New Commission slides toward December start

What’s driving the day in Brussels.
By SARAH WHEATON
with ZOYA SHEFTALOVICH
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Howdy. It’s Wednesday in Brussels, where brat summer is clearly giving way to technocrat fall. With June, July and August dominated by hardcore politics, September marks the return of policy. Today’s edition of Playbook looks ahead to serious discussions about how to deal with farmers’ crankiness and Europe’s competitiveness. But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of hardcore politics.
FOR YOUR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS: It’s looking increasingly likely that the start date for the next European Commission will be pushed back a month, to Dec. 1. More on that below. But first …
THE EXCEPTIONAL METSOLAS: A major POLITICO report this morning puts the spotlight on European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, whose husband Ukko is the top EU lobbyist for the world’s second-biggest cruise ship company, and raises new questions about the Parliament’s conflict of interest rules.
Let’s be clear: The report by my colleagues Karl Mathiesen, Eddy Wax and Elisa Braun doesn’t suggest the Metsolas broke any rules. Ukko filled out the proper lobbying registrations, which were publicly available, and there’s no suggestion Metsola broke the Parliament’s rules (which didn’t require her to explicitly disclose the connection) or evidence she used her official powers to improperly influence legislation on Ukko’s behalf. The president’s office vehemently denied any impropriety, arguing there was no conflict of interest because the president does not take an active role in the legislative process.
“I can tell you that she would never lift a finger for me,” Ukko told Karl. “And I’m smart enough not to ask her for anything.”
Nonetheless: The report raises major questions about what Metsola publicly disclosed, as the institution’s president, about her relationship with a lobbyist with a clear mission in Brussels — and more broadly about the rules governing conflicts of interest in the Parliament.
Self-enforcement: Ukko said the couple had agreed that Metsola would never speak publicly about the shipping industry. But she did. Twice in fact, in just the past two years, with video addresses that appeared to endorse Ukko’s big ask on the green transition: public and private cash.
Access: Even without her lifting a finger, Ukko is on Roberta Metsola’s arm — an advantage for any lobbyist. While he’s stopped meeting with MEPs since she became president, he’s had a chance to rub shoulders with French President Emmanuel Macron, European Council President Charles Michel and other dignitaries while accompanying her on official business. 
Effective lobbying: And when he asked for meetings of his own, as a rep for a major industry buying boats from shipyards in Germany, Italy, France and Finland, he was pushing on an open door: In a January 2020 exchange obtained through freedom of information requests, the office of European Commissioner Margaritis Schinas, a prominent member of Roberta’s EPP, replied to a request for a meeting with the company’s CEO in just 44 minutes, proposing a meeting one week later.
Must read: Do read the full piece, which contains fascinating details about Roberta Metsola’s relationships and rise to power. It’s here, or, if you prefer to get your hands dirty with ink, you can pick up a copy of POLITICO’s print edition in the EU Quarter’s finer cafés.
LEADING BY EXAMPLE? Both before and after Qatargate, Metsola cast herself as a champion of transparency and political integrity, winning praise from ethics campaigners for pushing through a serious expansion of integrity safeguards after the bribery scandal. 
But but but: Metsola missed the deadline, for instance, to reveal hundreds of gifts she received as an MEP — revealing the trove only after Qatargate. (Here, too, she cited the presidential exemption.) In 2022, she installed her chief of staff in the Parliament’s top civil service post, ignoring accusations of cronyism. And another longtime aide, Matthew Tabone — a key figure in her ethics overhaul, incidentally — is married to her sister. Sure, he met his wife through his boss, not the other way around, but the family ties made for awkward optics when she appointed her brother-in-law chief of staff last week. It sent the “wrong signal,” as a prominent pro-democracy campaigner put it. 
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NEW COMMISSION ON TRACK FOR DECEMBER: Brace for a later start to the second von der Leyen Commission than initially expected. Speaking to Max Griera and Camille Gijs, two senior Parliament officials noted that lawmakers’ hours-long grilling sessions of the 26 commissioner candidates aren’t likely to begin until mid-October, with one senior lawmaker predicting Oct. 14 will be the starting date. That means the final confirmation vote on the Commission could not take place until November — pushing the kick-off date to December.
Tight timeline: Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen is still expected to attend a meeting of the Parliament’s leadership on Sept. 11. It is unclear, however, whether she will be able to present the final commissioner list at that point. And it’s a prerequisite for Parliament to start arranging the hearings.
Don’t pin this on VDL: Von der Leyen’s chief spokesperson, Eric Mamer, denied she had anything to do with the delay, saying: “I firmly deny this. The president has made no such request. It is for the European Parliament to set the schedule for the hearings.”
