Choosing ‘Mr(s). Europe’ [Archived]

The EU's new 'Reform Treaty' was agreed upon by EU leaders at a summit in June 2007 and the updated final text was formally approved in October 2008 at an intergovernmental conference (IGC) (EURACTIV 19/10/08). The 'Treaty of Lisbon', as it was finally named, was officially signed by EU heads of state and government at a summit in the Portuguese capital on 13 December 2007 (EURACTIV 14/12/07). 

The treaty aims to streamline EU decision-making by introducing voting reform in the Council, reducing the size of the European Commission and strengthening the role of national parliaments. It also creates two new posts: 

• A new, permanent president of the EU Council of Ministers, who will chair EU summits and;
• a High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, a position previously held by Javier Solana, who will also be the EU's external relations commissioner. 

The legal foundation 

The legal basis for the positions of permanent President of the European Council and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is briefly defined by the Lisbon Treaty: 

• Article 9B: 

5. The European Council shall elect its President, by a qualified majority, for a term of two and a half years, renewable once. In the event of an impediment or serious misconduct, the European Council can end the President's term of office in accordance with the same procedure. 

6. The President of the European Council: 

(a) shall chair it and drive forward its work; 

(b) shall ensure the preparation and continuity of the work of the European Council in cooperation with the President of the Commission, and on the basis of the work of the General Affairs Council; 

(c) shall endeavour to facilitate cohesion and consensus within the European Council, and; 

(d) shall present a report to the European Parliament after each of the meetings of the European Council. 

The President of the European Council shall, at his level and in that capacity, ensure the external representation of the Union on issues concerning its common foreign and security policy, without prejudice to the powers of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. 

The President of the European Council shall not hold a national office. 

• Article 9E: 

1. The European Council, acting by a qualified majority, with the agreement of the President of the Commission, shall appoint the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The European Council may end his term of office by the same procedure. 

2. The High Representative shall conduct the Union's common foreign and security policy. He shall contribute by his proposals to the development of that policy, which he shall carry out as mandated by the Council. The same shall apply to the common security and defence policy. 

3. The High Representative shall preside over the Foreign Affairs Council. 

4. The High Representative shall be one of the Vice-Presidents of the Commission. He shall ensure the consistency of the Union's external action. He shall be responsible within the Commission for responsibilities incumbent on it in external relations and for coordinating other aspects of the Union's external action. 

Discrete, consensual leaders

Eight years of soul-searching and intricate manoeuvres to revamp the EU as a more powerful player in world affairs culminated on 19 November with the appointment of two discrete politicians, who pledged to profess consensus-building and quiet diplomacy. At an extraordinary summit which took place over dinner, EU heads of state and government unanimously backed Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy as the first permanent EU president and current Trade Commissioner Baroness Catherine Ashton as High Representative for Foreign Affairs (EURACTIV 20/11/09). 

Rules and timing unclear

The criteria for who to choose for these two new top positions were not written down in the Lisbon Treaty. It was therefore up to Europe's heads of state and government to decide on who they wanted to choose as their new representatives.

Bargaining between the 27 EU countries took into account decisions already taken to reappoint José Manuel Barroso as European Commission president and Jerzy Buzek as president of the European Parliament. It also took into account the distribution of important portfolios in the Commission (see EURACTIV LinksDossier on the new European Commission).

The process of nominating commissioners began with the election of José Manuel Barroso as Commission president on 16 September 2009 (EURACTIV 16/09/09).

The big question: who to choose?

In the absence of formal criteria, much speculation broke out over who should take up the role of EU president. According to Stanley Crossick, a veteran EU policy analyst and founding chairman of the European Policy Centre (EPC) - a Brussels-based think-tank - the new EU Troika needed to strike a balance between the following criteria (see blog post on Blogactiv for full analysis):

• Nationality;
• geography;
• size of country, and;
• political affiliation.

However, according to Crossick, the most desirable criterion was the candidate's ability to carry out the relevant responsibilities. In this perspective, Crossick argued that German Chancellor Angela Merkel was the only person who has "the authority and ability" to ensure the importance of the troika and would also contribute to another desirable criterion, which is gender balance.

The list below gives an indication of who the candidates were for the post of president of the EU Council of Ministers  before Herman Van Rompuy was chosen on 19 November (EURACTIV 20/11/09):

Languages also a criterion

English, seen as ‘lingua franca’ throughout the EU, was spoken by all candidates, although of those listed, Felipe González, who speaks some English and good French, prefers to express himself in public in his native Spanish.

