Andrew Rettman
EUobserver
A German-led report shows lacklustre support for the creation of a powerful new EU leader.
The eight-page paper - circulated to press on Wednesday (20 June) – is a snapshot of current thinking in German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle’s reflection group on the future of the Union.
It says that: “Some foreign ministers suggested to examine the creation of a double-hatted post of President of the [European] Commission and President of the European Council.”
It also describes as an “important step” the potential “nomination of a top candidate for the next European elections that could also be a candidate for the position of commission President.”
It adds that “in the long term” there “could” be “a directly elected commission President who chooses the members of his ‘European Government.’
The hodge-podge of remarks pointing toward the new post reflects member states’ mixed emotions about giving more power to Brussels in order to fight the crisis.
The “Future of Europe Group” has been meeting since March and aims to produce a final manifesto in September.
Besides Westerwelle, it includes the foreign ministers of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Spain.
Print
Email
Get news updates by email. Enter your email address below to subscribe: 
