Neven Mimica Photo: dpa
Croatia is set to enter the European Union as 28th member state on 1 July. Practically just days ahead of that date, the EU has been busy interviewing for a new member in its executive machinery. Croatia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of European Integration, Neven Mimica, has evidently passed the interrogating interviewing session with flying colours. On 1 July 2013 he is to occupy his new position as Commissioner for Consumer Protection of the European Commission.
He had little if any competition for this position from Croatia as his nomination and support comes from Croatia’s government wings but, nevertheless, he satisfied the standards EC looks for. Generally, by European Law, every member state must have a member in the Commission.
“Mr.Mimica will be in charge of Costumer Protection, which is a huge responsibility considering that the Eurozone is one of the largest trading areas in the world, with millions of potential consumers. Mimica held a meeting on the 4th June in front of the Internal market and Public Health Committees of the EU, in which he outlined his program: removing barriers to online shopping, highlighting issues of interest to consumers and enforcing the stability of the Eurozone market.
The new member will help the Commission tackle the crisis in Europe, which, according to a recent short-term forecast of the European Central Bank, will be predictably negative for all this year.
Mentioning the crisis goes without saying but what was not expected is the recent Trade War between Europe and China. The European Commission, which was accused of protectionism by the Chinese policymakers after Brussels imposed duties on solar panels made in China, setting Beijing over the edge. The response was immediate: the country led by Xi Jinping responded by undergoing an anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigation on European wines.
Both countries accuse each other of “dumping”, that means exporting at a lower price other than the production one.
This happened just few days after the new composition of the European Commission was unveiled. It will be interesting to see what happens next”, writes Ian Ssali of the Global Oyster
In another turn of the media, the British seem to have just discovered Neven Mimica’s communist past and appear uneasy about it, when it comes to an occupant of an important position such as EC Commissioner for Consumer Protection.
“PS With Croatia about to join the EU, stand by for its politicians — some of whom were apparatchiks in communist Yugoslavia — becoming top dogs in Brussels. One such is Neven Mimica, who is set to become EU Commissioner for Consumer Protection, a highly influential job and one with an effect on our lives here.
In 1977, Mimica joined ASTRA, a Yugoslav foreign-trade enterprise regarded by some as a nest of Belgrade spies. Then came the Socialist Republic of Croatia Committee for Foreign Relations, where he rose to be ‘Comrade Deputy President’. In 1987, he became a ‘trade attaché’ at the Yugoslav embassy in Cairo where he was described as a ‘diligent’ servant of the communist regime. Now he will be swishing round Brussels with a motorcade, telling us all what to do”, writes Richard Kay, The Daily Mail
Given the above, the obvious question to ask would be: Who are the real and the hidden consumers needing protection in the European Union machinery – the politicians and their agendas or the people at large among whom there are close to 20 million unemployed in the EU!? If political agenda drives consumer protection and all the wheeling and the dealing that goes on within this portfolio in order to stave off the inevitable rattling and breaking apart of the increasingly weak economy and weak measures so far placed into practice, to try and save the boat from drowning and breaking into pieces, then someone who may have grown a rigid skin via communist indoctrination might actually be what the “doctor” ordered. Experience has demonstrated that nothing frazzles a communist or pro-communist from pursuing his/her political focus and goal! Mimica’s appointment will according to some sources be for 12 months. New EU Parliament elections are due in 2014 and the new parliament may seek to elect new Commissioners. While Mimica is not an elected member of EU Parliament for Croatia, one imagines he will need to work extra hard in proving himself worthy of securing his continuance as Commissioner if the new generation of EU parliamentarians of 2014 are to go about choosing new blood in EC executive organs. Undoubtedly, if it comes to that, Croatian government will nominate him again for the position. Ina Vukic, Prof. (Zgb); B.A., M.A.Ps. (Syd)
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