The New European Commission Is a War Cabinet

Could it get any worse? The new European Commission presented by Ursula von der Leyen on Sept. 17 is even more pro-war and anti-Europe in its profile than its predecessor. The most powerful posts are given to the tiny Baltic republics, notorious proxies for British and American interests. Kaja Kallas (Estonia), a known warmonger, is the new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. She is on record calling to carve up Russia into small entities. Valdis Dombrovskis (Latvia) is Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification, the watchdog for implementation of budget constraints (the new stability pact rules). Andrius Kubilius (Lithuania) is Commissioner for Defense and Space, although his country has neither a defense industry, nor a space industry.

A brief comment on Dombrovskis, who is perhaps the most powerful Commissioner. He will have the power to open procedures against countries that do not comply with the new Stability rules and to impose fines, forcing countries to implement austerity and budget cuts. With a background as Finance and Prime minister of a country with a national budget of €10 billion that benefits from €1.5 bn in yearly EU transfers, Dombrovskis will influence decisions on an EU budget of €2 trillion and on the economic policies of Eurozone member countries, that have a total GDP of 15.5 trillion.

Other important commissioner posts doled out include: Industry, which went to Stéphane Séjourné (France), the former Foreign Affairs Minister appointed by then-Prime Minister Gabriel Attal; Clean, Just and Competitive Transition given to Teresa Ribera Rodriguez (Spain), a lawyer and former Spanish minister, who shut down coal mines in her country; Internal Affairs and Migration goes to Magnus Brunner (Austria), a hardliner on migration, which means conflicts with Southern states are pre-programmed; Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth is headed by Wopke Hoekstra (Netherlands), who made headlines in 2020 for opposing pandemic funds for Spain and Italy.

Italy was awarded, as demanded, an executive Vice President position (one out of six!), which went to Raffaele Fitto, but with a minor portfolio. The full list of Commissioners can be consulted here.