CINXE.COM

<!doctype html> <html lang="en"> <head> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://use.typekit.net/ape0toh.css"> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, height=device-height, initial-scale=1.0, minimum-scale=1.0, viewport-fit=cover" /> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <title>Juncker starts interviews for new EU commission</title> <meta name="description" content="Incoming EU commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has started meeting the nominees for his 28-strong college, but gender balance continues to be a problem." /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="EUobserver" /> <meta property="og:locale:" content="en_GB" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=1200/75658a866ba01a00b233e65765974e81.jpg" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://euobserver.com/eu-political/ar26e23d80" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://euobserver.com/eu-political/ar26e23d80" /> <meta property="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta property="twitter:site" content="@euobs" /> <meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:large" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Juncker starts interviews for new EU commission" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Incoming EU commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has started meeting the nominees for his 28-strong college, but gender balance continues to be a problem." /> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2014-09-02T11:41:27.000Z" /> <meta property="twitter:creator" content="@valentinapop" /> <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","publisher":{"@type":"NewsMediaOrganization","name":"EUobserver"},"inLanguage":[{"@type":"Language","name":"English"}],"isAccessibleForFree":false,"headline":"Juncker starts interviews for new EU commission","description":"Incoming EU commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has started meeting the nominees for his 28-strong college, but gender balance continues to be a problem.","image":["https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=400/75658a866ba01a00b233e65765974e81.jpg","https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=800/75658a866ba01a00b233e65765974e81.jpg","https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=1200/75658a866ba01a00b233e65765974e81.jpg"],"datePublished":"2014-09-02T11:41:27.000Z","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Valentina Pop","url":"https://euobserver.com/bio/eu691dde87","email":"vp@euobs.com","sameAs":["https://www.x.com/valentinapop","https://www.linkedin.com/in/undefined"],"description":""}]}</script> <link rel="icon" type="image/x-icon" href="https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/favicon-UOZ7ZRS5.ico" /> <script>window.__basedcache__={"1055265130055":{"v":{"data":[{"title":"EU Elections","type":"section","id":"509704cb00","index":0},{"title":"Investigation","type":"articleType","id":"80e452251d","index":0},{"title":"Opinion","type":"section","id":"50dee1923e","index":1},{"title":"Analysis","type":"articleType","id":"80178480d0","index":1},{"title":"EU Political","type":"section","id":"506324822d","index":2},{"title":"Opinion","type":"articleType","id":"806f303338","index":2},{"title":"Africa","type":"section","id":"5041632de8","index":3},{"title":"Feature","type":"articleType","id":"8088e5421e","index":3},{"title":"Migration","type":"section","id":"50192d9286","index":4},{"title":"EUobserved","type":"articleType","id":"803b7f3d61","index":4},{"title":"Green Economy","type":"section","id":"50739332cc","index":5},{"title":"Infographic","type":"articleType","id":"803c3938ca","index":5},{"title":"Health & Society","type":"section","id":"508bf89c3a","index":6},{"title":"Exclusive","type":"articleType","id":"80636814db","index":6},{"title":"EU & the World","type":"section","id":"5002452f20","index":7},{"title":"Column","type":"articleType","id":"807976613d","index":7},{"title":"Rule of Law","type":"section","id":"5019a5cd48","index":8},{"title":"Interview","type":"articleType","id":"80d5f984c1","index":8},{"title":"Agenda","type":"section","id":"5050d2d5c0","index":9},{"title":"Insight","type":"articleType","id":"80388bedaf","index":9},{"title":"Digital","type":"section","id":"503f501420","index":10},{"title":"Stakeholder","type":"articleType","id":"800f0876e9","index":10},{"title":"Podcast","type":"articleType","id":"8049ac606e","index":11},{"title":"Video","type":"articleType","id":"809641de67","index":12},{"title":"Inside EUobserver","type":"section","id":"505e0db4ca","index":13},{"title":"Poll","type":"articleType","id":"80d2c267f7","index":13},{"title":"Stakeholders","type":"section","id":"50a6a0fafb","index":14},{"title":"Book Review","type":"articleType","id":"8010b09e0f","index":14},{"title":"Ukraine","type":"section","id":"50adaaad9b","index":15},{"title":"Letter","type":"articleType","id":"80d8db1c49","index":15},{"title":"Magazine","type":"section","id":"50b734f76d","index":16},{"title":"Comment Guidelines","type":"staticPage","id":"404a6c8a6a"},{"title":"About Us","type":"staticPage","id":"40775cd392"},{"title":"Privacy Policy","type":"staticPage","id":"4079339248"},{"title":"Advertising","type":"staticPage","id":"40f6cce801"},{"title":"Editorial Corrections","type":"staticPage","id":"40fead7987"}]},"c":13553187320516,"s":2498},"16606499516597":{"v":{"id":"ar26e23d80","body":"<p>Incoming EU commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has started meeting the nominees for his 28-strong college, but gender balance continues to be a problem.</p><p>Dutch foreign affairs minister Frans Timmermans and Slovene Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek were due to meet Juncker in Brussels on Tuesday (2 September) to present themselves and what portfolios they might be interested in.</p><p>Belgium is the only country that has not yet decided on a nominee, with the political parties hesitating between foreign minister Didier Reynders or MEP Marianne Thyssen.</p><p>Juncker has promised better jobs to female commissioners, as \"compensation\" for being outnumbered by their male colleagues.</p><p>The female count is also important to secure the vote of the European Parliament, which has threatened to veto any team that has fewer than nine women.</p><p>So far only Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and Sweden have nominated women. But several other countries - Cyprus, Malta and Romania - have a woman as a plan B candidate.</p><p>As to the carve-out of portfolios, the economics post is seen as the top prize. Denmark's economy minister Margrethe Vestager is in the running against France's former finance minister Pierre Moscovici and Finland's ex-PM Jyrki Katainen.</p><p>External affairs-related posts also have several contenders. Bulgaria's humanitarian aid commissioner Kristalina Georgieva, Dutch foreign minister Timmermans - both Russian-speakers - and two more foreign ministers from Hungary and Belgium are said to be in the running for such posts.</p><p>Timmermans is tipped to get a Vice-President post in the EU commission, with Dutch media floating trade as his preferred portfolio.</p><p>But Georgieva, who was also touted for the top foreign affairs job and is an internationally respected figure in the field of humanitarian aid, also has good chances of getting a plum job.</p><p>Juncker wants to meet all commissioner candidates this week. His finalised list of would-be commissioners must then be agreed by member states. Once this is done, he will announce what portfolio each one will have as well as how he intends to organise the next commission.