And here’s to you Mrs Ohlsson…we’d like to know a little bit about you for our files

Birgitta Ohlsson (photo by Roland Karlsson)

Last week Birgitta Ohlsson Klamberg was nominated as Sweden’s new Minister for EU Affairs, stepping into the shoes of Cecilia Malmström, EU Commissioner-designate for Home Affairs. The Lobby takes a closer look at Mrs Ohlsson, who could potentially prove to be Sweden’s EU Commissioner in 2014.

She’s young – born 1975 – and she’s very vocal on a range of issues. According to her blog, topics close to her heart include feminism, democracy, tolerance, solidarity, and animal protection. Yet she is also controversial, and her nomination certainly raised a few eyebrows in Stockholm.

Ohlsson is known to refuse to tow the party line and raise views which stand in stark contrast to her party, the ruling Alliance for Sweden. For instance, she wants to abolish the Swedish monarchy, and whilst the monarchy itself might not be much loved in Sweden, the Royal Family certainly is!

In a recent interview with Dagens Nyheter she stated she wants to address the Roma issue, the sale and trafficking of women in European capitals, and that she is keen to see more green solutions in the EU. Her blog further states she is keen to see Sweden’s development budget be at least 1% of Sweden’s GNI, and she is in favour of joining the Euro, full Swedish NATO membership, and is an outspoken opponent of an Orwellian surveillance society.

She will also have a baby in July, something which, sadly in this day and age, has been pointed out as possibly being an obstacle for her in terms of carrying out her duties as Minister. To this Ohlsson replied, in a rather Swedish fashion on her blog:

“I am married to a modern man, not a dinosaur. I have parents, friends and a large network of wonderful people who will support me rain or shine…unfortunately maybe we still live in the 1950s and not in 2010”

The Lobby can definitely relate to being young, vocal, dynamic and modern – so we see no real issues here. Rather, this young Minister could very well be what the relatively traditional and conservative Alliance For Sweden needs.

- Emil

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Why the hard feelings?!

President Obama will be unable to attend an EU-US Summit meeting set to take place in Madrid in May, due to a scheduling misunderstanding.

As a result of Obama’s absence, the summit will be postponed until the autumn.

The New York Times describes Europe’s feelings as ‘insulted’, ‘taken for granted’, ‘losing importance in American eyes’, and the Spanish prime minister, José Luis Zapatero was described as ‘angry and embarrassed’ when he learned the news. . .

Good ol’ Jose Manuel Barroso seems to be the only cool-headed man in the mix, as he calmly told the press that he understands completely, and that both parties can work to find a mutually agreeable time.

So my questions are two-fold: why does the Summit hinge upon Obama’s attendance, and why the hard feelings?! We’ve all double booked a party (summit?!) at one time or another. Let’s not be so hard on him.

- Victoria

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Barroso’s hand in new Commissioners’ weak performances

The Commissioners’ candidate hearings have been something of a disappointment, with some notable exceptions called Almunia, Barnier, Hedegaard, or Oettinger. The Bulgarian candidate Ms Jeleva was sacked and Ms Kroes, Mr Rehn, Mr Semeta, and Baroness Ashton had lucky escapes after disappointing MEPs in their respective committees.

© European Communities, 2009

In theory, Commissioners should be chosen for their suitability for the portfolio, their knowledge of the portfolio, and their European commitment, which includes their independence from national influence.

It is clear that this is not quite the case in Brussels yet, but what was striking during the hearings was the vagueness of the candidates’ responses, leading to perceptions of being unprepared. Candidates were generally weak in presenting priorities for their five years in office and avoided demonstrating any audacious vision or “big picture” in their policy area.

What emerged later is that candidates actually followed Mr Barroso’s instructions for the hearings to the letter. Low-profile, low-exposure, and evasive answers was the brief given by Mr Barroso, who wanted to prevent any clear answers from causing a revolt in the European Parliament, as happened back in 2004 with Mr Buttiglione.

Aside from the fact that Ms Jeleva was rejected anyway, the initial impression is that the incoming college of Commissioners is perceived as weak and unprepared. The final verdict on the new Commissioners is pending, and we will have to wait for a few months before they show their true colours…Barroso permitting.

- Ilja

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Jerzy Buzek: Are 140 characters enough to make a personality?

Mr Buzek tweeting (probably) during a plenary (image ©European Parliament/Pietro Naj-Oleari)

Jerzy Buzek, the Polish President of the European Parliament, has had a Twitter account for a week and has so far been delivering his daily tweet. The President and his communications team have strongly committed themselves to digital openness, with Mr Buzek already having a facebook account and his presidential website.The Lobby warmly welcomes Mr Buzek to the world of social media, but what are you doing here Mr President?

