Appointment of Josep Borrell as Vice-President of the European Commission and High-Representative of the Union for Foreign Policy and Security Policy

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Publication Date 2019
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Summary:

Reports, analyses and information on the appointment of Spain's Josep Borrell Fontelles as Vice-President in the European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen, which also becomes the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security Policy.

Further information:

Josep Borrell is a former Spanish minister of foreign affairs. He was given the role as High Representative in the framework of an agreement between the main political groups on the leading positions for the institutions of the European Union. His nomination generated some controversy, due to previous statements and his connections with the debate on Catalonia's autonomy. Mr Borrell was formally announced on 9 September 2019 by the President of the European Commission. His portfolio was known on the following day, set to take on the role as Commission's Vice President for 'A Stronger Europe in the World'.

The relevant committees of the European Parliament held a hearing with Mr Borrell on  October in order to assess his capabilities to become a Vice-President of the European Commission (which is formally detached from his role as High Representative). Media sources later reported that he had been approved as a suitable candidate.

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Commentary and Analysis
Wikipedia: Josep Borrell https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josep_Borrell
ECFR: Commentary, 22/05/2019: Borrell returns: His vision for Europe https://www.ecfr.eu/article/commentary_borrell_returns_his_vision_for_europe
Politico, 30/07/2019: Josep Borrell: Europe’s undiplomatic envoy https://www.politico.eu/article/josep-borrell-europe-undiplomatic-envoy/
EPRS: Briefing, September 2019: Hearings of the Commissioners-designate: Josep Borrell Fontelles – High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President: A Stronger Europe in the World https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2019)640173
EUObserver, 30/09/2019: Borrell: from controversy to EU's top diplomat https://euobserver.com/political/146106
CER: Bulletin Article, 30/09/2019: Can Josep Borrell get EU foreign policy off the ground? https://www.cer.eu/publications/archive/bulletin-article/2019/can-josep-borrell-get-eu-foreign-policy-ground
Bruegel: Blog, 30/09/2019: Questions to the High Representative and Vice-President-designate Josep Borrell https://bruegel.org/2019/09/questions-to-the-high-representative-and-vice-president-designate-josep-borrell/
Berlin Policy Journal, 04/10/2019: Close-Up: Josep Borrell https://berlinpolicyjournal.com/close-up-josep-borrell/
Deutsche Welle, 06/10/2019: Josep Borrell: The EU's next foreign policy chief https://p.dw.com/p/3QmSx
Elcano Royal Institute, 08/10/2019: The challenges facing Josep Borrell as the next EU foreign policy chief: an interview with Joseph Weiler http://www.realinstitutoelcano.org/wps/portal/rielcano_en/contenido?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/elcano/elcano_in/zonas_in/queralt-molina-challenges-facing-josep-borrell-next-eu-foreign-policy-interview-joseph-weiler

News
France24, 02/07/2019: Outspoken Borrell nominated for EU foreign policy chief https://www.france24.com/en/20190702-outspoken-borrell-nominated-eu-foreign-policy-chief
Reuters, 07/10/2019: Mission impossible: Next EU foreign policy chief warns of EU irrelevance https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1WM1QW
Politico, 07/10/2019: Borrell to visit Kosovo first as EU foreign policy chief https://www.politico.eu/article/borrell-visit-kosovo-first-as-eu-foreign-policy-chief-commission-hearings/
Balkan Insight, 07/10/2019: New EU Foreign Policy Chief Pencils in Kosovo Visit https://balkaninsight.com/2019/10/07/new-eu-foreign-policy-chief-pencils-in-kosovo-visit/
RFE/RL, 07/10/2019: EU Diplomat Nominee Says Balkans, Ukraine Top Foreign-Policy Priorities https://www.rferl.org/a/30204442.html
Forbes, 09/10/2019: Josep Borrell: Green Light To EU’s New Foreign Policy Chief https://www.forbes.com/sites/anagarciavaldivia/2019/10/09/josep-borrell-green-light-to-eus-new-foreign-policy-chief/#309bfa551117
Bloomberg, 15/10/2019: Spain Minister Attacks ‘Totalitarianism’ of Catalan Separatists https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-15/spain-minister-attacks-totalitarianism-of-catalan-separatists

Official
European Commission: President-elect von der Leyen’s Mission Letter to Josep Borrell Fontelles https://ec.europa.eu/commission/files/josep-borrells-mission-letter_en
European Parliament: Josep Borrell Fontelles’ replies to the European Parliament questionnaire https://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/media/20190927RES62426/20190927RES62426.pdf
European Parliament: Hearing of Josep Borrell, Vice-President-designate, High Representative/Vice President-Designate - A Stronger Europe in the World Josep Borrell https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/hearings2019/commission-hearings-2019/20190910STO60709/josep-borrell-spain
European Parliament: Press Release, 07/10/2019: Hearing with High Representative/Vice President-designate Josep Borrell https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190926IPR62260/
PES: News, 07/10/2019: Stronger, more united Europe in the world with Josep Borrell https://www.pes.eu/en/news-events/news/detail/Stronger-more-united-Europe-in-the-world-with-Josep-Borrell/
EPP: News, 07/10/2019: Josep Borrell will have to work hard in order to succeed where others failed https://www.eppgroup.eu/newsroom/news/josep-borrell-will-have-to-work-hard-in-order-to-succeed

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