piano in the modern era. is a senior editor of National Review
the saints, in that delicate Greco-Roman style that only the East- sian-German pianist (and superb). He Where does that leave me? A little and the music critic of The New
ern Orthodox Church can offer. The recent split from the Russian champions Frederic Rzewski, another “conflicted,” as the shrinks say. Criterion. He is the author of Peace,
Sometime ago, I gave a talk to col- They Say: ­A History of the Nobel
Orthodox Church created a renewed passion within Ukraine for American composer (whose name
Peace Prize (Encounter Books). His
their ecclesiastical history. Must see Cathedrals include St Sophia’s, is pronounced “ZHEV-ski”). Rze- lege students. Its theme was: “Cool it latest book is a study of the sons and
St Michael’s Golden Domed Cathedral and the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra wski likes to write music on political on the politics. There’ll be time enough daughters of dictators: Children of
– the largest Monastery in the country. themes: mill workers, prisoners, war, for that later.” Not everything need be Monsters (also Encounter). He lives in
Aside from the Cathedrals, there is also an abundance of public etc. He is a man of the Left. political, I said. There are zones that New York.
monuments dedicated to the various stages of Ukraine’s history. Levit played movements of a piece should be free, or relatively free, of @JayNordlinger
From the monument to the founders – a statue dedicated to the
early leaders of the Kievan Rus, to the Friendship Arch – a monu-
ment erected by the Russians during Soviet times that has since had
a crack painted on it to reflect modern sensitivities within the coun-
Ukraine is a country of extremes in a lot of ways, least of all when try. However by far the most impressive of the national monuments When visiting Kyiv it is better to stay in the larger hotels, as they can
it comes to the weather. In the Summer months temperatures continues to be the Monument to the Motherland, one of the tall- offer much more to foreign visitors than local hotels can. The Pre-
can reach the high 30’s whilst in the Winter temperatures drop to est statues in the world of Ukraine incarnate as protective mother mier Palace is a historic hotel in the centre of the city that boasts
around -5 with heavy snow storms. holding a sword and shield in defence of her children. fine dining, a spa, fully equipped gym, and a cigar lounge.
It is best to visit Kyiv between March and November as the As well as having a viewing platform, the Monument to the The Hyatt hotel on the banks of the Dnieper offers an equally luxu-
weather tends to be on the warmer side, however visiting during the Motherland also plays host to one of Ukraine’s best museums, the rious stay. With friendly staff and plenty of facilities to cater to guests
winter is an experience all of it’s own as the golden domed cathe- museum of military history. Which mostly focuses on the involve- every need, it stands out as one of the best hotels in the city and is
drals take on a new form when they are capped with snow. ment of Ukrainian troops in the red army, but also touches on the no wonder that it’s the favourite for high profile international guests.
military history of Ukraine during both the years of the Russian
Revolution and the more recent illegal occupation of Crimea. A
large collection of military aircraft and armoured vehicles are also
held as part of the museum.
Independence Square – perhaps made all the more recognisable
by images shown of the Euromaidan protests on the news – is worth
a visit for those after a taste of modern Ukraine. The underground
Globus shopping centre is a regular hangout for younger Ukraini-
ans. Whilst above ground stands the make shift memorials to those
who died during Ukraine’s recent struggle for freedom.
The recent success of the HBO mini-series Chernobyl has seen
an increased popularity in day trips to the exclusion zone. Such
trips used to be rare, by the Ukrainian government has recently
made moves to open up the area to tourists. Visits to the exclusion
zone are well worth the journey, as you leave behind modern Kyiv
and enter a decaying time capsule of life in the Soviet Union. www.newdirection.online
For a taste of Ukraine’s smoother night life, 32 Old Fashioned Bar
and Jazz Club is worth a visit, not just for the regular live perfor-
mances by jazz bands but also for the expertly mixed cocktails and Poster’s adapted from those used by the UK’s Conservative Party c1877-2007. New Direction is a not-for-profit organisation and is partly funded by the European Parliament. The European Parliament assumes no responsibility for the opinions expressed in this publication. Sole liability rests with the author.

