Technically any single Commissioner could have an impact on Malta’s internal affairs. But if past experience is anything to go by, the government would do well to keep a close eye on the following Commissioners, if they are confirmed in their portfolios in January
Economic and Monetary Policy Finland has a strong tradition for fiscal morality, and it is therefore reasonable to assume that its nomination to the Commission – 47-year-old Olli Rehn, previously responsible for Enlargement – will be a stickler for deficit issues.
This is not good news for Malta, which has already faced excessive deficit infringement procedures by the previous Commission, having failed to abide by the exacting Maastricht criteria back in 2004.
These procedures were eventually waived, but the spectre of the ‘hofra’ appears to have returned with a vengeance this year, with government admitting that its budgetary forecast went askew by 2.9%.
To compound matters, the EU’s Council of Ministers is due to re-assess Malta’s progress in the Maastricht stakes as early as next January, when the country’s finances are still on an uneven keel. It remains unclear how Rehn intends to administer his Commission, but the former vice-president of the Finnish Liberal Party has been named as a potential candidate for Finland’s 2012 Presidential election, and may be keen to impress Europe with a show of force.
Ironically, the prevailing economic crisis may come to Malta’s rescue, as there is a strong case to be made for the waiving of punitive measures in times of global recession.
Environment Taking over from the fiery Stavros Dimas – the prime mover behind the infringement procedures over spring hunting between 2003 and 2007 – is Slovenia’s Janez Potocnik, who aims to promote “sustainable development in a world that is more and more interconnected and fragile.”
Ominous words for the local hunting lobby, as the sustainability of their cherished pastime is openly questioned by local and international NGOs. While still on this subject, the (unresolved) spring hunting issue is likely to erupt once more next March, as spring approaches inexorably without any clear indication of whether the hunting season will be opened, following an ambiguous European Court ruling earlier this year.
However, in the bigger picture there are other, far more consequential areas where the incoming Environment Commission could give the Maltese government a good run for its money. Air pollution remains high on the agenda, following the Green Party’s request for an investigation into the Sliema area, and the recent decision concerning Lija’s Blokrete. Increasing salinity of groundwater because of uncontrolled extraction is another issue, and tying all the loose ends together are Malta’s climate change commitments according to the EU’s declared targets – which involve a radical energy revolution, if we are to reduce emissions by 20% in barely 10 years.
Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Stepping into the shoes of a Maltese commissioner, Greek socialist Maria Damanaki approaches this controversial portfolio from an unusual direction. Her radical left-wing political background places her at odds with the somewhat capitalist industry she will now have to regulate - with the bluefin tuna issue alone often cited as a case-study in the dangers of globalisation.
But her background could just as easily turn out to be a double-edged sword. While the former Communist freedom fighter is unlikely to pander too much to the industry’s demands, she will nonetheless be mindful of the thousands of workers employed in fisheries throughout the Mediterranean. Drastic decisions such as a total moratorium on endangered species – demanded by conservation agencies such as the World Wildlife Fund – may therefore not feature prominently on her agenda. Nonetheless, it remains to be seen how and to what extent Danaki intends to combat illegal fishing, and whether she will retain the Commission’s current attitude towards conservation issues.
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