SLOVENIA STICKS WITH ITS MAN: Von der Leyen’s ambitions to install a gender-balanced Commission remain frustrated, with capitals holding firm on their male nominees. On Tuesday evening, for example, the Slovenian government reiterated on X that Tomaž Vesel would remain Ljubljana’s only offering. 
SO HOW IS THE JIGSAW COMING TOGETHER? A report by Die Welt’s Christoph Schlitz was the talk of the bubble on Tuesday, with a purportedly definitive list of assignments that includes Italy’s Raffaele Fitto in charge of the economy and recovery funding, as one of four executive vice presidents. According to POLITICO’s reporting, there are still multiple names in the frame for key posts. Here’s our roundup of who wants what — and who’s most likely to get it.
A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO AVOIDING A SECOND WAVE OF FARMER PROTESTS: Finally, the report that kept Brussels wide awake for seven months is set to be published by midday, Paula Andrés reports. Not the Draghi one.
From burning manure to “structured dialogues”: After months of farmers’ outrage over tight incomes and growing environmental regulation — followed by some quick-and-dirty concessions to farm lobbies that angered NGOs and progressive lawmakers — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced back in January that 29 organizations with a stake on the agrifood sector would have to sit together and come up with joint recommendations for the future of EU agriculture.
It’s here: The final text, which last week received the thumbs up from environmentalists, farmers and food industry chiefs, among others, will convey one message to von der Leyen: Business as usual is not an option, but not all means are valid.
What to expect: Participants have drafted a 100-page document with a vision for the future of agriculture and food in Europe and a large set of policy recommendations to EU lawmakers. These will include suggestions on issues including how to distribute farm aid under the Common Agricultural Policy; reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector; and encouraging sustainable diets.
What for? Though the recommendations are intended as advice, von der Leyen told European lawmakers during her election speech in July that these would feed into a new “vision for agriculture and food” that she would present within the first 100 days of her second term at the helm of the EU executive.
ABOUT THAT DRAGHI REPORT: Mario Draghi is in Brussels today previewing his much-awaited magnum opus on boosting Europe’s competitiveness. He’ll chat with top MEPs at their Conference of Presidents meeting. The ex-central bank chief was also a late addition to the agenda of the EU ambassadors’ meeting in Coreper II today. POLITICO’s Giovanna Faggionato hears he’ll make a short presentation and take questions, without actually handing out copies of the 400-page report. That’s not expected until later this month.
ICYMI: A draft of the report viewed by POLITICO calls for a major rethink of the defense industry. 
UKRAINE’S NARRATIVE WAR: War is hell. But Kyiv knows that it needs to project humanity if it’s going to hold onto Western support, even as Russia appears not to heed the laws of war. Ukraine is determined to show it won’t mirror Russia’s brutality in occupied areas. As my colleague Veronika Melkozerova reports from Kyiv, the government has been taking pains not just to obey the laws of war but to show it — posting videos, for example, of Ukrainian troops providing Russian civilians with food and water.
ICYMI: Russian strikes on a hospital and military university in Poltava left dozens dead and hundreds injured Tuesday night.
SHAKE-UP IN KYIV: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is undertaking a “major reboot” of his wartime government, the FT reports, with several ministers resigning or changing roles. Separately, the firing of the head of Ukraine’s national electricity grid operator has sparked a rebellion at the top of the company, with two board members announcing their resignation in protest at the decision, POLITICO’s Gabriel Gavin reports.
DID THE BRAT SUMMER SPOIL THE RUSSIAN ASSETS DEAL? Negotiations over the G7’s €50 billion loan to Ukraine remain stalled ― and EU officials say Vice President Kamala Harris’ rising star hardened Washington’s stance. 
Wait, what? Donald Trump’s victory has always been the big threat to Ukraine aid — so how is it that stronger prospects for a second Democratic administration are hurting this deal? It’s because U.S. officials are less worried about the need to “Trump-proof” funding for Kyiv, thus reducing the urgency to reach a compromise with the EU on freezing Russian assets to pay back the loan. (Washington wants assets frozen indefinitely, but under EU rules, sanctions need to be renewed every six months.) 
Frozen discussion: A planned discussion on frozen assets today among the EU’s 27 ambassadors was canceled at the last minute after U.S. and EU officials locked horns on Monday, three diplomats told Gregorio Sorgi and Barbara Moens. More for Pro subscribers in today’s Morning Financial Services newsletter.
POLITICAL STALEMATE SPELLS TROUBLE FOR FRENCH BUDGET: The clock is ticking for France to slash its massive public spending — and Brussels is getting worried. Like six other EU countries, France is facing a so-called excessive deficit procedure for overspending last year and has less than three weeks to reassure Brussels with plans to cut spending and implement pro-growth reforms. But “a country without a government can hardly submit a plan,” as a Commission official put it. Read more from Giorgio Leali, Gregorio Sorgi and Paul de Villepin.