</p><p>All commissioner candidates will then go through hearings in the European Parliament, before a final vote on the entire commission in October. </p><p>Commissioner candidates:</p><p>Austria - Johannes Hahn, regional policy commissioner\\nBelgium - Didier Reynders, foreign minister or Marianne Thyssen, MEP\\nBulgaria - Kristalina Georgieva, humanitarian aid commissioner\\nCroatia - Neven Mimica, consumer affairs commissioner\\nCyprus - Christos Stylianides, MEP or a woman\\nCzech Republic - Vera Jourova, regional development minister\\nDenmark - Margrethe Vestager, economy minister\\nEstonia - Andrus Ansip, former Prime Minister\\nFinland - Jyrki Katainen, former Prime Minister\\nFrance - Pierre Moscovici, former finance minister\\nGermany - Guenther Oettinger, energy commissioner\\nGreece - Dimitris Avramopoulos, defence minister\\nHungary - Tibor Navracsics, foreign minister\\nIreland - Phil Hogan, former environment minister\\nItaly - Federica Mogherini - High Representative for foreign and security policy\\nLatvia - Valdis Dombrovskis, former Prime Minister\\nLithuania - Vytenis Andriukaitis, former health minister for health\\nLuxembourg - Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the EU commission\\nMalta - Karmenu Vella, tourism minister or a woman\\nNetherlands - Frans Timmermans, foreign minister\\nPoland - Elzbieta Bienkowska, minister for infrastructure and development\\nPortugal - Carlos Moedas, secretary of state dealing with troika\\nRomania - Dacian Ciolos, agriculture commissioner or Corina Cretu, MEP\\nSlovakia - Maros Sefocvic, inter-institutional and anti-fraud commissioner\\nSlovenia - Alenka Bratusek, Prime Minister\\nSpain - Miguel Arias Canete, former agriculture minister\\nSweden - Cecilia Malmstroem, home affairs commissioner\\nUK - Lord Hill, former leader of the House of Lords</p>","abstract":"Incoming EU commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has started meeting the nominees for his 28-strong college, but gender balance continues to be a problem.","headline":"Juncker starts interviews for new EU commission","location":"Brussels","publishDate":1409658087000,"articleFormat":0,"membership":1,"status":2,"section":[{"type":"section","id":"506324822d","title":"EU Political","hidden":false}],"related":[{"id":"arb01e883e","headline":"EU leaders pick Tusk, Mogherini for top posts","section":[{"type":"section","id":"506324822d","title":"EU Political","hidden":false}]},{"id":"ardce6a0de","headline":"New EU commission risks delay over gender issue","section":[{"type":"section","id":"506324822d","title":"EU Political","hidden":false}]}],"articleType":[],"headerImageCaption":"Juncker wants to finalise the commissioner names list by the end of the week","img":{"id":"fif9cc742a","src":"https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/75658a866ba01a00b233e65765974e81.jpg","credit":{"source":"europarl.europa.eu","sourceUrl":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu"}},"author":{"id":"eu691dde87","firstName":"Valentina","lastName":"Pop","twitterusername":"valentinapop","email":"vp@euobs.com"}},"c":1246304118464,"s":5308}}</script> <style> *:where(:not(html,canvas,img,svg,video,audio,iframe):not(svg *,symbol *)){all:unset;display:revert}*,*:before,*:after{box-sizing:border-box}html{-moz-text-size-adjust:none;-webkit-text-size-adjust:none;text-size-adjust:none}a,button{cursor:revert}ol,ul,menu,summary{list-style:none}img{max-inline-size:100%;max-block-size:100%}table{border-collapse:collapse}input,textarea{-webkit-user-select:auto}textarea{white-space:revert}meter{-webkit-appearance:revert;appearance:revert}:where(pre){all:revert;box-sizing:border-box}::placeholder{color:unset}:where([hidden]){display:none}:where([contenteditable]:not([contenteditable=false])){-moz-user-modify:read-write;-webkit-user-modify:read-write;overflow-wrap:break-word;-webkit-line-break:after-white-space;-webkit-user-select:auto}:where([draggable=true]){-webkit-user-drag:element}:where(dialog:modal){all:revert;box-sizing:border-box}::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}*{-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased}a{all:unset;cursor:pointer}#root{font-family:arial}@font-face{font-family:Geist;font-style:normal;font-weight:300;font-display:swap;src:url(https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/Geist-Thin-YOFTMX5Y.woff2) format("woff2")}@font-face{font-family:GeistRegular;font-style:normal;font-weight:400;font-display:swap;src:url(https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/Geist-Regular-QWX5VMD4.woff2) format("woff2")}@font-face{font-family:GeistBold;font-style:normal;font-weight:700;font-display:swap;src:url(https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/Geist-Bold-DDKZ3BG7.woff2) format("woff2")}@font-face{font-family:GeistUltraBlack;font-style:normal;font-weight:900;font-display:swap;src:url(https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/Geist-UltraBlack-GQQJEQ2B.woff2) format("woff2")}h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6{margin-block-start:0px;margin-block-end:0px}figcaption{color:#00002080;font-family:freight-text-pro;font-weight:300;line-height:21px;margin-top:8px;position:relative;padding-left:20px}figcaption:before{content:url('data:image/svg+xml,<svg width="7" height="6" viewBox="0 0 7 6" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="M7 5.5H0L3.5 0L7 5.5Z" fill="black" fill-opacity="0.5"/></svg>');width:10px;height:10px;position:absolute;left:0}a{font-family:inherit}input{font-family:GeistRegular;font-size:16px;text-align:left}:root{--orange: rgba(240, 82, 60, 1);--orangeHover: rgba(250, 92, 70, 1);--grey: rgba(0, 0, 0, .5);--navy: rgb(0, 0, 32);--black: rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);--navyHover: rgb(40, 40, 62);--white: rgba(255, 255, 255);--bg1: #f9f9f9;--bg2: rgb(241, 241, 241);--bg3: rgb(224, 224, 224);--border: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, .12)}.aq{max-width:1313px}.j{width:100%}.am{margin-left:auto}.an{margin-right:auto}.w{z-index:1}.al{max-width:1313px}.ao{border-top:var(--border)}.ap{border-bottom:var(--border)}.z{left:0}.a1{right:0}.o{display:flex}.a8{align-items:center}.a6{background-color:#fff}.ar{gap:14px}.as{justify-content:space-between}.at{margin-right:12px}.au{flex-direction:column}.a9{justify-content:center}.ah{font-family:freight-text-pro}.ai{font-style:normal}.aj{font-weight:600}.ak{font-weight:900}.g1{font-size:17px}.g2{line-height:18px}.g3{text-overflow:ellipsis}.cr{overflow:hidden}.g4{min-width:0px}.g0{flex-shrink:1}.g5{white-space:nowrap}.g6{font-size:36px}.g7{line-height:44px}.fa{font-weight:700}.b8{flex-shrink:0}.g8{font-size:22px}.g9{line-height:30px}.ga{font-size:18px}.bs{font-family:GeistRegular}.gb{font-size:14px}.gc{line-height:16px}.gd{font-weight:300}.ge{font-size:42px}.gf{line-height:54px}.cs{text-align:center}.gg{font-size:27px}.gh{font-weight:500}.gi{line-height:37px}.bu{font-weight:400}.gj{text-decoration-thickness:from-font}.gk{font-size:64px}.gl{line-height:70px}.f8{font-family:GeistBold}.az{font-size:16px}.gm{line-height:24px}.gn{font-size:11px}.go{line-height:13px}.gp{font-size:16px}.gq{font-style:18px}.gr{color:inherit}.bt{font-size:14px}.gs{margin-bottom:24px}.gt{background-color:var(--orange)}.gu{color:var(--white)}.gv{width:fit-content}.gw{padding:6px 18px}.gx{line-height:14px}.gy{border-radius:5px}.a2{cursor:pointer}.gz{color:var(--orange)}.h0{text-decoration:underline}.h1{text-underline-offset:.15rem}.h2{font-size:12px}.fc{text-transform:uppercase}.eh{border-bottom:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,.12)}.e3{color:#000}.h3{line-height:20px}.h4{padding-bottom:12px}.fx{text-decoration:none}.h5{padding:6px 24px}.ac{gap:12px}.x{position:fixed}.y{top:0}.a0{bottom:0}.ds{background-color:#00000054}.aa{transition-timing-function:ease-out}.dt{animation-duration:.4s}.du{z-index:12}.b4{position:absolute}.dv{inset:0}.c7{left:50%}.dw{transform:translate(-50%)}.k{margin:0 auto}.dx{top:60px}.dy{width:590px}.dz{height:679px}.d6{border-top:2px solid black}.c3{background-color:#f9f9f9}.e0{width:377px}.e1{padding:8px 18px}.e2{margin-top:42px}.bk{height:38px}.e4{margin-top:11px}.e5{gap:6px}.e6{margin-top:64px}.e7{flex-direction:row}.e8{max-width:337px}.bl{width:38px}.l{position:relative}.e9{border-radius:0}.ea{padding:10px}.eb{pointer-events:auto}.ec{margin-top:auto}.cu{margin-bottom:24px}.ed{margin-right:24px}.cb{transition:transform .2s}.cc{gap:26px}.by{bottom:24px}.bz{right:24px}.c0{max-width:calc(100% - 48px)}.c1{z-index:20}.c2{max-width:780px}.c4{padding:15px}.c5{border-top:1px solid black}.c6{align-items:flex-start}.c8{gap:16px}.c9{transition-property:transform opacity}.ca{transition-timing-function:cubic-bezier(.25,.75,.6,.98)}.h6{background:rgba(0,0,0,.4)}.k8{z-index:100}.f3{cursor:default}.k9{background:rgba(0,0,32,1)}.if{overflow-x:hidden}.i{max-width:800px}.h9{height:100vh}.ka{transition-timing-function:ease-in}.ab{animation-duration:.3s}.kb{max-width:354px}.kc{padding-top:36px}.kd{padding-bottom:160px}.d9{height:100%}.hd{overflow:auto}.he{border-radius:inherit}.ke{z-index:10}.kf{transition:transform .25s}.il{flex:1}.ls{justify-content:end}.lt{gap:19px}.lu{transition:.1s}.lv{padding-bottom:0}.lw{height:0px}.lx{padding-left:38px}.lk{padding-right:18px}.lh{color:#000}.bv{line-height:normal}.ly{border-bottom:1px solid #eee}.lz{padding:12px 