Why should the EU Council have a strong leader ? - commentaires

Why should the EU Council have a strong leader ?

I totally agree with Peter's concerns : this article woul fit nicely in Euroobserver, but where's the federalist input ?

Why should the EU Council have a strong leader ?

I agree with you that we need strong leadership in the EU but it shouldn't and won't ever come from the current system of governance. And the mere fact of having a new EU president post next to the existing Commission president post is for the Member States to further weaken the already week (current) Commission President. But if speak realistically as you say then it's more important to elect a strong Commission president and leave the post of the Council Chair (because that's what it is rather than proper President) to a person who will have the authority to bring the positions and interests of member states together and hopefully in favour of more Europe. Personally I don't think Blair should be that person.

Why should the EU Council have a strong leader ?

Dear Peter,

The ideal thing is as you say strong institutions. However, we have to be realistic : the eu commission president has never been so effective in foreign policy. Europe is losing its grip in the international arena, and this is because it does not have strong leadership. America is strong because it has a strong president ; China is strong because it has its own strong leader, the same goes with Russia. Leadership is important no matter as it is the leader who has to meet other foreign leaders in the name of the EU. And at this point in time there is no one better capable to do that than Blair himself.

Why should the EU Council have a strong leader ?

Dear Luca,

you ask some valid questions, especially on the role of this potential new EU post and potential names. What is missing from your article, however, is a federalist perspective we discussed during the Convention on the future of the EU back in 2002/03 while still hoping for a Constitution, namely that we already have an EU post - the EU Commission President - that should speak on behalf of Europe, especially after some desired reform as invisaged by JEF would take place : further strengthening of the European Parliament, transforming the current EP into lower chamber and the current Council of EU into an upper chamber of a Parliament that elects a Commission President reflecting the results of the EP elections and/or taking into account coalition building. What we need in the EU are clearer, more transparent and more democratic processes and no longer nominations from the side of member states making the Union ineffective every time a MS no matter how big or small wants to push through its own national interests. We need strong and accountable institutions not persons !