Ciolos Out, Hogan In

Dacian Ciolos has been replaced as EU Farm Commissioner by the Irishman, Phil Hogan.  The full 28-person line-up was announced by the Commission President, Jean-Claude Junker on the 10^th September after the usual backroom horse-trading.  Mr Ciolos was keen to continue in the role, but he was replaced as Romania’s favoured candidate over the last fortnight, so dropped out of the running.  The Irish seem pleased to have secured the agricultural portfolio, with farming a large part of their economy, and having a historic link to the job through previous Commissioners like Ray MacSharry.

As written previously, the Commission is the equivalent of the EU’s Civil Service.  However, it is rather more than that, as it has the power to initiate legislation, and also pilots any proposals through the legislative process.  Therefore the Farm Commissioner has a key role in setting the direction of the Common Agricultural Policy.  The current Basic Payment Scheme is up for review in 2018 (yes, already) with the possibility of a new system being put into place after 2019.  Commission terms last for five years, so Mr Hogan will play an important part in the next reform process.

Phil Hogan was born in Kilkenny and worked as an auctioneer.  He was elected to the Irish Parliament in 1989 for the seat of Carlow-Kilkenny which he has held ever since.  He was a Minister of State in the Fine Gael government in the early 1990’s, and has been Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government since the 2011 General Election.

Amusingly, the press releases from the EU do not give the nationality of the Commissioners – as if it is not an issue, and everyone is simply a European.  Of course, it is nothing like that, with national Governments arguing fiercely to get their ‘man’ into the right job.  The reason why there are 28 Commissioners when really there are not that many jobs to go round, is so that every Member can have a prize.  The UK’s candidate, Jonathan Hill, got the reasonably important ‘Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets’ job.