24px}.m0{min-width:24px}.ct{background-color:var(--bg3)}.ay{margin-top:24px}.cv{width:302px}.cw{height:252px}.cx{border:1px solid var(--bg3)}.cy{box-sizing:border-box}.cz{margin-top:78px}.d0{margin-bottom:78px}.d1{min-height:250px}.d2{max-width:970px}.d3{width:300px}.d4{height:600px}.cj{display:none}.kj{min-width:38px}.kk{margin-right:0}.kl{gap:4px}.kg{background:rgba(0,0,0,.12)}.i0{width:1px}.kh{height:19px}.ki{margin-right:16px}.be{height:8px}.bf{width:8px}.bd{border:1px solid black}.bg{border-radius:24px}.bh{justify-content:start}.bi{right:20px}.bj{top:20px}.bm{padding:12px}.bn{background:black}.dropdown-scrollbar{--scrollbarBG: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);--thumbBG: #303040;-webkit-scrollbar{width:11px}scrollbar-width:2px;scrollbar-color:var(--thumbBG) var(--scrollbarBG);::-webkit-scrollbar-track{background:var(--scrollbarBG)}::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb{background-color:var(--thumbBG);border-radius:6px;border:3px solid var(--scrollbarBG)}}.cd{background:var(--bg2)}.ce{margin-top:48px}.cf{padding:60px 48px}.cg{border-top:2px solid #000}.ch{width:50%}.ci{gap:15px}.im{text-align:left}.in{color:#fff}.io{background:var(--black)}.ip{max-width:337px}.ln{z-index:3}.lo{top:25%}.lp{transform:translate(-50%,-50%)}.lq{height:auto}.lr{padding:32px 24px 64px}.ii{color:var(--black)}.ij{margin-top:-14px}.ik{margin-left:16px}.ba{height:20px}.fs{width:20px}.jr{position:static}.eu{border-radius:50%}.k7{padding:2px}.iq{height:46vh}.ev{background-size:cover}.ir{background-position:center center}.is{min-height:500px}.iy{padding-top:12px}.iz{padding-right:16px}.j0{margin-top:0}.dr{margin-top:0}.km{padding:0 18px}.kn{height:30px}.ho{border-bottom:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,.12)}.ko{margin-top:-32px}.kp{color:#0000207a}.kq{margin-right:8px}.a3{padding:8px 12px}.a4{z-index:2}.a5{border-radius:20px}.a7{filter:drop-shadow(0px 4px 4px rgba(0,0,0,.25))}.ad{animation-duration:.6s}.ae{padding:0}.af{margin-top:4px}.ag{transition:.2s}.jp{height:20px}.jq{width:20px}.js{background-color:#000}.jt{transform:scale(1.1)}.ff{max-width:fit-content}.fg{height:22px}.fh{margin-right:10px}.fi{padding:0 8px}.ll{background-color:#fff}.lm{padding:0}.f5{opacity:1}.f6{border-radius:4px}.f7{color:#fff}.f9{font-size:12px}.fb{padding:8px}.fd{margin-top:24px}.fe{margin-bottom:42px}.kz{margin-top:26px}.l0{padding-left:26px}.l1{padding-bottom:26px}.hg{height:1px}.l2{width:14px}.l3{background:rgba(0,0,0,.12)}.l4{top:9px}.av{border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,.12)}.aw{height:158px}.ax{background:white}.b0{cursor:text}.b1{color:#000c}.b2{overflow-y:auto}.b3{color:gray}.b5{left:16px}.b6{top:16px}.jb{gap:0px}.hs{margin-bottom:8px}.jc{width:24px}.jd{height:24px}.je{border-left:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,.12)}.jf{border-right:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,.12)}.kw{color:#666}.kx{line-height:33px}.ky{gap:28px}.dj{width:75%}.it{height:42vh}.iu{min-height:400px}.iv{padding-left:0}.iw{margin-bottom:32px}.h7{z-index:11}.h8{max-width:724px}.ha{right:16px}.hb{width:36px}.hc{height:36px}.f2{padding:36px 60px 128px}.t{height:2px}.bc{margin-top:12px}.f4{margin-bottom:12px}.fj{padding-bottom:19px}.ee{padding-left:18px}.ef{padding-right:24px}.eg{padding-bottom:36px}.v{gap:8px}.ei{margin-left:46px}.ej{margin-top:30px}.ek{gap:9px}.ix{margin-top:18px}.d5{height:400px}.d7{max-width:60%}.d8{background:#F1F1F1}.da{flex-grow:2}.db{padding:50px}.dc{background:#F9F9F9}.dd{max-width:40%}.de{flex-grow:1}.df{flex-wrap:wrap}.dg{margin-top:52px}.dh{margin-bottom:52px}.di{height:1000px}.dk{width:100%!}.dl{margin-top:4px!important}.dm{text-align:right}.dn{text-decoration:none!important}.do{height:154px}.dp{background-color:#eee}.dq{margin:54px auto}.ie{overflow-y:hidden}.ig{background:var(--bg1)}.ih{padding-bottom:48px}.kr{width:66%}.ks{min-height:368px}.kt{background-repeat:no-repeat}.ku{margin-left:24px}.kv{margin-bottom:4px}.hh{background-color:var(--navy)}.l6{margin-top:10px}.hn{padding-left:30px}.f1{display:block}.fk{border-top:2px solid var(--black)}.hj{background-color:var(--bg1)}.hk{padding:60px}.hf{width:53px}.hi{margin-left:6px}.ji{width:52px}.jj{height:3px}.bo{border-radius:8px}.jg{padding:8px 16px}.jh{max-width:394px}.m{padding-left:16px}.n{padding-right:16px}.p{margin-bottom:54px}.q{gap:34px}.r{align-items:end}.s{background:var(--orange)}.u{margin-bottom:12px}.fy{padding:32px 0}.fz{width:calc(100% - 50px)}.co{gap:11px}.el{padding-top:60px}.em{margin:0 auto}.en{z-index:0}.eo{padding-bottom:25px}.ep{margin-left:4px}.eq{padding-bottom:10px}.er{min-height:60vh}.ck{background-color:#f2f2f2}.cl{border-top:2px solid}.cm{padding:90px}.cn{margin-top:13px}.bp{height:63px}.bq{padding:12px 22px}.br{padding-top:34px}.bw{opacity:.8}.bx{border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,.8)}.hl{border:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,.12)}.hm{padding:30px 40px}.hp{padding-bottom:23px}.hq{gap:60px}.hr{padding:35px 0}.ht{display:grid}.hu{column-gap:12px}.hv{row-gap:9px}.hw{grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr}.hy{padding:26px 36px}.l5{gap:42px}.i1{background:none}.i2{clip:rect(0,0,0,0)}.i3{border-width:0px}.i6{height:18px}.i7{width:18px}.i8{height:10px}.i9{width:10px}.l7{margin-top:50px}.l8{padding-left:50px}.l9{gap:18px}.la{padding:16px 24px}.lb{padding:6px}.lc{border-radius:4px}.ld{width:26px}.le{height:26px}.lf{height:38px}.lg{max-width:258px}.li{border-radius:19px}.lj{padding-left:51px}.jx{gap:45px}.b7{gap:34px}.b9{width:41px}.bb{border-radius:10px}.ju{max-width:200px}.jv{height:43px}.jw{padding:0 15px}.k4{padding:0 25px}.k5{height:64px}.k6{gap:31px}.jy{border-radius:8px}.jz{padding:34px 22px 12px}.k0{max-width:324px}.k1{right:16px}.k2{top:28px}.k3{height:340px}.es{min-width:156px}.et{min-height:156px}.ew{background-position:center}.ex{margin-top:60px}.ey{aspect-ratio:1}.ez{padding-top:78px}.f0{padding-bottom:78px}.hx{min-height:171px}.hz{gap:20px}.i4{gap:38px}.i5{margin-top:7px}.jk{border-bottom:1px solid black}.jl{height:73px}.jm{height:11px}.jn{width:11px}.jo{border:1px solid}.ia{padding-top:90px}.ib{margin-top:40px}.ic{padding-bottom:40px}.id{margin-top:20px}.cp{padding-top:64px}.cq{padding-bottom:64px} </style> <style id="_inlines">._1rwp477 #dfp-billboard{position:relative;}@media only screen and (max-width:1024px){.iydyyd{justify-content:center;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){.xr7y87{height:142px !important;justify-content:center;align-items:center;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._6k9jof{padding-top:60px !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._8ky88w{height:60px !important;position:absolute !important;top:142px !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1n81ttv{padding-left:16px !important;font-size:12px;display:none;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1nlg7e3{font-size:30px !important;line-height:30px !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1nkl7nf{display:none !important;}}@media (hover: hover){.c0vzui:hover{color:var(--orange) !important;}}._5yrser:active{color:var(--orange) !important;transform:scale(95%);}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1j3zqid{font-size:16px;}}@media (hover: hover){._1i4ywnf:hover{color:undefined !important;background:var(--navyHover) !important;}}._11vc6zm:active{color:undefined !important;background:var(--navyHover) !important;transform:scale(95%);}@media only screen and (max-width: 1024px){.jg63j9{font-size:14px !important;}}.ibsae8 div{width:18px;background:var(--orange);height:2px;}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1t3ru9t{display:flex;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 1024px){._1xtx92g{width:100%;height:46vh;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1rhpht{margin-top:16px !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 1024px){.jo03pt{margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto;padding-top:32px !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1a0uq7c{border:none !important;padding-top:0px !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 1024px){._1l7t0xj{max-width:620px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;padding-left:12px;padding-right:12px;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 1024px){._1s9j8lm{display:block;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){.zl89t4{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:8px;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 1024px){.oz3u7r{font-size:28px;line-height:30px;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1r8g6j9{text-align:start !important;margin-bottom:0px !