Former EU commissioner Nicolas Schmit believes Ursula von der Leyen runs the European Commission in an excessively centralised, “presidential” style that silences the commissioners and damages Europe.
He argues that genuine strategic debate and a long-term vision for Europe’s global role have been missing within the Commission. He also criticised the fact that the institution failed to publicly stand by Thierry Breton when he came under American pressure, even though all the commissioners had approved the controversial digital regulations.
Schmit is likewise critical of the deregulatory efforts, arguing that rapid “omnibus” packages are not the proper way to reduce bureaucracy. Similar concerns have been voiced by other former commissioners and left-wing leaders, while the EU Ombudsman has identified procedural shortcomings in the process.