Although it has never been an official requirement, fluency in French is seen as a must for securing Paris's blessing for international top jobs. Tony Blair and Vaira V??e-Freiberga speak French, but those with a handicap in this respect were Bertie Ahern, Wolfgang Schüssel, Paavo Lipponen, Carl Bildt, Tarja Halonen and Mary Robinson. 

What do the citizens think?

According to a poll by Harris Interactive published in early April, most European citizens considered German Chancellor Angela Merkel to be the most influential leader in Europe, while Tony Blair was the preferred candidate for the job of EU president.

But Blair's chances appeared to be slim due to the opposition of countries like Belgium. As for Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg, considered an ideal candidate by several heavyweight politicians, he was not a recognisable figure to many Europeans. As a possible EU president, he was credited with only 1% support in France, 2% in Germany, 1% in Italy and less than 1% in Spain and the UK.

Strong or 'docile' president?

EU leaders did not elect a strong leader by choosing Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy (EURACTIV 20/11/09). Instead, they elected a figure who would not overshadow the leaders of big EU countries or recently re-elected European Commission President José Manuel Barroso.

Barroso previously signalled his concern that his role would be diminished by sharing international representation with the new Council president.

"The European Commission will not accept the idea that the president of European Council is the president of Europe," Barroso told MEPs on 7 October.

Some member states, such as France, indicated they wanted to create a major player with the presidential job by appointing someone who can give the EU a stronger voice on the world stage.

But Barroso said that the president of the European Council should rather be "someone who will fight to reach agreement in the European Council," a profile closer to his own.

Visible or 'discreet' High Representative?

There were also indications that competition in international representation could arise from the creation of the new post of High representative for foreign affairs and security policy.

The centre-left group in the European Parliament claimed that it should have a saying or even nominate the High representative (see EURACTIV 10/09/09).

This was largely seen as a way to politcally counterbalance the re-election of Barrosos, a former centre-right prime minister, and the push would be even greater if EU leaders decided on a Council president from the ranks of the centre-right.

Heads of state preferred a discrete person in the position of high representative, opting for Trade Commissioner Baroness Catherine Ashton as a guarantee that she would not overshadow the Council president in the eyes of Europeans and the world (EURACTIV 20/11/09).

The list below gives an indication of who the potential candidates were for the post of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy before Ashton was chosen on 19 November 2009 (EURACTIV 20/11/09):

• 2 Oct. 2009: Second referendum in Ireland on Lisbon Treaty.
• 29-30 Oct. 2009: EU summit to discuss top jobs.
• 19 Nov. 2009: Extraordinary summit appoints Herman Van Rompuy as EU Council president and Baroness Catherine Ashton as High Representative for Foreign Affairs.
• 1 Dec. 2009: Entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty; President of the European Council and High Representative take up roles.
• Second half of January 2010: European Commission takes office; High Representative takes up second part of role: that of Vice-President of the European Commission.

EU official documents

• Europa:Treaty of Lisbon portal: 'Taking Europe into the 21st century' [FR] [FR] [DE]

Political Groups

• Greens/EFA, ALDE, EPP, S&D, GUE/NGL:EU top jobs: Cross-party MEPs call for more women in EU top jobs(17 November 2009)

NGOs and Think-Tanks

• Centre for European Reform :A Prime Candidate?(11 February 2008)
• Open Europe:An EU President
• Friends of Europe:Shaping Lisbon's Legacy: The EU's Very Discreet Debate on Who Will Make Foreign Policy(June 2008)
• New Europe - Denmark:The EU Liberals line Fogh up as President(11 April 2008)
• No 'Big Bang' for EU foreign service, says Solana(23 June 2009)
• Angus Reid:Spaniards Ponder González as EU President(8 August 2009)
• ISRIA:UK - PM - Press conference in Brussels(17 September 2009)
• Bertelsmann Stiftung:Yet another President(November 2009)
• Robert Schuman (France), FAES (Spain), CKID (Greece), Ithaka (Romania) and AnoproEvropu (Czech Republic):Conference: « L‘Europe au féminin : pour une vraie parité »(19 November 2009)
• Burson-Marsteller:Lisbon Treaty implementation and nominations: the next steps(12 November 2009)