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 1024px){._1ggui0i{font-size:54px;line-height:58px;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1tfsgna{font-size:30px;line-height:36px;text-align:left;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 1024px){._1tu1757{max-width:620px !important;margin-top:24px;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){.znxu01{margin-top:0px;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 1024px){._1f8v0rb{flex-direction:column-reverse !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 1024px){.y5j2if{justify-content:start !important;margin-top:4px !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1qi3iy6{border-top:none !important;border-bottom:none !important;margin:8px auto !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._18i0fl6{margin-bottom:8px !important;}}@media (hover: hover){._1a2s23i:hover{color:var(--navy) !important;}}@media (hover: hover){.z3410u:hover{color:var(--orange) !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 1024px){.bryade{padding-left:16px;padding-right:16px;}}._150jpfw p{margin-bottom:24px;}.v3ktue h1{font-size:64px !important;font-style:72px;line-height:70px !important;letter-spacing:0px;}._8mu7lq h2{font-size:19px !important;font-weight:700;font-family:GeistRegular;line-height:32px !important;margin-bottom:16px;}._1p9mi6m h3{font-size:22px !important;font-style:24px;font-weight:500;line-height:30px !important;margin-bottom:16px;}._1v5npaz h4{font-family:GeistBold;font-size:18px !important;font-weight:700;line-height:20px !important;}._1h8xwyr u span{text-decoration:underline;}.yz64aj s span{text-decoration:line-through;}._18qfyyg i span{font-style:italic;}.tq69qt em{font-style:italic;}.shy7gc rte-ul{list-style-type:disc;line-height:24px !important;}._18qgrsu ol{list-style-type:decimal;line-height:24px !important;}._143c5sd blockquote{font-weight:700;color:var(--orange);font-size:25px !important;line-height:40px !important;text-align:center;margin-top:24px;margin-bottom:24px;text-indent:64px;}._17sqer0 rte-p a{color:var(--orange);text-decoration:underline;text-underline-offset:0.12rem;cursor:pointer;}.mxxezy a{font-weight:500;color:var(--orange) !important;}.mxxezy a:hover{text-decoration:underline !important;}._87zhsz::before{content:" ";width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute !important;left:0px;bottom:0px;background:linear-gradient(transparent 80px, white);}._1ykpvl6 b{font-weight:800;}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1piy4mz{font-size:18px;}}@media (hover: hover){.j55797:hover{color:undefined !important;background:var(--orangeHover) !important;}}._1316jf6:active{color:undefined !important;background:var(--orangeHover) !important;transform:scale(95%);}._1jx20bd a{cursor:pointer;color:var(--orange) !important;}._1jx20bd a:hover{text-decoration:underline !important;}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1h3f3w7{padding-left:16px;padding-right:16px;}}._1iogabq *{margin-bottom:6px;}@media (hover: hover){._1g6rp5t:hover{filter:brightness(95%);}}.twgy2l *{display:block !important;}@media (hover: hover){._2oun9l:hover{color:var(--orange);}}@media only screen and (max-width: 1024px){._1g3nzm6{display:none !important;}}._16firde::before{top:-24px;}._1ak3dcx *{margin-bottom:6px !important;}.mxeqxb #dfp-half-page{position:relative;}._11d7t56 #dfp-homepage_premium{position:relative;}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){.jkjuzg{display:none;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1r7dgbc{display:flex;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:54px;justify-content:center;}}.so1ev3 #dfp-medium-rectangle-1{position:relative;}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1eyild4{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 1342px){.u4ma0x{padding-left:16px;padding-right:16px;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1c7jyyw{flex-direction:column;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._15u24ux{width:100%;margin-top:2px;}}@media (hover: hover){._1ksthn4:hover{background:rgba(240, 82, 60, 0.06) !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1mdfdhv{padding-top:16px;padding-bottom:16px;padding-left:16px;padding-right:16px;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._9ntyv0{margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._2nllxi{max-width:calc(100vw - 32px);}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1lwklq9{max-width:calc(100vw - 60px);}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1ti8vjs{display:block !important;}}@media (hover: hover){._17svc6y:hover{color:black;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 1024px){.lhybmw{margin-right:16px;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1gasmqg{height:100 !important;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 1024px){._1b2sav{flex-direction:column;padding:32px 16px;margin-top:0px;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){.r3rtvg{width:100% !important;padding-left:16px;}}._16rgld6::placeholder{color: rgba(0, 0, 32, 0.3) ;}._3eteka:focus{border:1px solid black;}@media (hover: hover){._14ju3f6:hover > button{background:var(--orange);}}._1w7z42z a{text-decoration:none;color:var(--black);cursor:pointer;}._1w7z42z a:hover{color:var(--orange);}@media only screen and (max-width: 1024px){._3jhjo{margin-top:32px;width:100%;justify-content:space-evenly;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){.i2xjxq{width:100%;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:start;}}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._13ij1vb{min-width:40%;margin-bottom:16px;}}._5qf9a2 *{display:block;}@media only screen and (max-width: 640px){._1urs973{font-size:16px;line-height:30px;}}</style> <script> fetch("/get-ip").then(r=>r.text()).then(rr=>{console.log("detected ip:", rr)}) </script> <script> fetch("/check-ip").then(r=>r.text()).then(rr=>{if(rr === "true") {document.cookie = "euobs-org-access=true"} console.log("full access based on ip:", rr)}) </script>  <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-WWMXQ7V8');</script>  </head> <body style="margin: 0;background:#FFF;">  <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-WWMXQ7V8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <div id="root"><div><div class="l cr cs j aq am an a9 ct o _1rwp477 iydyyd xr7y87" justify="center" style="height:250px"><span class="gb gc bu" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none;position:absolute;left:16px;top:16px;z-index:0">Ad</span><div id="dfp-billboard"></div></div><div class="aq j am an _6k9jof" style="padding-top:88px"><div class="w al am an ao ap z a1 o a8 a6 _8ky88w" style="height:87px;position:absolute;top:251px;transition:transform 0.14s ease-in;transform:translateY(0px)"><div class="aq j am an" style="padding-left:16px;padding-right:16px"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:0;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:start"><div class="j aq ar an o as"><div class="at o au a9"><span class="gb gc bu _1n81ttv" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none;height:12px"></span><a href="/" style="cursor:pointer"><div class="ah ai aj _1nlg7e3" style="color:var(--orange);line-height:48px;font-size:45px">eu<b class="ah ak">observer</b></div></a></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:auto;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between" class="_1nkl7nf"><div class="l bh o j"><div class="j"><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 c0vzui _5yrser" style="color:var(--black);padding:0px 22px;height:38px;border-radius:20px;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><span class="bs bu gr bt _1j3zqid">Sections</span></div></button></div></div><span class="kg i0 kh ki"></span><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 _1i4ywnf _11vc6zm jg63j9" style="color:var(--white);background-color:var(--navy);padding:0px 18px;height:30px;border-radius:20px;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:16px;gap:12px;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><span class="bs bu gr bt _1j3zqid">Login</span></div></button></div></div><button class="cj au a9 a8 kj bk a2 kk kl ibsae8 _1t3ru9t" style="cursor:pointer"><div></div><div></div><div></div></button></div></div></div><div class="aq j am an" style="max-width:1100px"><div class="dj it iu ev ir am _1xtx92g" style="background-image:url(https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,w=1650/75658a866ba01a00b233e65765974e81.jpg)"></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:0;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:space-between;margin-top:32px" class="_1rhpht"><div class="aq j am an jo03pt _1a0uq7c" style="max-width:798px;margin-left:0;background-color:white;border:1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.40);padding-top:76px;padding-bottom:54px;margin-top:-124px"><div class="aq j am an" style="max-width:620px"><div class="_1l7t0xj"><figcaption class="cj iy iz h4 j0 _1s9j8lm">Juncker wants to finalise the commissioner names list by the end of the week <a target="_blank" href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu">(Photo: europarl.europa.eu)</a></figcaption><div class="dr zl89t4"><h2 class="ah g6 g7 fa oz3u7r _1r8g6j9" style="color:var(--orange);text-align:center;margin-bottom:12px"></h2></div><h1 class="ah gk fa gl cs _1ggui0i _1tfsgna" style="color:var(--black);max-width:600px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto">Juncker starts interviews for new EU commission</h1><div class="aq j am an _1tu1757 znxu01" style="max-width:620px"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:0;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:space-between" class="_1f8v0rb"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:12px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center;margin-top:32px" class="y5j2if"><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 c0vzui _5yrser" style="border:var(--border);color:var(--black);padding:0px 18px;height:30px;border-radius:20px;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><span class="bs bu gr bt _1j3zqid"><svg width="14" height="12" viewBox="0 0 14 12" fill="none"><path d="M1 6.57143V1C1 0.723858 1.22386 0.5 1.5 0.5H12.5C12.7761 0.5 13 0.723858 13 1V6.57143C13 6.84757 12.7761 7.07143 12.5 7.07143H8.20382C8.07316 7.07143 7.94769 7.12257 7.85427 7.21392L4.32014 10.6694C4.00357 10.9789 3.47059 10.7546 3.47059 10.3119V7.57143C3.47059 7.29529 3.24673 7.07143 2.97059 7.07143H1.5C1.22386 7.07143 1 6.84757 1 6.57143Z" stroke="currentColor"></path></svg> 0 Comments</span></div></button><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 c0vzui _5yrser" style="border:var(--border);color:var(--black);height:32px;width:32px;border-radius:50%;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;padding:0;position:relative;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><svg width="30" height="30" viewBox="0 0 30 30" fill="none"><path d="M16.1971 9V11.8696C10.0748 12.7623 8.85654 17.1304 9.01273 19.2029C12.2613 16.9072 15.1559 16.8647 16.1971 17.1304V20L22.4444 14.7391L16.1971 9Z" stroke="currentColor"></path></svg></div></button><div class="l"><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 c0vzui _5yrser" style="border:var(--border);color:var(--black);height:32px;width:32px;border-radius:50%;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;padding:0;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><svg width="945" height="944" viewBox="0 0 945 944" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="max-width:17px"><path d="M856.564 255.998H818.919C845.292 226.69 861.423 187.708 861.423 144.96C861.423 132.238 859.993 119.85 857.288 107.946L857.501 109.06C843.481 54.4847 799.709 12.9497 744.907 2.39267L744 2.24767C737.404 1.30267 729.786 0.763672 722.042 0.763672C662.059 0.763672 609.637 33.1317 581.29 81.3537L580.874 82.1207L472.566 237.941L364.284 82.1227C335.457 33.1397 282.999 0.782673 222.984 0.782673C215.286 0.782673 207.714 1.31567 200.301 2.34567L201.158 2.24567C145.435 12.9157 101.648 54.4677 87.8764 108.059L87.6585 109.059C85.1635 119.854 83.7335 132.249 83.7335 144.979C83.7335 187.717 99.8535 226.689 126.346 256.149L126.212 255.997H88.5645C39.9845 256.049 0.614453 295.417 0.564453 343.993V439.998C0.698453 479.906 27.4244 513.534 63.9445 524.098L64.5645 524.253V855.998C64.6264 904.575 103.988 943.938 152.558 943.998H792.564C841.136 943.926 880.491 904.571 880.564 856.006V524.253C917.697 513.525 944.419 479.903 944.564 440.016V343.998C944.502 295.423 905.14 256.061 856.57 255.998H856.564ZM620.252 109.498C640.599 73.0477 678.934 48.8027 722.932 48.8027C727.315 48.8027 731.642 49.0427 735.902 49.5127L735.378 49.4657C772.503 56.6427 801.654 84.3727 810.796 120.112L810.941 120.778C811.874 126.818 812.407 133.788 812.407 140.88C812.407 188.648 788.237 230.77 751.46 255.686L750.973 255.996H518.473L620.252 109.498ZM134.189 120.778C143.466 84.3677 172.622 56.6357 209.146 49.5677L209.751 49.4677C213.411 49.0637 217.658 48.8337 221.958 48.8337C266.008 48.8337 304.398 73.0567 324.54 108.91L324.845 109.5L426.654 255.998H194.158C156.894 230.771 132.724 188.648 132.724 140.88C132.724 133.787 133.257 126.82 134.284 120.013L134.19 120.778H134.189ZM48.5645 439.998V343.998C48.5845 321.915 66.4815 304.018 88.5625 303.998H448.564V479.998H88.5645C66.4815 479.978 48.5845 462.081 48.5645 440V439.998ZM112.564 855.998V527.998H448.564V895.998H152.564C130.481 895.978 112.584 878.081 112.564 856V855.998ZM832.564 855.998C832.544 878.081 814.647 895.978 792.566 895.998H496.564V527.998H832.564V855.998ZM896.564 439.998C896.544 462.081 878.647 479.978 856.566 479.998H496.564V303.998H856.564C878.647 304.018 896.544 321.915 896.564 343.996V343.998V439.998Z" fill="currentColor"></path></svg></div></button></div></div><div style="padding:12px 0px;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:0;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:space-between;margin:32px auto;border-top:1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.12);border-bottom:1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.12)" class="_1qi3iy6"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:12px;flex-wrap:wrap;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:start;margin-bottom:-4px" class="_18i0fl6"><a href="/section/506324822d"><div class="o"><div class="gb gc bu gj g3 cr g4 g0 g5 _1a2s23i" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--orange);text-decoration:underline">EU Political</div><div class="b8"></div></div></a></div><span class="gb gc bu" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none;margin-top:16px"><span class="fc ii"><a href="/bio/eu691dde87"><span class="z3410u">by Valentina Pop</span></a></span><span class="fc kp kq">, Brussels, </span><div style="margin-top:8px"></div></span></div></div></div></div></div><div class="aq j am an bryade" style="max-width:620px;margin-top:32px;margin-bottom:76px"><div class="ah bu gs _150jpfw v3ktue _8mu7lq _1p9mi6m _1v5npaz _1h8xwyr yz64aj _18qfyyg tq69qt shy7gc _18qgrsu _143c5sd _17sqer0 mxxezy _87zhsz _1ykpvl6" style="font-size:18px;line-height:30px;position:relative"><p>Incoming EU commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has started meeting the nominees for his 28-strong college, but gender balance continues to be a problem.</p><p>Dutch foreign affairs minister Frans Timmermans and Slovene Prime Minister Alenka Bratusek were due to meet Juncker in Brussels on Tuesday (2 September) to present themselves and what portfolios they might be interested in.</p><p>Belgium is the only country that has not yet decided on a nominee, with the political parties hesitating b...