Not the future EU President
Before continuing with this blog-post I would like to clarify one thing, once and for all.
I will not be announcing my candidacy for the new role of EU President.
Some of you may be surprised that I was in the running at all. In fact, I never formally announced my candidacy, but one night in Stoumelings I understand that my name was banded around (did you now? – ed) – perhaps half in irony, who knows? – but nonetheless, Brussels is a small place and such talk can spread like wildfire. Sooner or later my name could have been mentioned in the company of Tony Blair, Herman Van Rompuy, and Jan Peter Balkenende.
I cannot deny that I considered it for a fleeting moment, but in the end I have taken the decision that if the Swedish Presidency were to come to me and say that there had been consensus on my appointment in the Council I would have turned it down. Why?
Because – and let’s be honest here – I cannot, in the words of UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband, “stop the traffic in Beijing,” even if I wanted to. Furthermore, if the job is merely that of a glorified Chairman (as now seems to be its destiny), intent on finding muddy compromises between the EU-27, I don’t feel that this is the role I want the President of Europe to have. I would be going against my own principles.
The President of the EU! Population 500 million. The largest trading bloc in the world. Yet the economic giant will remain a political pygmy if its President is reduced to the role of a non-descript fonctionnaire.
Many Europeans cannot name a single MEP, let alone the President of the Commission, but it would be nice if they knew who the President of the EU was. After all, he or she will de-facto be representing their interests in the halls of the White House and on the roundabouts (so it would appear) of Beijing.
So unless the new President’s role is wide-ranging, attention-grabbing, and media-attracting, I hereby rule myself out of the running.
- Rob
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7 comments
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November 5, 2009 at 17:31
Fazzo
Please reconsider. Please. Europe needs someone with indepth knowledge of the Albanian first division and the ability to discuss at length with the Americans about the relative merits of the Eredivisie and the Prva HNL. Nobody else can offer us this. Vote GEEBS
November 5, 2009 at 17:32
eurospotter
Good move not to do it! I mean how would you then have time to watch FC Random play on the weekends?
November 5, 2009 at 17:35
Euro-China-Man
speaking as a Chinaman born in the EU, I’m glad you won’t be traipsing across our hallowed roundabouts threatening our sweatshops with inane facts about German footballers and Coventry City. Gary Breen would be ashamed of people like you.
November 5, 2009 at 19:24
Bram van der Bruggen
I am afraid though that there is no post called President of the EU. So makes sense you can’t become a candidate for it!
The post, imho, should be that of a chairman of the European Council. In English the function is called President of the European Council, in Dutch it translates to Chairman (and in the Dutch version of the Treaties it clearly says voorzitter (chairman).
Furthermore I don’t think the Member States have intended anything more then a chairman of the European Council meetings…not a ‘President of the European Union’.
November 5, 2009 at 19:59
The Lobby
True, the Treaty states that the official title is President of the European Council, but since the Council is made up of all 27 Member States and since the new role will replace the current rotating Presidency at EU Summits, in the interests of both simplification and clarity I opted for the phrase President of the EU. Not only does this in my view adequately sum up the potential impact and competence of the position, it also avoids the dreaded EU jargon we’ve all come to love (and hate)!
November 5, 2009 at 20:00
Dave Cameron
I hate you Euro-crats
November 5, 2009 at 22:29
Pug
Economic giant? We don’t have any resources. We import all our energy. We don’t make anything. We don’t bank well anymore. We don’t even have babies.
Do APTA have a president? You’re best off there Geebs. You can still commute back for footie.