But who is the electorate? It seems that Merkel/Sarkozy/Brown are the key players who hold a veto on any prospective candidate - whilst not having quite enough power to impose a candidate no one else wants. So who does Berlusconi, Zapatero, Tusk want? It seems that Blair has the inside track with a lot of these guys as a former equal and colleague. But do they want someone with an ego even bigger than theirs and a determination to steal much of the limelight away from them? From their point of view, the biggest problem with Blair is that he might be seen to diminish them.
But do they want someone with an ego even bigger than theirs and a determination to steal much of the limelight away from them? From their point of view, the biggest problem with Blair is that he might be seen to diminish them.
Also, Medium- and Small-size countries are less than pleased with the recent tendency of the big three (UK, France and Germany) to run the EU from mini-summits with Barroso, presenting the results as fait accompli to be rubberstamped by the Council at large. Belgium will hold the EU rotating presidency in the second hald of 2010, and has already voiced concerns about this issue. Hungary is also concerned.
But opponents of a Blair presidency might be blindsided if they allow Blair to line up his ducks without doing anything to present an alternative candidate. En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
Spanish EU presidency in the first quarter of 2010
There would be a number of changes to the European Council under the proposed Treaty of Lisbon.[17] The treaty would make the European Council a formal institution, separate from the Council of the European Union (now the Council of Ministers). While the Council of Ministers would continue with the rotating presidency, the European Council would have a single, fixed, President of the European Council with a renewable two-and-a-half year mandate. The position would stay a non-executive, administrative role. It would have an important role in organising work and meetings, providing external representation (including working with the CFSP) and being able to call extraordinary meetings beyond the four that are now formally required to take place.[18] The role of the council is clearly separate from the Council, and primarily follows previous definitions. In separating from the Council of Ministers, the European Council gains no legislative power. It does however gain a greater say over police and justice planning, foreign policy and constitutional matters, including: the composition of the Parliament and Commission; matters relating to the rotating presidency; the suspension of membership rights; changing the voting systems in the treaties bridging clauses; and nominating the President of the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The High Representative, along with the new post of President, are the only formal changes in composition. Further more, under the "emergency break" procedure, a state may refer contenious legislation from the Council of Ministers to the European Council if it is outvoted in the Council, although it may still be outvoted in the European Council.[18][19][20] Although there may be some informal changes; currently the President of Finland informally takes part in the European Council as s/he is responsible for the Finland's foreign policy outside the EU. This is alongside the Prime Minister who deals with policy within the EU. Under the new treaty the Council becomes a formal EU institution and deals with foreign policy (making it EU policy). Hence, some see the President's attendance would no longer be justified.[21] There has been speculation on who would be the first (full time) President of the European Council, being dubbed as the President of the European Union. Currently the most common name is former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.[22][23] This was backed up further when, in June 2007, French president Nicolas Sarkozy was the first leader to propose that Blair be the first president.[24]. On July 15th 2009, BBC News reported that the UK Minister for Europe Baroness Kinnock had confirmed that Blair would be a candidate for the role and would have British government support. However in August 2007, there has been specuation that Bertie Ahern, the former Irish Taoiseach, could also be a contender[25]. The Bulgarian government has floated the name of former Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha[26]. In September 2009, the name of Dutch Prime Minister, Jan Peter Balkenende, was reported in the Dutch press[27] as a possible contender for the new post. Balkende has firmly denied that he was a contender, dismissing the claim as "claptrap"
There would be a number of changes to the European Council under the proposed Treaty of Lisbon.[17]
The treaty would make the European Council a formal institution, separate from the Council of the European Union (now the Council of Ministers). While the Council of Ministers would continue with the rotating presidency, the European Council would have a single, fixed, President of the European Council with a renewable two-and-a-half year mandate. The position would stay a non-executive, administrative role. It would have an important role in organising work and meetings, providing external representation (including working with the CFSP) and being able to call extraordinary meetings beyond the four that are now formally required to take place.[18]
The role of the council is clearly separate from the Council, and primarily follows previous definitions. In separating from the Council of Ministers, the European Council gains no legislative power. It does however gain a greater say over police and justice planning, foreign policy and constitutional matters, including: the composition of the Parliament and Commission; matters relating to the rotating presidency; the suspension of membership rights; changing the voting systems in the treaties bridging clauses; and nominating the President of the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The High Representative, along with the new post of President, are the only formal changes in composition. Further more, under the "emergency break" procedure, a state may refer contenious legislation from the Council of Ministers to the European Council if it is outvoted in the Council, although it may still be outvoted in the European Council.[18][19][20]
Although there may be some informal changes; currently the President of Finland informally takes part in the European Council as s/he is responsible for the Finland's foreign policy outside the EU. This is alongside the Prime Minister who deals with policy within the EU. Under the new treaty the Council becomes a formal EU institution and deals with foreign policy (making it EU policy). Hence, some see the President's attendance would no longer be justified.[21]
There has been speculation on who would be the first (full time) President of the European Council, being dubbed as the President of the European Union. Currently the most common name is former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair.[22][23] This was backed up further when, in June 2007, French president Nicolas Sarkozy was the first leader to propose that Blair be the first president.[24]. On July 15th 2009, BBC News reported that the UK Minister for Europe Baroness Kinnock had confirmed that Blair would be a candidate for the role and would have British government support. However in August 2007, there has been specuation that Bertie Ahern, the former Irish Taoiseach, could also be a contender[25]. The Bulgarian government has floated the name of former Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha[26]. In September 2009, the name of Dutch Prime Minister, Jan Peter Balkenende, was reported in the Dutch press[27] as a possible contender for the new post. Balkende has firmly denied that he was a contender, dismissing the claim as "claptrap"
By the way, wasn't this "Council President" Blair's idea to begin with? En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