</div><div style="padding:42px 16px;display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:16px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border-top:1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.12);border-bottom:1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.12);margin-top:24px;margin-bottom:24px"><h4 class="f8 az fa gm _1piy4mz" style="color:var(--black)">Get EU news that matters</h4><p class="ah ga ai g9" style="font-weight:400;color:var(--black);text-align:center">Back our independent journalism by becoming a supporting member</p><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 j55797 _1316jf6" style="color:var(--white);background-color:var(--orange);padding:0px 18px;height:30px;border-radius:20px;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;margin-bottom:8px;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><span class="bs bu gr bt _1j3zqid">Register</span></div></button><span class="gb gc bu _1jx20bd" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none">Already a member? <a>Login here</a></span></div></div><div class="aq j am an _1h3f3w7" style="max-width:620px"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:12px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:start;border-bottom:1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.12);padding-bottom:24px;margin-bottom:24px"><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 c0vzui _5yrser" style="border:var(--border);color:var(--black);height:32px;width:32px;border-radius:50%;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;padding:0;position:relative;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><svg width="30" height="30" viewBox="0 0 30 30" fill="none"><path d="M16.1971 9V11.8696C10.0748 12.7623 8.85654 17.1304 9.01273 19.2029C12.2613 16.9072 15.1559 16.8647 16.1971 17.1304V20L22.4444 14.7391L16.1971 9Z" stroke="currentColor"></path></svg></div></button></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:6px;flex-wrap:wrap;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:start" class="_1iogabq"><a href="/section/506324822d"><span class="gt f8 gn gu gv gw ai fa gx gy a2 _1g6rp5t" style="white-space:nowrap">EU Political</span></a></div><div class="gv"><h4 class="f8 az fa gm _1piy4mz" style="color:var(--black);margin-bottom:16px;margin-top:45px">Related articles</h4><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px;flex-wrap:wrap;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:start;grid-template-columns:1fr" class="twgy2l"><a href="/eu-political/arb01e883e" style="width:100%"><div class="ah j eh a2 e3 gp ai gh h3 h4 fx _2oun9l">EU leaders pick Tusk, Mogherini for top posts</div></a><a href="/eu-political/ardce6a0de" style="width:100%"><div class="ah j eh a2 e3 gp ai gh h3 h4 fx _2oun9l">New EU commission risks delay over gender issue</div></a></div></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:16px;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:space-between;max-width:300px;margin-left:32px;padding-top:8px" class="_1g3nzm6"><figcaption class="iv iw _16firde">Juncker wants to finalise the commissioner names list by the end of the week <a target="_blank" href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu">(Photo: europarl.europa.eu)</a></figcaption><h4 class="f8 az fa gm _1piy4mz" style="color:var(--black)">Tags</h4><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;flex-wrap:wrap;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:start;margin-bottom:24px" class="_1ak3dcx"><a href="/section/506324822d"><span class="gt f8 gn gu gv gw ai fa gx gy a2 _1g6rp5t" style="white-space:nowrap">EU Political</span></a></div><div class="d3 ct d4 l mxeqxb"><span class="gb gc bu" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none;position:absolute;left:16px;top:16px;z-index:0">Ad</span><div id="dfp-half-page"></div></div><h4 class="f8 az fa gm _1piy4mz" style="color:var(--black);margin-bottom:16px;margin-top:45px">Related articles</h4><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px;width:100%;align-items:start;justify-content:space-between;max-width:300px"><a href="/eu-political/arb01e883e"><div class="ah j eh a2 e3 gp ai gh h3 h4 fx _2oun9l">EU leaders pick Tusk, Mogherini for top posts</div></a><a href="/eu-political/ardce6a0de"><div class="ah j eh a2 e3 gp ai gh h3 h4 fx _2oun9l">New EU commission risks delay over gender issue</div></a></div></div></div></div><div class="cz d0 ct j d1 d2 k l _11d7t56 jkjuzg"><span class="gb gc bu" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none;position:absolute;right:16px;bottom:16px;z-index:0">Ad</span><div id="dfp-homepage_premium"></div></div><div class="cj _1r7dgbc"><div class="ay cu cv cw ct l cx cy so1ev3 _1eyild4"><span class="gb gc bu" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none;position:absolute;left:16px;bottom:16px;z-index:0">Ad</span><div id="dfp-medium-rectangle-1"></div></div></div><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:0;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:start"><div class="j i am an"><div class="j o as fj ac u4ma0x _1c7jyyw"><h2 class="ah g6 g7 fa oz3u7r" style="color:var(--black)">Latest News</h2><div class="as a8 o ac _15u24ux"><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 _1i4ywnf _11vc6zm" style="color:var(--white);background-color:var(--black);padding:0px 18px;height:30px;border-radius:20px;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;opacity:0;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><span class="bs bu gr bt _1j3zqid">Most read</span></div></button><div class="l"><div class="l bh o j"><div class="j"><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 c0vzui _5yrser" style="border:var(--border);color:var(--black);padding:0px 18px;height:30px;border-radius:20px;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><span class="bs bu gr bt _1j3zqid">Section</span><svg width="11" height="11" viewBox="0 0 11 11" fill="none"><line y1="1.5" x2="11" y2="1.5" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"></line><line x1="2" y1="5.5" x2="9" y2="5.5" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"></line><line x1="4" y1="9.5" x2="7" y2="9.5" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"></line></svg></div></button></div></div></div><div class="l"><div class="l bh o j"><div class="j"><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 c0vzui _5yrser" style="border:var(--border);color:var(--black);padding:0px 18px;height:30px;border-radius:20px;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><span class="bs bu gr bt _1j3zqid">Type</span><svg width="11" height="11" viewBox="0 0 11 11" fill="none"><line y1="1.5" x2="11" y2="1.5" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"></line><line x1="2" y1="5.5" x2="9" y2="5.5" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"></line><line x1="4" y1="9.5" x2="7" y2="9.5" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"></line></svg></div></button></div></div></div></div></div><ul class="o au"><li class="ee ef eg ag j o _1ksthn4 _1mdfdhv" style="border-top:2px solid black"><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 _1i4ywnf _11vc6zm jkjuzg" style="color:var(--white);background-color:var(--black);height:21px;width:21px;border-radius:50%;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;margin-top:50px;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><svg width="8" height="11" viewBox="0 0 8 11" fill="none" style="transform:rotate(90deg);transition:0.2s"><path d="M1.5 10L6 5.30435L1.5 1" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"></path></svg></div></button><div class="o v au ei ej _9ntyv0"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:0;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between" class="_2nllxi"><div class="o v au bh"><div class="o"><div class="gb gc bu gj g3 cr g4 g0 g5 _1lwklq9" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none"><a href="/bio/eud6dc869c" style="margin-left:4px;margin-right:11px"><span class="z3410u">by Wester van Gaal</span></a></div><div class="b8"></div></div></div><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 c0vzui _5yrser _1ti8vjs" style="color:var(--black);height:30px;width:30px;border-radius:50%;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;display:none;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><span class="bs bu gr bt _1j3zqid"><svg width="8" height="11" viewBox="0 0 8 11" fill="none" style="transform:rotate(90deg);transition:0.2s"><path d="M1.5 10L6 5.30435L1.5 1" stroke="var(--grey)" stroke-width="2"></path></svg></span></div></button></div><a href="/green-economy/arde52cca1"><h3 class="ah g8 g9 aj" style="color:var(--black)">Trump tariffs would barely affect EU trade, researchers say</h3></a><div class="o ek af a8"><a href="/section/50739332cc"><span class="gp gz ai g2 h0 h1 a2 _17svc6y" style="font-family:GeistRegular;font-weight:400">Green Economy</span></a></div></div></li><li class="ee ef eg ag j o _1ksthn4 _1mdfdhv" style="border-top:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.12)"><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 _1i4ywnf _11vc6zm jkjuzg" style="color:var(--white);background-color:var(--black);height:21px;width:21px;border-radius:50%;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;margin-top:50px;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><svg width="8" height="11" viewBox="0 0 8 11" fill="none" style="transform:rotate(90deg);transition:0.2s"><path d="M1.5 10L6 5.30435L1.5 1" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"></path></svg></div></button><div class="o v au ei ej _9ntyv0"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:0;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between" class="_2nllxi"><div