The Brief – Bring back Martin Selmayr

If there’s one thing the EU has no shortage of, it’s senior bureaucrats (sorry, “eurocrats”). Unfortunately, many of them are not particularly effective, as anyone who has spent time in the labyrinth of directorates general can attest. That’s why Ursula von der Leyen’s 2019 decision to banish Martin Selmayr, Jean-Claude Juncker’s former chief of staff, was always regrettable.

Selmayr, now the EU’s envoy to the Vatican, has been back in the headlines in recent days following an exclusive report in Euractiv’s Rapporteur newsletter on his possible return to Brussels.

The ultimate Brussels powerbroker, Selmayr – who, like the Commission president, is German – rubbed up many of his colleagues the wrong way. And yet he was without question the most effective European official of his generation, transforming the Commission into a true power centre with a clear mission.

The power play provoked the ire of his detractors in the Commission and, arguably even more so, the media. The same outlet that branded him a “beast” and “monster” a decade ago is now citing anonymous insiders comparing him to the “Count of Monte Cristo”.

These attempts at character assassination should not dissuade Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief who is considering giving him a top position in Brussels. If anything, it should embolden her. The EU’s listless establishment needs a jab of Selmayr more than ever.

Roundup

Parliament reprimands Belgian prosecutors – Investigations by Belgian prosecutors into MEP corruption have been held up by the European Parliament’s resistance to lifting immunity, on the grounds that the evidence was not sufficiently strong to submit suspected lawmakers to the process – which would entail serious reputational harm.

Jailed journalists awarded Sakharov prize – Two imprisoned journalists – Belarusian Andrzej Poczobut and Georgian Mzia Amaglobeli – have been awarded the European Parliament’s prestigious Sakharov human rights prize. Parliament President Roberta Metsola said their “courage shines as a beacon for all who refuse to be silenced. Both have paid a heavy price for speaking truth to power.”

Omnibus hits stumbling block in Parliament – In a narrow vote on Wednesday, MEPs voted against proceeding with the “omnibus” law to simplify Europe’s sustainability and due diligence rules. The surprise outcome is a blow to the centre-right’s European People’s Party, but it is not clear who sabotaged the deal, as the vote was by secret ballot.

Across Europe

Lecornu shores up socialists support with pension delay – In a bid to win over socialist MPs and avoid a censure motion, France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that he will seek to suspend the government’s controversial pension reform until after the 2027 presidential election.

Spain divided on nuclear phaseout – Spain’s five remaining nuclear stations are set to close between 2027 and 2035. But the April blackout has spooked lawmakers about the reliability of renewables.

Swiss get a look-in on flagship EU programmes – On Tuesday, EU ministers endorsed Switzerland’s association with initiatives including Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Euratom, ITER/Fusion for Energy, and EU4Health. But Swiss right-wingers aren’t enthusiastic.