01 October 2020
16:08
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CD&V figurehead Kris Peeters, who is a member of the European Parliament, is named as the new Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB).
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At the end of 2017, the then Prime Minister Charles Michel (MR) claimed the prestigious post of Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, because it could be the springboard for Didier Reynders (MR) to become number one of the EIB. That fell through. Almost three years later, no one has yet been appointed.
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After Reynders quit, the job seemed lucrative – good for 23,000 euros gross per month, which corresponds to the salary of a European commissioner, for the N-VA. This was provided for in the major political round of appointments that was on the drawing board of the Michel government.
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N-VA Chairman Bart De Wever wanted to send Philippe Muyters to Luxembourg. As a former Flemish Minister of Finance, Muyters had the right profile. De Wever also wanted to thank the former top executive of the Flemish employers’ organization Voka for coming to strengthen the socio-economic flank of the N-VA.
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But after the departure of the N-VA from the Michel government, it went into current affairs, so that nothing has come of the major political nomination round.
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In the government negotiations about Vivaldi, the European top job has once again come up on the table, in addition to the division of ministerial posts. There was no more time to lose, as many mandates at the EIB are due for renewal soon.
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The Hague has long been difficult for Belgium to leave the chair open. As a result, the interests of the Netherlands are no longer represented by the EIB, which must play an important role in financing the European Green Deal.
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If Belgium still did not appoint anyone today, this risked causing problems. The Poles have been looking forward to the joint seat of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg in the EIB for some time. The Hague has been difficult for some time because Belgium does not send anyone. As a result, the interests of the Netherlands are no longer promoted at the EIB, which must, among other things, play an important role in financing the European Green Deal.
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The Hague’s exasperation translated into a diplomatic demarche to claim the post of vice-governor at the EIB. A proposal has been made for a temporary solution, whereby a Dutch person will sit in the empty seat for the remaining term, while waiting for the Netherlands to take up the mandate for the next six-year term. But Charles Michel did not want to know about that. It was a matter to be settled in the government negotiations.
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That has since happened. The job is for CD&V and would go to Kris Peeters, the former Prime Minister of Flanders and former Deputy Prime Minister in the Michel government. Koen Geens (CD&V), as the former Minister of Finance, also has the profile for the position at the EIB. But his spokeswoman informed De Tijd on Wednesday that he would like to stay in the Chamber.
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I am honored to have my name mentioned, but to my knowledge no decision has yet been made.
Kris Peeters
Member of the European Parliament
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Peeters says in a response that, according to him, no decision has yet been made, even though high sources in CD&V say that the European top job is for him. ‘It is correct that during the government negotiations that mandate was assigned to CD&V. I am honored to have my name mentioned, but to my knowledge no decision has been made yet, ‘says Peeters. He himself would still have doubts. He likes the European Parliament, and you have to move to Luxembourg for the job at the EIB. The mandate has only run for 2.5 years.
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