Brussels – The outgoing Austrian EU Finances Commissioner Johannes Hahn held what he referred to as on Wednesday in Brussels his “hopefully final press convention” on this position. Nevertheless, he was assured that an settlement on the brand new EU Fee can be reached and that it may begin on December 1st, as already gave the impression to be rising. Europe is “intellectually ready” for a US President Donald Trump, the Austrian is satisfied.
As examples of Europe’s preparation, Hahn cited studies commissioned by the Fee on boosting competitiveness by Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi: “It’s time to flip what we all know into concrete actions.” The primary process for the outgoing EU Commissioner is now to “defend European life in an more and more advanced world. We should act appropriately.”
The ÖVP politician additionally sees a “worrying political state of affairs within the member states: An idea like ‘Austria or Sweden first’ doesn’t work.” Now shouldn’t be the “time for solo efforts,” the “unity amongst member states” is necessary. He finds harsh phrases for the right-wing populists: “Populists solely produce slogans, however no options. After they have to seek out options, they fail.” Hahn quoted the German CDU politician Wolfgang Schäuble: “Governing is a rendezvous with actuality.”
Linking EU funding to circumstances “frequent in the present day”
The introduction of “conditionality,” i.e., linking the fee of EU funds to the achievement of circumstances, is a key second for Hahn throughout his time in Brussels. This concept was “fully new” when he began in Brussels as Regional Commissioner in 2010, the Austrian said, “in the present day it’s frequent.” Because of considerations in regards to the rule of legislation, a number of billion euros of EU funds destined for Hungary have been frozen in 2022 beneath the “conditionality mechanism.” For them to circulation, Budapest should fulfill EU-demanded reforms, resembling within the judiciary; a part of the funds has already been launched.
Hahn’s tenure as Finances Commissioner additionally noticed the coronavirus pandemic and the creation of the EU Corona Fund (Restoration and Resilience Facility). “There’s now a variety of criticism of the ARF idea,” the accountable commissioner additionally admitted. However: “On the finish of 2021, Europe recovered a yr sooner than predicted from the coronavirus pandemic, then got here the Ukraine warfare,” he defends his idea as “profitable.” Now it’s in regards to the “classes on the way to implement it sooner or later.” He helps concepts to merge components of the cohesion funds with the ARF, as “critics of greater than 500 applications must be taken critically.”
Hahn talked about no concrete plans for the time after the EU Fee: He has to get used to life as a pensioner. (22.11.2024)