Press articles

• The Nation:The mysterious method of choosing “Mr. Europe”(10 April 2008)
• Financial Times:UK PM ‘a serious candidate’(15 June 2007)
• Financial Times:Push for Blair as new EU president(16 June 2007)
• The Independent:Blair emerges as candidate for 'President of Europe'(20 october 2007)
• Independent.ie:Ahern is 'not in running' for EU President job(11 November 2007)
• AFP:Blair charms France's ruling party amid talk of EU top job(12 January 2008)
• The Guardian:Blair kicks off campaign to become EU President(13 January 2008)
• Time:Blair Weighs Up EU Presidency Bid(14 January 2008)
• The Independent:Bertie Ahern tipped for EU presidency(05 March 2008)
• The Independent:The Big Question: What is the role of the EU President, and who are the leading candidates?(18 March 2008)
• The Economist:If the EU wants a big hitter as president, it should go for Tony Blair(17 April 2008)
• The Independent:Brown deal bars Blair from top EU job(20 April 2008)
• Earth Times:Juncker vows to stay on as eurogroup head(8 June 2009)
• EU Observer:No 'Big Bang' for EU foreign service, says Solana(23 June 2009)
• The Independent:Felipe Gonzalez takes on Blair for EU presidency(2 July 2009)
• TopNews.in:Former Finnish premier Lipponen declines comment on EU president(21 July 2009)
• Telegraph.co.uk:More evidence of the Brussels racket, as Irish Euro-enthusiasts turn to business leaders(31 August 2009)
• Earth Times:Spain's Gonzalez rules himself out as next Mr Europe(8 September 2009)
• L'Express/Le Vif:Barroso réélu à la tête de l'Europe ? Pas pour les socialistes !(10 September 2009)
• AFP:Blair en campagne pour obtenir la tête du Conseil européen(15 September 2009)
• AFP:Ex-British PM Blair seeks new EU post: Greens leader(15 September 2009)
• Telegraph.co.uk:Q&A: the Lisbon Treaty(15 September 2009)
• The Parliament.com:EU urged to give more 'top jobs' to women(15 September 2009)
• Les Echos.fr:Barroso 2 : le pari du changement(16 September 2009)
• The Guardian:Merkel leads the quiet revolution(16 September 2009)
• The Guardian:The battles facing Barroso(16 September 2009)
• Earth Times:EU socialists demand next top job(16 September 2009)
• Deutsch News.nl:EU job rumours 'rubbish' says prime minister(17 September 2009)
• European Voice:Belgian distractions(17 September 2009)
• DeMorgen.be:Van Rompuy EU-president? "Geen commentaar"(17 September 2009)
• NIS News Bulletin:'Verhagen Premier if Balkenende goes to EU'(17 September 2009)
• Irish Times:Dutch premier now likely candidate for presidency of European Council(18 September 2009)
• EU Observer:EU's most powerful women take aim at male elite(18 September 2009)
• NRC Handelsblad:Balkenende is the talk of Brussels and The Hague(18 September 2009)
• De Standaard:Van Rompuy for EU President...(21 September 2009)
• Irish Times:New post of European Council president would be created by treaty(26 September 2009)
• El Mundo:Balkenende hace 'lobby' en Bruselas para ser presidente de la Unión Europea(29 September 2009)
• De Telegraff:CDA-achterban positief over overstap Balkenende(29 September 2009)
• De Telegraff:Nieuwe speculaties over EU-kandidatuur Balkenende(29 September 2009)
• RTL nieuws.nl:Nederlander steunt 'ambitie' Balkenende(29 September 2009)
• Brabants Dagblad:Nieuwe speculaties EU-kandidatuur Balkenende(29 September 2009)
• AFP:UE: après le oui irlandais, la course d'obstacles continue avec les Tchèques(03 October 2009)
• AFP:Le poste de chef de la diplomatie de l'UE convoité en France(05 October 2009)
• Curierul National:Dup? Dublin, Tratatul de la Lisabona intr? într-o nou? curs? cu obstacole(06 October 2009)
• Le Parisien:Selon Claude Guéant, Sarkozy ne souhaite pas le départ de Fillon(06 October 2009)
• European Voice:Opposition mounts against Blair for Council president(08 October 2009)