warm atmosphere.
 22 CULTURE theconservative.online theconservative.online EVENTS 23

Homer’s
THE ILIAD
Over the weekend of the 5th to 8th of September, more than 120 ECR Party delegates from over 20
countries gathered on the island of Madeira off the southern coast of Portugal for ECR Party’s Train-
ing Academy. Delegates were introduced to on strategic communications, successful campaigning and
effective fundraising from professional campaigners and political experts brought in from across Europe
and the world. Panels ranged from discussions about the role of traditional media and the growing influ-
ence of social media – as well as the impact that they have on successful campaigning. There were also

A
talks about how to run street campaigns, and how to effectively fundraise for political parties and indi-
vidual campaigns. Additionally, delegates were given a chance to take part in a series of proactive mock
century ago this review It’s a strange, fragmentary work interviews, in which journalists gave them conducted individual assessments on how to improve their
would have been unneces- which begins in medias res. The Tro- style and presentation. On the second day of the Training Academy, the delegates participated in a series
sary. As a civilised, educated jan wars have been raging for years in of group break-out sessions and other networking activities. The ECR Party is planning its next Training
person you would already virtual stalemate, with the Greeks still Academy in early December, open to all its members.
have been more than familiar with camped by their ships on the beach, and
Homer’s Iliad – probably in the orig- the Trojans still secure in their city of
inal Greek. Perhaps, like the doomed Ilium.
poet Rupert Brooke, you would have At this point the Greeks are in trouble.
James Delingpole declaimed it across the Aegean on your Though fate has decided they’re eventu-
is a conservative columnist and novelist way to Gallipoli; or carried the copy you ally going to win, they’ve just lost their
who has written for publications won as a school prize to the trenches, as best fighter – the arrogant, petulant,
including the Daily Mail, Daily Express, both consolation and inspiration. It is, angry, fickle, cruel and deeply unlikeable
The Times, The Daily Telegraph, and after all, the first and arguably greatest Achilles – who has downed tools and
The Spectator. He is also the executive work in Western literature about men retired to his tent in an epic sulk, having
editor of Breitbart London. His latest
book is Watermelons.
and war. been slighted by King Agamemnon, who
So why is it so relatively little-read has stolen his mistress.
@jamesdelingpole
today? One reason, perhaps, is that it We have entered a world whose val-
has become a victim of its own near-leg- ues and outlook predate almost all the
endary status. It has a reputation so cultural influences that have shaped
dauntingly huge that few dare broach the way we think. Written sometime
it for fear of being either tragically dis- between 760 and 710 BC, and originally
appointed or bored rigid by its epic designed, of course, to be recited rather
worthiness. than read, The Iliad came before the
main Greek philos-
ophers, the Roman
Empire, Christianity,
Written sometime between 760 and the Renaissance and
the Enlightenment.
710 BC, and originally designed, of This is Western civil-

