Reding makes plans for new Commission term 

Confident of getting a third consecutive mandate, Luxembourg's commissioner has instructed her closest collaborators within the EU executive's information society department to provide new ideas for the next five years, according to EU sources.

Her objective is to find a new flagship policy to match the success of the EU's roaming regulation. Introduced by Reding in 2007, the regulation became one of the most emblematic policies of the Barroso Commission. It introduced a cap on the price of making calls abroad, lowering costs for consumers despite attracting the wrath of the telecoms industry (EurActiv 29/06/07).

People familiar with the commissioner's plans are suggesting that she will seek a stronger role on dossiers which she currently controls only partially, such as e-commerce, e-privacy, online copyright, broadband and state aid for broadcasters. 

Expanding portfolio?

In a new Commission led by the current president, José Manuel Barroso, she would likely expand her own portfolio at the expense of other departments, like as competition or the internal market.

On copyright, Reding has tried to strike a balance between protecting authors' works from illegal Internet downloads and the rights of consumers to surf the web freely. Her vision is to promote viable commercial online offers, which would be attractive enough to refrain consumers from illegally downloading music or films.

But observers believe her position on copyright protection and corporate abuse will surely be tougher. Google and other giants of the online world might find themselves in her sights.

On e-privacy, the Luxembourg commissioner has already protected consumer data in areas such as RFID and social networking websites. In other important dossiers, such as online advertising and search engines, she has so far shared her competencies with other commissioners. But some observers believe she is likely to tighten her grip on these dossiers as her mandate expands.

The possible reshuffle of competencies within Commission portfolios is seen by many as a reward for Reding's work over the last five years, during which time she upgraded a policy area that had until then been widely overlooked by the media, politicians and citizens.

Others say an expanded information society portfolio would merely compensate Reding for not claiming a bigger role in the next Commission. Indeed, the recent obstruction of her biggest reform, the telecoms package, might have lowered her expectations (EurActiv 12/06/09).

In any case, Reding's confirmation as the head of the InfoSoc portfolio is increasingly likely, according to people familiar with the commissioner. 

At home, she led her Christian Democratic party list to a sweeping victory in the last European elections, claiming three seats in the new European Parliament. Moreover, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker came out strengthened from the June national elections, making Reding his probable choice for continuity at the Commission.

If confirmed, Barroso's nomination for a second Commission term would also play in her favour, as the pair are said to enjoy a good relationship.

The only obstacle to Reding's re-appointment appears to come from Ireland. If the second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty were to fail, the Commission would have to be downsized under the existing Treaty of Nice, and Luxembourg could be one of the victims of the cuts.