Athens tells von der Leyen that Greece must play a significant role in new Commission
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Greece’s prime minister is adamant that his country get a very important job when Ursula von der Leyen puts together her top team.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis might get what he wants, too, after playing a key role in helping the European Commission president secure a second term.
“I would certainly like a portfolio that highlights on the one hand the progress that Greece has made economically, but also Greece’s sort of strategic position at the southeastern flank of Europe and of NATO,” Mitsotakis told POLITICO in an interview in the Maximos Mansion, the official office of the Greek leader in Athens.
Asked if Greece was eying the newly announced commissioner for the Mediterranean role, Mitsotakis said: “I’m not saying that, but I’m saying that there are other portfolios that could fit that bill. I certainly think that it’s a good idea to have a commissioner for the Mediterranean.
“I presume that eventually it will be a Mediterranean country. I’m not raising my hand because there are other portfolios that could be extremely interesting to us and at the end of the day it’s a call made by the president.”
Mitsotakis hasn’t yet announced Greece’s choice for the next Commission. The current Greek commissioner, Margaritas Schinas, told Brussels Playbook this month that he would like to stay on and doing so would be a “great honor.”
Still, there are other names in play, including governor of the region of Central Macedonia Apostolos Tzitzikostas and Labor Minister Niki Kerameus.
Now that von der Leyen has been confirmed, European capitals are sending in their candidates for the next Commission. Von der Leyen will take into account gender balance, political party balance, and geographical balance when she divides up the portfolios.
Mitsotakis’ call for a top Commission job comes days after von der Leyen won a second term after getting support in the European Parliament. Before that, she was backed by a majority of EU leaders. To get a deal on top jobs over the line, six negotiators were appointed to convince their peers to sign up. Mitsotakis, along with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, represented the European People’s Party, which came first in the EU election.
With French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in weakened positions, and with bridge-builders such as former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo leaving the European Council, Mitsotakis can position himself as a leader of leaders.
Mitsotakis, who entered the Maximos Mansion in 2019, comfortably won last year’s parliamentary election, although his center-right party performed worse than expected in June’s European Parliament election.
After years of being in the eye of the storm in the aftermath of the financial crisis of 2007-2008, Mitsotakis stressed that Greece is no longer seen “as the black sheep of Europe,” which allows him to play more of a role on the European and the international stage.
“It’s up to my colleagues to judge who actually makes valuable contributions,” he said while highlighting the number of summits in Brussels he has attended. “So again, I always try to add value, not just speak on behalf of Greece, as I must, but also try to look at the broader landscape and try to take decisions that also strengthen Europe. So that’s how I see my role.”
Photo: Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Greek Prime Minister, on the left and Ursula von der Leyen. EC