Luckily Mr Buzek himself gives the answer in a press release: “It is a pleasure and a need to use all forms of communication.  The European Parliament is increasingly influential and must be increasingly present.  Modern technology including social media gives people the opportunity to interact and have their say.”

Mr Buzek is right. Outside Brussels people might know the name of the President of the Commission and will likely become more and more familiar with the President of the European Council, but – seriously – who knows Mr Buzek? So in this new battle for attention, any means of communication has to be used.

But the message can’t only be the medium. Content is also needed, and the President of the Parliament, whatever his communication means, he will have to stand up for key issues and take strong positions in negotiations with the Commission and the Council if he is to become one of the main EU personalities. It sounds like mission impossible in the consensual and crowded Brussels, but that’s no reason not to try, is it?

- Talander

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Why I love Committee week

Committee week in the European Parliament is the marmite of lobbying – you either love it or you hate it.

Politics in action...and free coffee!

Whilst I can understand those lobbyists who see Committee week as mission impossible, flitting in and out of meetings, trying to be in three places at once, their phones stuck to their ear, anxiously tapping on their laptops or running down corridors trying to find room JAN 2Q2, I’m afraid I cannot empathise.

I love Committee week.  If anything represents the raison d’être of being a Brussels-based lobbyist, it is being sat in a Committee room listening to an attempt by a Commissioner or Minister to justify him or herself to a lynch mob of MEPs, many of whom are liable to say something outrageous, hilarious, or patently untrue, and invariably do.

Attempts have been made to webstream Committee meetings, leading to the temptation to just stay behind one’s desk and watch the webcast, but there is nothing like experiencing a meeting in the flesh.  Facial expressions speak volumes, particularly when an MEP or official is being attacked from all sides.  An MEP who literally gives a Minister the thumbs down (as happened yesterday) will be missed by the camera, as will any frantic yet amusing attempt by the Chair to halt a UKIP member in full flow.

But what I like most about Committee week is the camaraderie of those of us in the back row.  The lobbyists, MEP assistants, and journalists who often have to sit through hours of debate only to hear that the issue they are there for has been put back to the next day, or maybe cancelled altogether! Some get exasperated at such agenda changes, but I find it exhilarating. What will happen next?  You never can tell.

And the free coffee! And free bottled water!  And the ability to listen to a debate on organ transplants in Hungarian, Finnish, or Slovak!

Committee weeks are the bread and butter of our business in Brussels. The networking, the political intrigue, the nitty-gritty – all are part and parcel of our daily work, and all are amplified within the context of a European Parliament Committee meeting.  Politics in its purest form stripped of all gloss and glamour – just the way it should be.

- Rob

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Dutch Prince to join Kroes’s cabinet

As the cabinets of the new Commissioners start to take shape, it has been announced that the youngest son of the Dutch Queen Beatrix, Prince Constatijn, will join Neelie Kroes’s cabinet to work on the new Digital Agenda portfolio. So what if the Brits have a Baroness or two in Brussels? From February the Netherlands will once again have an actual Royal Highness in the corridors of the Berlaymont!

Prince Constatijn is in no way new to Brussels where he has already been living for many years, and in fact has worked previously for one of the Commissioner cabinets, namely that of Foreign Relations Commissioner Hans van den Broek back in the nineties.

The Prince of Orange, who has an impressive background in Digital Affairs, is currently the Head of the Brussels office of RAND Europe and has been working amongst others on issues such as e-government. His appointment to Ms Kroes’s cabinet should become official on 9 February, after the endorsement of the new college of Commissioners by the European Parliament.

- Lieneke

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Blue Mondays or Fat Tuesdays…

Did you notice that this past Monday was particularly difficult?  Did you struggle to get out of bed or to stay motivated throughout the day?

Apparently, you were not alone.  Monday the 18^th of January was ‘Blue Monday’, which is according to psychologists the most depressing day of the year.    It would seem that the combination of cold weather, debt from the holiday period, no sign of vacation in the near future and many other little factors add up to push many people over the edge.

Even if ‘Blue Monday’ is now over, The Lobby can’t help but think that the elements that make ‘Blue Monday’ blue haven’t just disappeared.  But is there anything to do about it?

How about moving onto Tuesday… or Fat Tuesday to be more precise?   New Orleans , the ”City That Care Forgot” clearly gets it right by celebrating Mardi Gras and the Carnival season, which kicks off at Epiphany (January 6) and rolls on until Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday, the last day to celebrate before the period of fasting known as Lent.  The Carnival season can last up to 4 weeks depending on the religious calendar!   During this time, New Orleanians and tourists alike “Let the Good Times Roll” by partying, dressing up in costume, and watching parades.  By the time Mardi Gras is over, spring is almost here…

It seems that the rest of us clearly didn’t get the memo on how to beat the winter doldrums!  Anyone else up for a Mardi Gras Party – New Orleans style? Only 26 days left to party…

- Jessica with special guest Ms Dinsdale

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Tired of listening to Commissioner Hearings?