class="o v au bh"><div class="o"><div class="gb gc bu gj g3 cr g4 g0 g5 _1lwklq9" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none"><a href="/bio/eu7c6b1824" style="margin-left:4px;margin-right:11px"><span class="z3410u">by Benjamin Fox</span></a></div><div class="b8"></div></div></div><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 c0vzui _5yrser _1ti8vjs" style="color:var(--black);height:30px;width:30px;border-radius:50%;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;display:none;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><span class="bs bu gr bt _1j3zqid"><svg width="8" height="11" viewBox="0 0 8 11" fill="none" style="transform:rotate(90deg);transition:0.2s"><path d="M1.5 10L6 5.30435L1.5 1" stroke="var(--grey)" stroke-width="2"></path></svg></span></div></button></div><a href="/green-economy/ar38576f25"><h3 class="ah g8 g9 aj" style="color:var(--black)">Italy demands green deal delay to help car sector</h3></a><div class="o ek af a8"><a href="/section/50739332cc"><span class="gp gz ai g2 h0 h1 a2 _17svc6y" style="font-family:GeistRegular;font-weight:400">Green Economy</span></a></div></div></li><li class="ee ef eg ag j o _1ksthn4 _1mdfdhv" style="border-top:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.12)"><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 _1i4ywnf _11vc6zm jkjuzg" style="color:var(--white);background-color:var(--black);height:21px;width:21px;border-radius:50%;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;margin-top:50px;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><svg width="8" height="11" viewBox="0 0 8 11" fill="none" style="transform:rotate(90deg);transition:0.2s"><path d="M1.5 10L6 5.30435L1.5 1" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"></path></svg></div></button><div class="o v au ei ej _9ntyv0"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:0;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between" class="_2nllxi"><div class="o v au bh"><div class="o"><div class="gb gc bu gj g3 cr g4 g0 g5 _1lwklq9" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none"></div><div class="b8"></div></div></div><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 c0vzui _5yrser _1ti8vjs" style="color:var(--black);height:30px;width:30px;border-radius:50%;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;display:none;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><span class="bs bu gr bt _1j3zqid"><svg width="8" height="11" viewBox="0 0 8 11" fill="none" style="transform:rotate(90deg);transition:0.2s"><path d="M1.5 10L6 5.30435L1.5 1" stroke="var(--grey)" stroke-width="2"></path></svg></span></div></button></div><a href="/eu-and-the-world/ar20c31c8c"><h3 class="ah g8 g9 aj" style="color:var(--black)">Sweden pushing China for access to ship in cable-cut mystery </h3></a><div class="o ek af a8"><a href="/section/5002452f20"><span class="gp gz ai g2 h0 h1 a2 _17svc6y" style="font-family:GeistRegular;font-weight:400">EU & the World</span></a></div></div></li><li class="ee ef eg ag j o _1ksthn4 _1mdfdhv" style="border-top:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.12)"><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 _1i4ywnf _11vc6zm jkjuzg" style="color:var(--white);background-color:var(--black);height:21px;width:21px;border-radius:50%;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;margin-top:50px;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><svg width="8" height="11" viewBox="0 0 8 11" fill="none" style="transform:rotate(90deg);transition:0.2s"><path d="M1.5 10L6 5.30435L1.5 1" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"></path></svg></div></button><div class="o v au ei ej _9ntyv0"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:0;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between" class="_2nllxi"><div class="o v au bh"><div class="o"><div class="gb gc bu gj g3 cr g4 g0 g5 _1lwklq9" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none"><a href="/bio/eu09e46885" style="margin-left:4px;margin-right:11px"><span class="z3410u">by Nikolaj Nielsen</span></a></div><div class="b8"></div></div></div><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 c0vzui _5yrser _1ti8vjs" style="color:var(--black);height:30px;width:30px;border-radius:50%;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;display:none;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><span class="bs bu gr bt _1j3zqid"><svg width="8" height="11" viewBox="0 0 8 11" fill="none" style="transform:rotate(90deg);transition:0.2s"><path d="M1.5 10L6 5.30435L1.5 1" stroke="var(--grey)" stroke-width="2"></path></svg></span></div></button></div><a href="/health-and-society/ar61c132a0"><h3 class="ah g8 g9 aj" style="color:var(--black)">MEPs narrowly vote down right-wing efforts to ban cannabis</h3></a><div class="o ek af a8"><a href="/section/508bf89c3a"><span class="gp gz ai g2 h0 h1 a2 _17svc6y" style="font-family:GeistRegular;font-weight:400">Health & Society</span></a></div></div></li><li class="ee ef eg ag j o _1ksthn4 _1mdfdhv" style="border-top:1px solid rgba(0,0,0,0.12)"><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 _1i4ywnf _11vc6zm jkjuzg" style="color:var(--white);background-color:var(--black);height:21px;width:21px;border-radius:50%;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;margin-top:50px;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><svg width="8" height="11" viewBox="0 0 8 11" fill="none" style="transform:rotate(90deg);transition:0.2s"><path d="M1.5 10L6 5.30435L1.5 1" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2"></path></svg></div></button><div class="o v au ei ej _9ntyv0"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:0;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between" class="_2nllxi"><div class="o v au bh"><div class="o"><div class="gb gc bu gj g3 cr g4 g0 g5 _1lwklq9" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none"><a href="/bio/eu7c6b1824" style="margin-left:4px;margin-right:11px"><span class="z3410u">by Benjamin Fox</span></a></div><div class="b8"></div></div></div><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 c0vzui _5yrser _1ti8vjs" style="color:var(--black);height:30px;width:30px;border-radius:50%;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;display:none;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><span class="bs bu gr bt _1j3zqid"><svg width="8" height="11" viewBox="0 0 8 11" fill="none" style="transform:rotate(90deg);transition:0.2s"><path d="M1.5 10L6 5.30435L1.5 1" stroke="var(--grey)" stroke-width="2"></path></svg></span></div></button></div><a href="/eu-and-the-world/ara780c082"><h3 class="ah g8 g9 aj" style="color:var(--black)">EU abstains in vote confirming new UN tax convention</h3></a><div class="o ek af a8"><a href="/section/5002452f20"><span class="gp gz ai g2 h0 h1 a2 _17svc6y" style="font-family:GeistRegular;font-weight:400">EU & the World</span></a></div></div></li></ul><button class="b8 a9 a8 l cb o cc a2 _1i4ywnf _11vc6zm lhybmw" style="color:var(--white);background-color:var(--black);padding:0px 18px;height:30px;border-radius:20px;user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-webkit-user-select:none;margin-left:auto;margin-top:42px;cursor:pointer"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center"><span class="bs bu gr bt _1j3zqid">More</span></div></button></div></div><div class="j _1gasmqg" style="height:100px"></div><div class="cd o j ce cf cg _1b2sav"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:24px;width:50%;align-items:start;justify-content:start;margin-bottom:48px" class="r3rtvg"><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:12px;width:auto;align-items:start;justify-content:start"><a href="/" style="cursor:pointer"><div class="ah ai aj _1nlg7e3" style="color:var(--orange);line-height:48px;font-size:45px">eu<b class="ah ak">observer</b></div></a><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:8px;width:auto;align-items:center;justify-content:start"><span class="ii _2oun9l"><a href="https://be.linkedin.com/company/euobserver" target="_blank"><svg width="21" height="21" viewBox="0 0 21 21" fill="none"><path d="M10.045 0C4.50627 0 0 4.50584 0 10.045C0 15.5842 4.50627 20.09 10.045 20.09C15.5837 20.09 20.09 15.5842 20.09 10.045C20.09 4.50584 15.5837 0 10.045 0ZM6.98783 14.4124H5.24087V7.8613H6.98783V14.4124ZM6.11435 6.55109C5.63175 6.55109 5.24087 6.16021 5.24087 5.67761C5.24087 5.19501 5.63175 4.80413 6.11435 4.80413C6.59694 4.80413 6.98783 