course, to be recited rather than read,

isation in its rawest,
wildest, most untu-
The Iliad came before the main Greek tored state.
What, then, are
philosophers, the Roman Empire, its priorities? One,
definitely, is piety. but rather by the extraordinary prow- to his entrails. You’re struck by how inti-
Christianity, the Renaissance and Neglect the gods, ess of mighty individuals. They operate mate both author and audience would
the Enlightenment. This is Western who control every-
thing, and you are
according to a pagan rule book rather
shocking till you get used to it. For
have been with the niceties of violent
death, inured almost to the point of
civilisation in its rawest, wildest, most doomed. Show them
real devotion, on
example, having killed their enemy in
single combat their aim is to strip him
indifference.
Almost. There’s a wonderfully moving
untutored state. the other hand, and of his valuable armour and then muti- moment towards the end when Andro-
they’ll see you right, late his body. In order to avoid this col- mache, wife of the recently slain Hec-
But The Iliad, which I read only in as for example Zeus does to his beloved lective dishonour, those on the opposing tor, prophetically laments the miserable
full (and in E.V. Rieu’s Penguin trans- Achilles. (Well, until Achilles’s luck side will resist with equal ferocity. “But future of poverty and loneliness now to
lation) myself the other day, is not runs out – as the Fates have decreed it he’s dead, it’s over!” you want to protest. be endured by their son Astyanax “who
remotely disappointing, boring or wor- must, for not even gods can overrule the No one’s listening to you, though. Their used to sit on his father’s knees and eat
thy. For lovers of literature it’s a thrill- Fates). There’s a delightful moment in world, their weird code. nothing but marrow and mutton fat and
ing opportunity to witness the birth of Book One, where Homer describes in Apart from quality armour, horses, when he was drowsy and tired of play
the canon, for movie buffs it’s a chance loving detail how an ox is ritually slaugh- weaponry, ancestry, extreme weather, slept in his bed, softly cradled in his
to meet those Greek gods and heroes tered and its choicest bits are cooked and predatory wild beasts – you can tell nurse’s arms, heart full of contentment”.
in their original incarnations, for war over an open fire, put on skewers and the preoccupations of the era by the This moment of human empathy
enthusiasts it has violence that makes offered to gods. “Wow,” you think. “This detail lavished on them – The Iliad has reaches to us across the millennia in a
Saving Private Ryan look like Mary is literature’s first kebab barbecue.” an obsession with the physical details way the stylised battle clashes never can.
Poppins, and for drugs connoisseurs Equally important is personal cour- of death bordering on the surgical, or Deep down, you realise, our ancestors
it’s quite possibly the trippiest thing age. This, remember, is the Age of autoptical. No man dies in The Iliad were just like us, really. They just needed
you’ll experience outside the influence Heroes and wars appear to be won not by without your being told precisely what a couple of thousand years more civilisa-
of LSD. massed troops in disciplined formation, the spear did to his teeth or the sword tion to polish up a few rough edges. ■

ACROSS DOWN
crossword & sudoku

1. “It’s possible” 1. P.E.I place

8. Latin dance 2. Platform pundits
13. Large wardrobe 3. Indefinitely large number
14. First American in space 4. Finishes behind
16. Controversial music-sharing Web site 5. Morse signals
17. Had a yen 6. “Maverick” brother
18. Bears witness 7. Suffixes for mountain and musket
19. Where rails come together 8. Red-headed comic Anne
20. Stag mates 9. Auto loan figs.
21. Certain undergarment 10. Adult life, for some
22. ___ Mae (Whoopi’s “Ghost” role) 11. Kennel club member
23. Analogy words 12. In all likelihood
25. Old geezer 14. Use of metaphors
27. “ ___ the ramparts...” 15. Bucks up
28. Got out of control 24. Man ____
31. Eminem’s mentor 25. Oval containing Egyptian characters
32. Delta, but not alpha 26. Basic skateboarding trick
33. 1971 Piers Anthony book 29. Some screeenings
36. It cooks meat to a turn 30. Insect repellent
40. Corp. bigwig 33. Pump figures
41. Haiku, for one 34. New edition
42. Not at all brave 35. “Sorry, that’s impossible”
44. Inits. before several golf course names 37. Geraldo and Diego
45. Seminoles place (abbr.) 38. Appear like
46. Veni, ____, vici 39. Like clear mental images
47. “The Passion of the Christ” language 43. Straightforward
49. Rosie the ___ (WWII icon) 45. Quarterback Brett
52. Ancient Assyrian capital 48. “It’s ____ him” (relationship ultimatum)
53. Remove from a box 49. Was sorry
54. Back 50. Letters on a cross
55. Unpredictable 51. TiVo forerunners
56. Mall component 64. Starter for come and fare
57. Do a biolab assignment 66. Old records
 LEADING EUROPE’S
CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT

ecrparty.eu | @ECRparty