• Le Figaro.fr:Tony Blair domine la course à la présidence de l'Europe(08 October 2009)
• EU Observer.com:Barroso fears powerful 'European president'(08 October 2009)
• European Voice:Who should be the first face of Europe? Not Balkenende(08 October 2009)
• Foreign Policy:European Idol: Handicapping the race for EU president(09 October 2009)
• Times on line:Billionaire EU campaigner 'paid' Tony Blair(11 October 2009)
• The Independant:Could you really stomach Blair being EU president?(11 October 2009)
• The Trumpet.com:Barroso Seeks Strong Mandate for EU President(12 October 2009)
• The Washington Times:Europe's unity treaty still languishes(12 October 2009)
• Le Figaro.fr:UE : Balladur défavorable à la candidature de Blair(12 October 2009)
• Europe 1:Védrine ne veut pas être ministre des Affaires étrangères de l'UE(12 October 2009)
• Le Figaro:Claude Guéant : un départ de Fillon «n'est absolument pas à l'ordre du jour»(13 October 2009)
• The Independant:Mary Dejevsky: He might look right, but he's the wrong President for Europe(13 October 2009)
• World Bulletin:EU's Rehn wants "meaningful" role in new Commission(14 October 2009)
• Focus news:A1: Olli Rehn wants to continue working for Europe’s good(15 October 2009)
• Times Online:David Miliband touted for EU foreign post as Blair’s chances wane(23 October 2009)
• Le Soir:Le président européen jaillira du brouillard(24 October 2009)
• Guardian:European council presidency may be just the job for Tony Blair - but he can't ask(26 October 2009)
• Krakow Post:Tony Blair as EU President? Poland Says No(26 October 2009)
• Daily Mail:Why President Blair would be a travesty(27 October 2009)
• Reuters:Juncker "would not refuse" to serve as EU president(27 October 2009)
• The Times online:Tories would deal reasonably with a president Blair, says David Cameron(27 October 2009)
• The Independent:David Miliband: this is my ambition for Europe(27 October 2009)
• Ireland on-line:Blair pressured to say whether he wants EU presidency(27 October 2009)
• UK Press Association:Blair 'must break EU job silence'(27 October 2009)
• Mirror:David Miliband backs Tony Blair for EU president(27 October 2009)
• Sky news:Cameron: No to all-singing President Blair(27 October 2009)
• Telegraph:David Cameron urges EU to stop Tony Blair becoming EU president(27 October 2009)
• Guardian:Conservatives would not back Blair for EU president, says David Cameron(27 October 2009)
• Le Monde:Présidence de l'UE : M. Juncker n'aurait "pas de raison de refuser" un appel à candidature(27 October 2009)
• Financial Times:Juncker takes on Blair for EU presidency(27 October 2009)
• BBC:No 10 denies President Blair push(27 October 2009)
• Politics:Blair soundings denied by No 10(27 October 2009)
• Bloomberg:Juncker Sets Sights on EU Post, Challenging Blair(27 October 2009)
• Challenges.fr:Les principaux candidats au poste de président de l'UE(27 October 2009)
• The Wall Street Journal:EU Set to Name President, Top Diplomat Next Week(11 November 2009)
• Deutsche Welle:EU leaders to discuss presidential hopefuls(11 November 2009)
• Deutsche Welle:EU top jobs in limbo(11 November 2009)
• The New York Times:E.U. President Takes Tough Line on Filling Top Jobs(11 November 2009)
• The Irish Times:Poland resisting 'coronation' of EU Council president(11 November 2009)
• Euronews:Yes, Mrs President?(12 November 2009)
• Business New Europe:Why the new "Mr Europe" could be wearing a dress(12 November 2009)
• Guardian:EU to choose president on 19 November(12 November 2009)
• Javno (Hungary):EU leaders struggling to agree on new top jobs(12 November 2009)
• Telegraph.co.uk:Latvian candidate for EU President says selection process is 'Soviet'(13 November 2009)
• Hürriyet Daily News:Estonia nominates president for top EU posts(13 November 2009)
• UE : les femmes craignent de ne pas atteindre le sommetLe Figaro.fr:(16 November 2009)