5.19501 6.98783 5.67761C6.98783 6.16021 6.59694 6.55109 6.11435 6.55109ZM15.2859 14.4124H13.5389V12.2287V11.1368C13.5389 10.2961 12.851 9.60826 12.0103 9.60826C11.1696 9.60826 10.4817 10.2961 10.4817 11.1368V14.4124H8.73478V7.8613H10.4817V8.65442C10.9919 8.1644 11.6836 7.8613 12.4471 7.8613C14.015 7.8613 15.2859 9.13222 15.2859 10.7001V14.4124Z" fill="currentColor"></path></svg></a></span><span class="ii _2oun9l"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/EUobserver" target="_blank" style="margin-top:-2px"><svg width="23" height="23" viewBox="0 0 23 23" fill="none"><path d="M11.5009 1.37988C5.91186 1.37988 1.38086 5.91088 1.38086 11.4999C1.38086 16.5737 5.11836 20.7629 9.98838 21.4948V14.1821H7.4846V11.522H9.98838V9.75188C9.98838 6.82122 11.4162 5.5346 13.8519 5.5346C15.0185 5.5346 15.6353 5.62108 15.9274 5.66064V7.98272H14.2659C13.2318 7.98272 12.8707 8.96298 12.8707 10.0679V11.522H15.9012L15.49 14.1821H12.8707V21.5164C17.8102 20.8462 21.6209 16.6229 21.6209 11.4999C21.6209 5.91088 17.0899 1.37988 11.5009 1.37988Z" fill="currentColor"></path></svg></a></span><span class="ii _2oun9l"><a href="https://twitter.com/euobs" target="_blank"><svg class="ba fs jr eu k7" width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 16 16" fill="none" style="background-color:currentColor"><path d="M2.51367 2.4541L6.88924 8.83298L2.60635 13.7943H3.55525L7.30832 9.44382L10.2926 13.7943H13.8778L9.30638 7.13043L13.3404 2.4541H12.3944L8.88672 6.51784L6.09888 2.4541H2.51367ZM3.64676 3.05096H5.78471L12.7447 13.1975H10.6068L3.64676 3.05096Z" fill="var(--white)"></path></svg></a></span><span class="ii _2oun9l"><a rel="me" href="https://mastodon.social/@euobserver" target="_blank"><svg width="22px" height="22px" viewBox="-10 -5 1034 1034" version="1.1"><path fill="currentColor" d="M499 114q-93 0 -166 10q-81 12 -128 33l-14 8q-16 10 -32 25q-22 21 -38 47q-21 33 -32 73q-14 47 -14 103v37q0 77 1 120q3 112 18 187q19 95 62 154q50 67 134 90q109 28 210 23q46 -3 88 -12q30 -7 55 -17l19 -8l-4 -75l-22 6q-28 7 -57 10q-41 6 -78 5q-53 -2 -80 -8 q-43 -8 -67 -30q-29 -25 -35 -72q-2 -14 -2 -29l25 6q31 6 65 10q48 7 93 9q42 2 92 -2q32 -2 88 -9t107 -30q49 -22 81.5 -54t38.5 -64q9 -45 13 -109q4 -46 5 -97v-41q0 -56 -14 -103q-11 -40 -32 -73q-16 -26 -38 -47q-16 -15 -32 -25l-14 -8q-46 -21 -127 -33 q-74 -10 -166 -10h-3zM269 428q26 0 45 19t19 45.5t-19 45.5t-45.5 19t-45 -19t-18.5 -45.5t18.5 -45.5t45.5 -19zM500 428q27 0 45.5 19t18.5 45.5t-18.5 45.5t-45.5 19t-45.5 -19t-18.5 -45.5t18.5 -45.5t45.5 -19zM731 428q27 0 45.5 19t18.5 45.5t-18.5 45.5t-45 19 t-45.5 -19t-19 -45.5t19 -45.5t45 -19z"></path></svg></a></span></div></div><div><span class="gb gc bu" style="font-family:GeistRegular;color:var(--grey);text-decoration:none">Subscribe to our newsletter and get 3 free articles</span><div style="display:flex;flex-direction:row;gap:0;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;margin-top:4px;max-width:400px"><input class="required email j e8 il e1 bk a6 bs gp im _16rgld6 _3eteka" type="email" name="EMAIL" required="" placeholder="Enter your emailadress" value=""/><div class="clear bl bk l in _14ju3f6"><button class="bk bl e9 ea o io eb a2" type="submit" name="subscribe"></button><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="13" height="10" viewBox="0 0 13 10" fill="currentColor" style="cursor:pointer;pointer-events:none;width:20px;height:20px;position:absolute;top:9px;left:9px"><path d="M12.068 5.45962C12.3219 5.20578 12.3219 4.79422 12.068 4.54038L7.93144 0.403806C7.6776 0.149965 7.26605 0.149965 7.0122 0.403806C6.75836 0.657647 6.75836 1.0692 7.0122 1.32304L10.6892 5L7.0122 8.67696C6.75836 8.9308 6.75836 9.34235 7.0122 9.59619C7.26605 9.85003 7.6776 9.85003 7.93144 9.59619L12.068 5.45962ZM0.608398 5.65L11.6084 5.65V4.35L0.608398 4.35L0.608398 5.65Z"></path></svg></div></div></div></div><div class="ch o ci as _1w7z42z _3jhjo i2xjxq"><div class="_13ij1vb _5qf9a2"><h4 class="f8 az fa gm _1piy4mz" style="color:var(--black);margin-bottom:4px">Section</h4><a href="/section/509704cb00"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">EU Elections</span></a><a href="/section/50dee1923e"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Opinion</span></a><a href="/section/506324822d"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">EU Political</span></a><a href="/section/5041632de8"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Africa</span></a><a href="/section/50192d9286"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Migration</span></a><a href="/section/50739332cc"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Green Economy</span></a><a href="/section/508bf89c3a"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Health & Society</span></a><a href="/section/5002452f20"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">EU & the World</span></a><a href="/section/5019a5cd48"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Rule of Law</span></a><a href="/section/5050d2d5c0"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Agenda</span></a><a href="/section/503f501420"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Digital</span></a><a href="/section/505e0db4ca"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Inside EUobserver</span></a><a href="/section/50a6a0fafb"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Stakeholders</span></a><a href="/section/50adaaad9b"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Ukraine</span></a><a href="/section/50b734f76d"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Magazine</span></a></div><div class="_13ij1vb _5qf9a2"><h4 class="f8 az fa gm _1piy4mz" style="color:var(--black);margin-bottom:4px">Type</h4><a href="/article-type/80e452251d"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Investigation</span></a><a href="/article-type/80178480d0"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Analysis</span></a><a href="/article-type/806f303338"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Opinion</span></a><a href="/article-type/8088e5421e"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Feature</span></a><a href="/article-type/803b7f3d61"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">EUobserved</span></a><a href="/article-type/803c3938ca"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Infographic</span></a><a href="/article-type/80636814db"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Exclusive</span></a><a href="/article-type/807976613d"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Column</span></a><a href="/article-type/80d5f984c1"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Interview</span></a><a href="/article-type/80388bedaf"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Insight</span></a><a href="/article-type/800f0876e9"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Stakeholder</span></a><a href="/article-type/8049ac606e"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Podcast</span></a><a href="/article-type/809641de67"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Video</span></a><a href="/article-type/80d2c267f7"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Poll</span></a><a href="/article-type/8010b09e0f"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Book Review</span></a><a href="/article-type/80d8db1c49"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Letter</span></a></div><div class="_13ij1vb _5qf9a2"><h4 class="f8 az fa gm _1piy4mz" style="color:var(--black);margin-bottom:4px">euobserver</h4><a href="/static/404a6c8a6a"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Comment Guidelines</span></a><a href="/static/40775cd392"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">About Us</span></a><a href="/static/4079339248"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Privacy Policy</span></a><a href="/static/40f6cce801"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Advertising</span></a><a href="/static/40fead7987"><span class="bs gb gm bu a2 _2oun9l _1urs973">Editorial Corrections</span></a></div></div></div></div></div></div> <script> try { var ls = window.localStorage const CTA = document.getElementById('__CTA') if (CTA) { const size = ls.getItem('@based-size') if (size && !isNaN(size) && Number(size) > 100) { for (var key in ls) { if (key.includes('@based-authState')) { CTA.innerHTML = ''; break; } } } } } catch (e) {} </script> <script>window.ENV='production'</script><script src=https://files-production-saulx-eu-observer-production-en-ci-hyp-xx0.based.dev/client-BDGBZ5P6.js></script> </body> </html>