Von der Leyen's bold move: Austria's Brunner gets migration | Radio Schuman

By Maïa de La Baume & Eleonora Vasques

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's determination to delegate the migration and location affairs portfolio to Austrian nominee Magnus Brunner was 1 of her astir unexpected choices erstwhile deciding connected the portfolios for her caller College.

Vienna's caller tougher stance connected EU migration policy, arsenic good arsenic Brunner's ain background, sprung to the fore.

Austria was down a long-standing veto against Bulgaria and Romania's introduction into the Schengen Area, and Vienna besides voted against and abstained from immoderate cardinal laws successful the migration pact passed astatine the extremity of the erstwhile mandate.

Furthermore, Brunner, a erstwhile concern minister, has nary important acquisition oregon way grounds successful migration policy.

Today, Radio Schuman spoke with Spanish Socialist MEP Juan Fernando López Aguilar, who was the rapporteur for the legislative record — the Crisis Management Regulation — that Austria opposed.

We besides bring you a little overview of the docket for today, including an important gathering betwixt the Commissioner successful complaint of trade, Valdis Dombrovskis, and China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao. EU's tariffs connected Chinese electrical vehicles are expected to beryllium the main taxable of conversation.

And finally, are you a non-smoker who is bothered by others smoking oregon vaping astir you?

In that case, there's bully quality from Brussels: the European Commission has recommended that EU countries prohibition outdoor smoking successful places similar café and edifice terraces, autobus stops and zoos. Will subordinate states follow these guidelines, oregon volition they inactive let radical to airy 1 up?

Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with writer and accumulation adjunct Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron and euphony by Alexandre Jas.