Blogs

• Federal Union:A president for Europe(5 April 2008)
• Blogactiv - Stanley Crossick's Blog:The 2009 EU Troika(27 January 2008)
• Blog de Jean Quatremer:L’arrière-garde européenne privée de poste?(9 April 2008)
• FT Brussels blog:Tony Blair for President?(1 February 2008)
• European Democracy.org:EU presidency: the quiet candidates(14 March 2008)
• TheNewFederalist.eu:It's time for one President of the EU(5 March 2008)
• Petition against the nomination of Tony Blair as President of the EU:StopBlair.eu
• Whodoicall.eu:One President for the EU
• Campaign for a transparently and democtarically elected President of the European Commission:Who's your candidate?
• Tony Barber, Financial Times:Why González is wary of landing top EU job(8 September 2009)
• Grahnlaw:European Council President: Eliminating unwilling countries(11 April 2009)
• Mario Sepi's blog:Felipe Gonzalez Marquez and the future of Europe: no progress without civil society(22 April 2009)
• Julien Frisch:Make Guy Verhofstadt the next European Commission president!(10 June 2009)
• Julien Frisch:There will be no President of the European Union - not even with Tony Blair!(15 July 2009)
• Charlemagne's notebook (The Economist):No, Tony Blair has not launched an EU presidential bid(15 July 2009)
• The European Citizen:A strong President of the European Council?(16 July 2009)
• Grahnlaw:“EU President” Tony Blair?(17 July 2009)
• Tony Barber (Financial Times):How come the big guys don’t want top EU jobs?(21 September 2009)
• EU Observer (blog):Posts Tagged ‘President of the European Council’(21 July 2009)
• Jean Quatremer (Libération):Tony Blair, président du Conseil européen, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, ministre des Affaires étrangères de l’Union ?(29 September 2009)
• Blogactiv:Why I would choose Balkenende as EU president(29 September 2009)
• Blogactiv:Dutch PM better choice for president than Blair(29 September 2009)
• Paul Taylor, Reuters:Ireland puts the EU show back on the road(03 October 2009)
• Charles Bremner (Times):France falls again for Germany(04 October 2009)
• Tony Barber (Financial Times):Europe’s First President: The Runners and Riders(05 October 2009)
• The European Citizen:Blairs' Backers are making a Fundamental Error(05 October 2009)
• Grahnlaw:EU capitals: Time to nominate candidates for President & High Representative(05 October 2009)
• Grahnlaw:No EU President(05 October 2009)
• Blogactiv:Blair not a realistic option for EU president(06 october 2009)
• Irish Times (blog):The Benelux strikes back against Blair(06 October 2009)
• Kosmopolito:President of the European Council: The contenders(06 October 2009)
• Jean Quatremer (Libération):Qui veut la peau de Tony Blair?(07 October 2009)
• Grahnlaw:Tony Blair wrong choice for Europe(07 October 2009)
• Blogactiv:A Council “permanent” president
• Blogactiv:Bakoyannis: The New Leader for the EU(14 October 2009)
• Blogactiv:Irony alert(14 October 2009)
• Blogactiv:Leadership needed for Europe’s foreign policy(19 October 2009)
• Pierre Rousselin, Le Figaro:Blair trop brillant pour l'Europe(22 October 2009)
• Steve Richards (The Independent):Europe is a tempting opportunity(27 October 2009)
• Gideon Rachman (FT):Europe does not need a big shot(27 October 2009)
• Tony Barber (FT):Juncker’s EU presidential ambitions expose UK-Continental divide(27 October 2009)
• Oliver Kamm (The Times):Blair for President(27 October 2009)
• Michael White (Guardian):David Miliband is not aiming to be EU foreign minister(27 October 2009)
• Stanley Crossick (Blogactiv):Lisbon Treaty: Foreign Policy Chief more important(31 October 2009)
• Grahnlaw:Extra European Council 19 November 2009 menu(11 November 2009)
• Mary Honeyball (MEP):Tony Blair divides the Socialists again(11 November 2009)
• Gavin Hewitt (BBC Europe):Which names in the EU hat?(11 November 2009)
• Eurosocialist:The best of the web: vote for the European Council President!(11 November 2009)
• Simon Jenkins (Guardian):Better for Britain. Better for Europe. I'm backing Brown for EU president(12 November 2009)
• Paul Taylor (Reuters):A camel for EU president?(12 November 2009)
• Julian Priestley (Guardian):Europe's sure gotta lotta presidents(12 November 2009)
• Sur le chemin de la construction européenne (Le Monde):Balkenende serait une défaite, Van Rompuy un nul, Vike-Freiberga une victoire(12 November 2009)
• Stanley Crossick (Blogactiv):Lisbon Treaty: single voice or cacophony?(15 November 2009)
• Joe Litobarski:A Gender Balanced Commission(16 November 2009)
• Grahnlaw:Gender balanced Commission(16 November 2009)
• Open Europe:Soon to be your President?(16 November 2009)
• The New Federalist.eu:Dinner at Fredrik’s - Will the EU finally speak with one voice under the Lisbon Treaty?(17 November 2009)
• John Worth:It’s time for a Gender Balanced Commission(17 November 2009)

Other

• European Tribune:Stop Blair ! Petition against the nomination of Tony Blair as "President of the European Union"