Greeks say EU environment head can stay in Brussels

02 December 2008

European Union environment commissioner Stavros Dimas has been told by his government that he can stay in Brussels when the European Commission reshuffles in late 2009, writes Stephen Gardner in an exclusive for Eurocorrespondent.com. The decision opens the door for Dimas to become the EU's first climate change commissioner, a position he has expressed interest in. The idea of separating responsibility for climate policy from other environmental policy has been floated in Brussels, though no decision has been made. Dimas's spokeswoman Barbara Helfferich said 28 November that the splitting of portfolios "is not even being discussed at this time." Dimas is a political appointee, having been sent from his home country, Greece, by prime minister Kostas Karamanlis, leader of the centre right New Democracy party, which has been in power since March 2004. Dimas became environment commissioner in November 2004. Helfferich confirmed Dimas wants to stay in Brussels when the next Commission takes office in November 2009. "So far there are no obstacles to that," she said. Dimas was previously an industry minister in Greece, and was not initially expected to be a strong environment commissioner. However, during his time in Brussels he has gained credibility among environmental organisations for resisting pressure from industry lobbies over issues such as mandatory carbon dioxide reduction targets for cars, and for taking a forceful line on issues such as climate change and loss of biodiversity. One obstacle does however stand in the way of Dimas remaining in the Commission: the relatively weak position of Karamanlis's government in Greece, which has a parliamentary majority of just two seats. Should Greece's second largest party, the Socialists, take power, they will want to send their own appointee to Brussels European commissioners serve five year terms, with the present Commission's term ending on 31 October 2009. At present, there is one commissioner for each of the 27 EU member states, though this may change as it is considered unwieldy.

 

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