Puzzling Out Troika Complicitly in EU Manipulation of DG Selection Process

Here also I have no really strong theory (and no leads this time).  Though I wonder how close Blanco and Jonathan Fried became when they were negotiating NAFTA.  Each was the chief negotiator for their own country-strong loyalties can be cemented that way, especially when the talks are successful.  I don't have any hard evidence and they could have come out of it very sore instead-perhaps some NAFTA historians out there would know. All theories and leads welcome!