The European way of life in numbers

Margaritis Schinas can expect a fierce grilling today, as he sits down with members of the European Parliament over his nomination as a European commissioner.

That’s not because of anything the Greek politician has or hasn’t done. The former European Commission spokesperson is a well-known figure in Brussels.

It’s because of the name his portfolio was given by Commission President-elect Ursula von der Leyen. Several members of Parliament have objected that Schinas’ title as commissioner for the “European Way of Life” plays into populist rhetoric — especially since his responsibilities are to include migration.

But what is the European way of life exactly?

Manfred Weber, the leader of the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) in Parliament defended Schinas’ title as entirely appropriate, asking his fellow MEPs: “Is there someone in the room who wants to live the African way of life? Or the American way of life?”

Which leads to the question: What is the European way of life, really, and how does it compare to, say, the “American way of life”?

POLITICO breaks down the numbers, with sometimes surprising results.

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