Barroso does not give up on NATO
(BRUSSELS2) "Speculation". This is the word with which the President of the European Commission, José-Manuel Barroso, insisted on ensuring that his enthusiasm for defence issues was not linked to future views on a post as Secretary General of NATO. This communication has nothing to do with my future, it has to do with the present of the European Commission which has decided to make its contribution to what is extremely important at European level. Any connection between this communication and what I may or may not do in the future is simply speculation." he replied to one of my colleagues. However, he did not clearly deny or deny that he was not interested in this position or that he was not considering it. The future is composed in the simple past…
An interest that is not unexpected
While the presence of the President of the European Commission on the press podium today to present the communication on defence policy alongside Commissioners Barnier (Internal Market) and Tajani (Industries) may have surprised some, it can be said that it is neither unexpected nor sudden. Having followed this work since it began, I have witnessed it. The President's office has been involved, very regularly, in this communication. And Barroso even sent a reminder letter to all his Commissioners to remind them of the importance of joint preparatory work. A rather rare procedure to be noted... Similarly, President Barroso has embarked on a real international tour taking him to the four corners of the globe to classic locations for his position (USA, Russia, China, South Africa, etc.) but also in a less classic way to all the theatres of "crisis" (Middle East, Horn of Africa, etc.). Let's bet this tour isn't over!
To speculate is to predict
To speculate in economics is to predict, and bet on the future, with a risk of losing… or winning. President Barroso knows this well. And he is preparing, with measured steps, his future, after the European Commission. The two mandates – President of the Commission and Secretary General of NATO – coincide. José-Manuel Barroso was also careful not to insult the future. The test was easy to do...
Between Europe and the USA, the heart does not waver…
I asked him if he had to choose between buying a C130 (American) or an A400M (European) what choice would he make? José-Manuel Barroso was careful not to give an answer… limiting himself to saying that he was “not there is no question of the Commission buying planes of its own ". However, it would have been easy for him, without clearly stating "yes, I'll take the A400M", to give some interesting characteristics of the A400M: a European aircraft, a large carrier, manufactured jointly, with recent technology, which cannot be compared to the other aircraft. After all the dithyrambic declarations on the need to work together and to strengthen the industry as well as the European defense, it was more than logical, and almost obligatory.
Apparently, even today, 20 years after this question was asked by JM Barroso, then Portuguese Prime Minister, giving up buying American is still just as difficult (read: When JM Barroso dropped the Airbus A400M, out of friendship…). Not responding is already responding. Today, J.-M Barroso not only does not deny this anti-European choice. But he confirms it! All speculations are therefore possible...
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