High representative: a position that no longer really attracts

(B2) To the future head of European diplomacy, I will recommend " not only a lot of patience, but also a lot of passion for diplomacy and defense, to this job which is the most fantastic in the world confided the current High Representative, Federica Mogherini, to B2 a few days ago. A relevant point. However, we cannot say that there are many 'enthusiasts' who have declared their love for the moment

A noticeable lack of interest

In February, we had made a first lap. Quite disturbing (Read: Commission 2019. The candidates for the post of High Representative are not rushing. Six possible and eventual names?). Today, while a European summit is taking place devoted to the renewal of European institutions, the trend has not changed. She almost got worse. No official or unofficial candidate is in the running or wants to appear. The Dutch Social Democrat Frans Timmermans does not seem very interested in the post. The Spaniards who could have claimed the position (like the French) have their heads turned elsewhere (towards the European Commission). Only the Slovak Maros Sefkovic declared himself officially interested, but only in the absence of not having another more emblematic position. And more to poke fun at Frans Timmermans (read on B2 Pro: The Visegrads present Sefkovic as head of the Commission, or as High Representative. A low blow to Timmermans).

Why this disinterest?

Political complexity

The absence of a clear majority in the European Parliament as in the European Council and the vagueness surrounding the designation of the President of the European Commission do not make things any easier. Most Member States prefer to concentrate on this post, or even on a vice-presidency of the European Commission with a more 'profitable' economic aspect in terms of influence, than an exposed post of High Representative of the EU , which has only a limited power of impetus in European diplomacy.

A secondary position

Despite its appointment by the European Council, the post of High Representative of the EU thus appears only as a 'second knife'. Once the other leading positions (European Commission, European Council) have been filled, the necessary criteria that the future head of political diplomacy must meet to complete the team (political party, man or woman, geopolitical area, etc.) will appear. by deduction.

An impossible job

Apart from these rather circumstantial reasons, there is a reason for this disenchantment, a deeper reason. The job seems impossible to hold for anyone who wants to have a little ambition. There is a basic error in the job definition. Believing that by merging different functions, through simple functional magic, we will achieve greater efficiency turns out to be a complete illusion, especially in an increasingly complex world, where States want to continue to play a role. For a Member State, having a representative on the Commission who travels the world is the assurance that he will not be able to be there 100% at the college to follow all the files that interest him. Future European leaders, like current Heads of State and Government, must urgently tackle this challenge if they want to have some effectiveness for European diplomacy. Read also: Can the high rep system bug be fixed?

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)