Michael McGrath, European Commissioner for Justice.
Disorganization and internal distractions are causing Dublin’s influence in the new European Commission to decline. “Our performance was very poor.”
Dublin has less and less influence in the European Union (EU) and its poor performance in obtaining top positions in the EU, after the latest reshuffle, is raising concerns among some Irish officials, especially in defining economic policies.
“I don’t know if [o Governo irlandês] had a plan, or what the plan was,” one Irish official told the newspaper — one of five who expressed their frustration and blamed a disorganized approach and missed opportunities in the new European Commission.
Despite a history of strong representation in key functions, including the financial services and agriculture portfolios, Ireland now finds itself with a limited influence in key areas such as financial services, the EU budget and the economy, officials warn.
According to multiple sources in Dublin and Brussels, Ireland’s campaign to place officials in strategic roles has been hampered by internal distractions and for reluctance in engaging in intense political activity. The Irish Government was unable to develop a coherent strategy and left the country on the sidelines of the negotiations.
Frustration is compounded by delays in finalizing the team of the new Irish commissioner, Michael McGrath, who oversees the Justice portfolio. This term, only six Irish officials — two from McGrath’s team — will occupy key positions, according to a list of almost final Government appointments seen by Politico.
McGrath’s late decision-making left Ireland at a disadvantage in negotiations, forcing the country to settle for less influential positions. Critics argue that the commissioner’s cautious approach, aimed at keeping Ireland “above the fray”, ultimately undermined his ability to secure key roles.
“Our performance was very poor”said one of the officials who spoke to the newspaper dedicated to EU political affairs; “we were completely screwed”said a third employee, claiming that those who got positions in the offices “already had friends” in the system.
The appointment process, the change in the rules for hiring ministers and the influence of EU political groups will have created even more obstacles in the Irish campaign. Compounding the problem, Ireland’s relatively small network within EU institutions has been compared to that of more aggressive actors such as the Luxembourg e Francewho reached agreements early in the process.
Some Irish officials believe their country’s traditional preference for diplomacy over negotiation has backfired. “The Irish want people to like them”said a senior financial sector official.
And rather than relying on personal contacts to secure positions, Ireland’s permanent representation in the EU has relied on email contacts, charge these officials, who report a lack of coordination between senior diplomats and McGrath’s team.
The fall of Ireland’s influence occurs in a critical moment for the EU, with the bloc facing economic challenges and a changing political landscape. The shift to the right in the recent EU elections, coupled with efforts to exclude far-right parties from top positions, has further complicated Ireland’s efforts to place its officials in influential positions, Politico notes.
Ireland’s underrepresentation in EU institutions also worsens the situation. A national strategy warned of a “demographic abyss”with many senior Irish officials retiring in the coming years. If action is not taken, the number of Irish employees at entry and middle management levels is expected to decline significantly, further contributing to the country’s declining influence in the European space.
