Belgium’s got 99 problems, but naming an EU commissioner ain’t one.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has asked EU countries to put forward a name for commissioner by the end of August. But that doesn’t fit well with ongoing, and faltering, talks on forming a national government, almost three months after Belgium held European, national and regional elections.
As a result, it’s looking increasingly likely that the current holder of the post — Didier Reynders — will get to stay on.
David Clarinval, the coordinator in the government formation talks for the Reformist Movement (MR) — which is Reynders’ party — said on Tuesday morning that Reynders has done “an excellent job” as commissioner.
“You know, in soccer, they say ‘you don’t change a winning team,’” Clarinval told Belgian radio — the closest hint yet that the current justice commissioner will stay on for another stint.
The MR also hopes that if Reynders stays on, that will not be taken into account when government posts are distributed.
Reynders has said he’s eager and available to serve another term, after he was defeated in late June in the race to become the head of the Council of Europe.
The other notable name floated for commissioner was that of Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke, who was rumored to be a fit for the EU health commissioner job, but his party, the center-left Forward, doesn’t plan to put his name forward.
Last week, Bart De Wever threw in the towel after failing to get a deal on a five-party federal government. King Philippe has appointed Maxime Prévot, from the Francophone centrist party Committed Ones (Les Engagés), as the new mediator in charge of bringing the parties back around the table.
The five parties in the talks are De Wever’s New Flemish Alliance (N-VA, right-wing); the Reformist Movement (MR, center-right); Forward (center-left); the Christian Democrat and Flemish Party (centrist); and Prévot’s own party.
“Maxime Prévot’s royal mission is to bring all the partners back to the negotiating table,” said Audrey Jacquiez, a spokesperson for Les Engagés.
Appointing a new European commissioner was not a priority during the first round of talks which Prévot held on Monday, Jacquiez added. “There hasn’t been a decision just yet.”
Prévot’s first check-in with the king to update him on talks is on Monday, Sept. 2, two days after von der Leyen’s commissioner deadline.
According to von der Leyen’s own rules, countries should put forward two names for commissioner, one male and one female. However, this does not apply if the commissioner is returning, as would be the case with Reynders.