LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Autumn 2007

by Sotiris Hatzigakis

RELATED ARTICLES:

---

Sir,

The idea of electing a president of the EU has exercised Europe’s collective political imagination for years. For advocates like my friend Jo Leinen, it would be one way to dispel the widespread sense that there’s something wrong with the opaque way that Europe currently takes decisions and the general feeling of unease about the direction in which we are all heading.

Over the past few years there have been several attempts at restructuring Europe’s political institutions, most notably the remarkable European Constitution. The forthcoming revision of the European treaties is the next big opportunity to prepare the Union to meet the challenges posed by globalisation and the new needs of EU citizens. I think that most people in Europe would agree with me that our basic aim when creating new institutions should be to strengthen the EU as a united player on the “global chessboard”. Such a lofty ambition demands the best possible institutions and most effective policies to succeed.

In our quest for these ideal institutions, I believe that national models are only partially useful as a guide because Europe’s process of political integration is unique and therefore without precedent. Of course, we cannot ignore Europe’s long-standing values, beliefs and political traditions. Democracy was born and developed in Europe, so any attempt to build a supranational European democracy must be based upon our joint political heritage.

In this context, I agree with Jo Leinen’s final evaluation that the most democratic solution to the complex question of how to create a president for Europe would be for the European Parliament to nominate and elect a president of the Commission. The Commission should, in turn, become a true European government. I also endorse his proposal for a tripartite system of European governance, which would see the European Parliament and Council of Ministers forming a two-chamber parliament working with the Commission and its president.

However, I believe that these proposals ought to be viewed as our final destination. In the meantime, we should gradually enhance both the institution of the president of the European Commission and the three political instruments of the Union − the Commission, the Council and the Parliament. An enhanced role for the Commission president would strengthen the political integration process, while improvements in the other major institutions would help to stabilize the EU’s political system.

Nor should we forget that a secure role for national parliaments within the EU would lend to European democracy some of the great legitimacy enjoyed by these legislatures. Any increase in the democratic authority of the EU would certainly be of value, no matter what institutional arrangements the Union eventually adopts.