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With unexpected ease, the new European Commission got settled. Just some weeks ago, parliamentarian blessing seemed far from guaranteed by deadline and in full. Thus, Jean-Claude Juncker has again proven to be a crafty politician, able to navigate a generally satisfactory outcome in complex political waters.
The issue remains: will the approach help Mr Juncker’s commission to get the «European» stuff accomplished while avoiding sticking fingers in things better left for member states to decide.
In run up to EU elections, Postimees asked for opinion articles by people aspiring to be commission’s president, to hear their stands. The conservative Jean-Claude Juncker’s piece «Ukrainian lessons» (PM, May 15th) centred on Europe’s single foreign and security policy. The same focus was chosen by candidates of sod dems and liberals. Asking experts to comment whether these were indeed the topics highlighted by the new commission, they said hardly – and surely the articles were meant to tell Estonian public what the latter deemed important. So thanks for the cold shower, experts, but we’ll take the man by his word. Estonia is interested in a one-voice Europe, one that decisively and quickly answers to authoritarian/aggressive neighbours.
It’s in Estonia’s interests that all basic EU freedoms really apply. People’s movement is fine, but for us it’s ever more important for goods and services to move unhindered. We want enterprises in Estonia to be unrestricted when entering other European markets. Meaning: that our people might live and work in their native Estonia. Here, there’s a role for Andrus Ansip set to answer for single digital market.
Estonia needs Europe not to be a stagnating continent. Having the world’s leading science budget, why has it such a low effect on economy i.e. people’s lives? Europe is a larger market than the USA, but why do European IT-companies prefer launching their new stuff in US? Why is the reaction in a large part of Europe so hesitant when asked about military security, with citizens/politicians unaware about their related responsibility? Perhaps, the fault lies in exaggerated faith in predestination of development, and being stuck in book-keeping also in areas where the real results come by creativity alone?
Surely, the commission is not the only one responsible in the European system, but we will still be setting questions before Juncker and Ansip, and expecting actions. In history, individuals have played a role. Thus, a goal oriented yet realistic and hardworking politician has what it takes to set new course for this ship called Europe.