Good, because today The Lobby decided to embark on a totally different subject.

“Invictus” – An obscure title for a movie about South Africa after Apartheid. Yet, this was my choice this weekend for my usual lazy Sundays’ cinema (I’m trying to make sure that at the end of the month my UGC unlimited card made some economic sense!)

For a change, I decided to go and see an historical drama, one that is bold enough to feature the larger-than-life iconic figure of Nelson Mandela. This is always a potential risk, but one that Clint Eastwood, who directed the movie, overcame in my view by presenting a story which is not about individuals: this movie is about the psyche of an entire nation.

The future manager of the EU football team? © European Communities, 2009

The pitch: Mandela hits upon an ambitious plan to use the national rugby team – the Springboks, long an embodiment of white supremacist rule – to symbolise the new South Africa as the team prepares to host the 1995 World Cup.

Reviews have been lukewarm, gently slating the movie for its political correctness, but in my opinion this flashback on the post-Apartheid era, narrated through the prism of rugby, is a great way to grasp the emotional temperature of a country with a very unique history.

Yes, Eastwood could have done better in trying to keep away from the Hollywood melodramatic clichés, but the match scenes, Morgan Freeman’s performance, and Matt Damon’s body, chiseled into pure muscle, are dazzling!

As I was walking home, thinking that this story is further proof of the unifying power of sport, I wondered if the new EU Sports Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou will one day come up with a proposal for an EU rugby or football team, which would capture the imagination of all Europeans who would paint the EU flag on their faces…

- Delphine

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The ephemeral concept of online privacy

Let's have a look at your inbox, just because I can! (Woman with magnifying glass by Peter Kratochvil via PublicDomainPictures.net)

On Monday, Lifehacker reported [via Gawker, via The Rumpus] that you really shouldn’t trust facebook with your private data. This latest claim, while not surprising, is based on an anonymous interview with a facebook employee who has spilt the beans on privacy inside the Stanford Research Park-based company. This is what makes this revelation just that little bit more interesting.

The woman, who according to the interview still works at facebook, has divulged information about a ‘master password’, for instance, which allows any facebook employee to unlock any user account, giving them full access to your photos, your wall, and your private inbox with all the implied repercussions.

“When I first started working there yes. I used it to view other people’s profiles which I didn’t have permission to visit”, says the anonymous employee in the interview. The use of the master password has since this summer been discouraged, but it might still exist. Apparently it was something along the lines of ‘Chuck Norris’ combined with a slew of upper and lower case symbols and numbers. facebook has created a Chief Officer position for privacy issues – Chief Privacy Officer Chris Kelly – who interestingly is running for Attorney General of California.

Meanwhile, facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg ruffled a few feathers last Friday when he proclaimed during the 2009 Crunchies Awards ceremonies that privacy is becoming less important to online users…

We’re not so sure…

- Emil

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Who wants to be a Commissioner?

Today marks the kick-off for the hearings of the Commissioners-designate of the “Barroso II” team. This afternoon in Brussels, Baroness Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Janusz Lewandowski, Polish candidate for the Budget and Financial Programming portfolio, were the first two nominees to be grilled by MEPs. From today until the 19^th January, all candidates will have to go through a hearing organised by specialised committees of the European Parliament.

"Are you sure about your answer Commissioner?" - Source: http://seoblackhat.com/upimage/million1.jpg

The hearing exercise consists in a three-hour Q&A session between the candidate and members of the responsible committee. The questions asked cover the personal background and abilities of the candidate to run for the position, in addition to some concrete and specific questions on policies. This oral exam is known not to be an easy one, contrary to most TV quizzes, and candidates cannot use any jokers or “phone a friend” to help them on a question. Indeed, MEPs are committed to their designation power and will not be a soft touch. With this in mind, President Barroso has organised a training seminar to prepare his team in view of their hearings.

According to the press, some candidates should be more nervous than others, and some candidates will have to “come clean” about their past or potential conflicts of interest.  Links with the mafia or being a former member of a Communist Party are the two main allegations which were made public against some nominees.

Once all the hearings are completed, another uncertainty remains, namely the entry into force of the Barroso II teams’s mandate. Should some candidates be rejected by MEPs, the designation procedure of the new Commission may turn out to be longer than expected.

- Denis

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