The post of European transport commissioner has gone to Frenchman Jacques Barrot, after a frantic round of political wheeler dealing as the new European Commission (EC) takes shape.
Barrot is a close ally of French president Jacques Chirac, who was pushing for his candidate to land one of the big market-related posts, such as enterprise or competition. As such, his appointment took many in Brussels by surprise. Observers say that new EC president Jose Manuel Barroso from Portugal resisted having a French national in one of the market positions over fears that it would allow France to push its "national champion" agenda of supporting French industrial conglomerates.
The fact that the post has gone to a French national has raised some concerns within the Brussels aviation community. His Spanish predecessor, Loyola de Palacio, had put in place a free market agenda, and some express concern that this will lose momentum under a more state-oriented French approach.
However, similar fears were expressed over outgoing trade commissioner Pascal Lamy, also a Frenchman, who defied his critics by pushing a free trade agenda at the World Trade Organisation, and pressurising the French government on the issue of agricultural subsidies.
An early test of the Barrot era will come with the issue of struggling Alitalia. Brussels has approved an emergency loan from the Italian government under strict conditions, and some fear that he will take a more lenient stance on state aid than did de Palacio. Aviation is one of the few areas where state aid cases are referred to the relevant directorate, in this case transport, rather than to the competition commissioner.
Some also suspect that he will be more likely to push for a fully liberal deal in negotiations with the USA. De Palacio had generally held firm in her support for a comprehensive deal, including a lifting of ownership restrictions.
Despite these fears, Brussels insiders point out that Barrot is something of an unknown quantity, and that it is too early to judge his stances on policy. The fact that he speaks only French may prove a handicap in the aviation sector, where English is the common language.
The Brussels aviation community was more optimistic about the appointment of Neelie Kroes as competition commissioner. The Dutch national, whose appointment was also unexpected, has a reputation for supporting free market principles. She is seen as likely to continue the style of her Italian predecessor, Mario Monti, who was seen as solidly, politically independent.
Barroso's 25-strong cabinet team is due to appear before Parliamentary committees in mid-September, ahead of the European Parliament giving its formal approval for the new team. The new cabinet will then set about developing a programme for its five-year term.
COLIN BAKER LONDON
Source: Airline Business
