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The end of the time change. A small blow worthy of Machiavelli

(B2) The change of position, surprise, of the European Commission on summer time is in fact the result of a small calculation... worthy of Machiavelli, as we have been able to reconstruct it 

The question of the time change is very cynically linked to a German request: CDU, CSU believe that it is necessary to show the population that not everything is decided in Brussels. What we call in techno terms 'subsidiarity'. In order to set this 180° change in the position of the European Commission to music, which had never before wanted to modify the timetable, the Vice-President of the Commission, Frans Timmermans, is asked to work on the subject. .

An order from the 13th to Timmermans

« A command from the thirteenth floor explains a European source. Clearly, where Juncker's team sits. " This is not a report the commissioner wanted. And he didn't really have any leeway to write it. The draft report is actually written by the Secretary General's team (Martin Selmayr). Timmermans sees certain chapters coming, on which he does not really agree (1). The commissioner asks that they be removed, in particular the one on summer time. THE investigation report which comes out in July is, in fact, sanitized and will not have a great impact.

Consult the population

However, the idea of ​​eliminating the time change has not been abandoned. She will come back by the band. A public consultation is organized during the summer. It lasts from July 4 to August 16 and collects 4,6 million responses (including more than 3 million from Germany). Unsurprisingly, a large majority of responses (84%) are in favor of abolishing the device.

Result, country by country (source: European Commission)

Immediately, the Commission, or rather Jean-Claude Juncker alone, approves the position. He made his decision public at the end of August on German television, ZDF. " When you consult citizens on something, you should also do what they want “, justifies the Luxembourger. But under the guise of respecting a certain democratic will, hides slightly less avowed objectives, as an internal source, generally well informed, admitted to us. The objective is not really to abolish the transition to summer time, but to let each Member State decide on the transition. A map " very machiavellian in fact ».

A Machiavellian Plan

It is not really a question of giving back a competence, but of showing that (without the Commission), the Member States are incapable of deciding and of agreeing. Several commissioners also spoke out against this 'brilliant' idea during the last seminar held in Genval. Without success. The idea comes from Martin Selmayr, the former chief of staff of the president, who even became secretary general of the Commission continues, more than ever, to have an eye and a hand on all decisions. He does not intend to give up on a sensible idea to bring the Commission closer to the people.

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)

(1) Between the two men, it is not mad love. As a good connoisseur of the two men puts it, between Timmermans and Selmayr, “ there is always an antagonism ". And it does not seem ready to decrease. " There is in fact only one first vice-president. And he's not the one... who has the title. Implied it is Selmayr.

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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