For the new EU Commission, Tajani flies the populars’ flag: “Let the new agriculture commissioner be from the EPP”

Rome – “I hope that the next EU commissioner for agriculture will be an expression of the European People’s Party.” Not mincing words, but getting straight to the point, Italy’s Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, one of the mayors of the EPP: “We want the new agricultural policy, together with the industrial policy, to be certainly aimed at combating climate change but at the same time to guarantee agricultural and industrial production while also taking into account the social issue.” TTo clarify the meaning of his speech further the head of the Farnesina speaks of a “pragmatic and correct choice for environmentalism,” because in his political family in Brussels there are “neither climate deniers nor Greta Thunberg fundamentalists.” The right mix, as he sees it, for the next EU Commission to make a breakthrough on the issue, making the case that “most commissioners will be from the EPP area, so I am convinced that there will be a change in policies against climate change.”

But also a compensation for the fact that the AGRI (Agriculture and Rural Development) committee of the EU Parliament is expected to be assigned to the Conservatives of Giorgia Meloni, who meanwhile does not lift reservations about Ursula von der Leyen. Her head of delegation, Nicola Procaccini, is playing with words, denying support for the Populars‘ spitzenkandidatin but still leaving a window open in anticipation of the meeting with the ECR group scheduled for next Tuesday. The premier merely responds that she will try to get the maximum for Italy. This is the same leitmotif to which Tajani also subscribes. However, he sends an extra message between the lines. When, on the sidelines of the World Farmers Market Coalition, organized in Rome by Coldiretti, it is pointed out to him that it is now time for Italy to indicate its name for the new Commission, he responds without hesitation: “First, we must have an elected president of the European Commission, then the names of the commissioners are made, not vice versa.”

A formula, the one used by the Italian vice-president of the Council, that may call to mind the adage “no ticket, no laundry”. In any case, so as not to run into misunderstandings, Tajani broadens the reasoning: “Once the president of the Commission is elected, he or she will talk with the various governments, the president of the Council will talk with von der Leyen, then he or she will bring to CDM the name proposal.” From here on, the talk returns to the familiar tracks: “We have asked for an important portfolio and a vice-president, let’s see how the negotiations proceed, but we are a founding country, we have always had a vice-presidency (Tajani himself was one, Ed.). First, however, the election,” he reiterates, “then there will be an action of our country to bring home the best possible result and make Italy count more, making sure that we make our contribution for the next five years.

However, the names circulating from the parts of the Roman political halls are always the same. In pole position is the current Minister of European Affairs and the NRRP, Raffaele Fitto, followed, but with a wide gap, by the head of the MEF, Giancarlo Giorgetti, and the Minister of Agriculture, Francesco Lollobrigida. Tajani, however, confirms that he is out of this match: “Absolutely out.”

Before taking his leave, however, the foreign minister pulls from the drawer of memories an anecdote from the recent past, which perhaps some of his political allies in Italy would have preferred never to come out. Talking about Ursula von der Leyen’s candidacy, he reveals that five years ago, it was “not a downward compromise, but it prevented Franz Timmermans from becoming president of the European Commission.” Because in 2019, ” the Lega–M5S government was convinced to vote for him, but I called Salvini to warn him of the risks, and I must say that he committed. Then, several council presidents and I elected in the EPP area blocked his candidacy, and Ursula came out on top. So a little bit is also to my credit that Timmermans didn’t make it: he made so much trouble as EU commissioner, imagine what he could have done as president.”