Respect shown by Draghi to von der Leyen, amidst criticism
In a speech delivered in Brussels, the former European Central Bank chief, Mario Draghi, addressed the European Commission and its progress in implementing the recommendations from his landmark competitiveness report, published in 2021. The 'Draghi Report,' as it has come to be known, carries significant weight, having been requested at the highest political level and embedded in the Commissioners' mission letters. However, according to a POLITICO analysis, Europe is moving too slowly in implementing the report's core ideas. Mario Draghi was broadly critical of the Commission's performance, but he tempered his criticism of President Ursula von der Leyen's European Commission compared to his remarks in Rimini, Italy, last month. Von der Leyen responded to Draghi's criticism with a more general perspective, stating that his report had brought an 'urgency mindset.' The European Commission president emphasized that the Commission had already delivered concrete initiatives in response to the report. However, progress has been patchy at best, according to Draghi. He singled out the AI Act as an area of concern, describing it as vague and another source of uncertainty in the EU's journey toward simpler and more harmonized rules. Antonios Nestoras, the founder of the EPIC think tank and head of its Draghi Observatory, described the Draghi report as a 'pledge' or a 'promise.' Failure to deliver on the report's recommendations could be seen as a liability, according to Nestoras. In response, von der Leyen expressed a commitment to 'relentlessly stay the course until we get it all done.' Draghi praised parts of the Commission's agenda, notably its focus on competitiveness. However, he was still critical of governments, accusing them of clinging to 'long-standing taboos.' She shifted the responsibility to the European Parliament and national governments to follow through on these initiatives. Ursula von der Leyen's remarks were not well received within the Commission, according to an EU official, following Draghi's criticism in Rimini. Yet, von der Leyen maintained that the Commission had already delivered concrete initiatives in response to the report. As Europe navigates its path to competitiveness, the Draghi Report continues to serve as a guiding light, with its core ideas and recommendations providing a roadmap for the continent's future. However, the pace of progress remains a concern for many, including Mario Draghi himself.
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