Emmanuel Macron’s whirlwind search for a new PM … is ongoing. My colleague Clea Caulcutt has the latest on the French president’s hunt for a successor to Gabriel Attal, which has been marked by conjecture, lengthy talks and a constantly changing list of possible candidates.
Running: Former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe unexpectedly announced Tuesday he would stand as a candidate in France’s next presidential election in 2027. The contest will almost certainly pit him against far-right leader Marine Le Pen, Clea reports. 
GAZA CEASE-FIRE IN PERIL: U.S. and Israeli officials say the killing of six hostages in Gaza over the weekend has blunted progress made in recent weeks by negotiators toward a cease-fire deal between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, my Stateside colleagues Erin Banco and Jonathan Lemire report.
Meanwhile … Slovenia’s U.N. Ambassador Samuel Zbogar said Security Council members are running out of patience with the lack of agreement in the peace talks, per Reuters … Norway’s $1.7 trillion wealth fund may have to divest shares of companies that aid Israel’s operations in the occupied territories (also Reuters) … and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s rhetoric is stoking anti-Israel sentiment in Turkey, according to the FT.
Hamas leader charged: The U.S. Department of Justice announced criminal charges Tuesday against Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and other militants in connection with the Oct. 7 attack in Israel.
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— Ambassadors meet in Coreper II at 9:30 a.m. Agenda.
— Parliament President Roberta Metsola presides over the Conference of Presidents meeting at 4 p.m. Former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi will present his report on the future of European competitiveness.
— Press conference on the publication of the final report of the strategic dialogue on the future of EU agriculture at 11 a.m. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen participates along with Peter Strohschneider, the strategic dialogue chairman. Watch.
— Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee MEPs will discuss with Commissioner Ylva Johansson revised provisions on protecting children from sexual abuse.
— ​​The Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee will discuss the EU’s emergency response actions to the outbreak of mpox with the Commission and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control at 9:45 a.m. Watch.
— Innovation Commissioner Iliana Ivanova meets with Tony Murphy, president of the European Court of Auditors.
— Budget Commissioner Johannes Hahn receives Pierre Heilbronn, France’s special envoy for Ukraine’s relief and reconstruction.
— Commission Vice President for Values and Transparency Vĕra Jourová is in Venice, where she meets Alberto Barbera, the artistic director of the cinema department of La Biennale di Venezia … gives the opening remarks at the Ukrainian Day event … and attends the premiere of the movie “Songs of Slow Burning Earth,” by Olha Zhurba, supported by the EU MEDIA program.
— Enlargement Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi meets with North Macedonia’s Minister of European Affairs Orhan Murtezani; meets with Pierre Heilbronn. 
— Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson is in Windhoek, Namibia, participating in the Global African Hydrogen Summit’s panel discussion on “Delivering Africa’s energy transition through the development of the global energy map”… meets with Mahmoud Mustafa Kamal Esmat, Egypt’s electricity minister … meets with Tom Alweendo, Namibia’s energy minister.
— European Economic and Social Committee President Oliver Röpke will participate in the EU Democracy Reform Conversation: “The future of EU democracy in a new institutional cycle.”
WEATHER: High of 22C, sunny intervals.
PERM REP MOVES: Lauri Hirvonen has started as Coreper I ambassador in the Finnish permanent representation to the EU.
EPP’S NEW SMALL BIZ ADVOCATE: On Tuesday, MEP Jörgen Warborn was elected president of SME Europe, the European People’s Party’s advocacy effort for small and medium-sized enterprises. 
FROM POLITICO TOWER TO THE IVORY TOWER: Mark Scott joined the Atlantic Council as a senior research fellow after seven years as POLITICO’s chief tech correspondent. Varg Folkman, previously a competition reporter at POLITICO, has started as a policy analyst at the European Policy Centre.
FOOTBALL TRANSFER WINDOW: Looking to join a football team? UKFC — a British expat team that competes in the Brussels Euroleague against 16 other countries — is recruiting experienced players (not strictly limited to Brits) to improve the squad for the ’24-25 season. If you’re interested, drop a line to [email protected].
BIRTHDAYS: Former MEP Henrike Hahn; Aart van Iterson of Morris & Chapman; Jan Van Zanen, mayor of The Hague; Karen Clements from LOW Europe; Isabelle Durant, former deputy prime minister of Belgium; The New York Times’ Alex Travelli … and pop star Beyoncé turns 43.
THANKS TO: Max Griera, Giorgio Leali, Gregorio Sorgi, Giovanna Faggionato, Karl Mathiesen, John Johnston, Camille Gijs, Paula Andrés, Stuart Lau, Ali Walker and Khushbu Shah; Playbook editor Alex Spence, Playbook reporter Šejla Ahmatović and producer Dean Southwell.
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