Who will head the EU’s foreign policy?

According to reports in the German press, an internal power struggle is taking place in the Commission over who will represent the EU in external relations in the future. While Mr Prodi and Commissioner Barnier want the Commission to take a leading role in foreign, defence and economic policy, Mr Patten, the Commissioner for External Relations, would fiercely oppose this idea.

In a document to be presented by the Commission to the Convention on the future of Europe, Mr Prodi proposes to suppress the distinction between three pillars and to extend the “community method” to all areas, giving the Commission the sole right of initiative in domains of traditional national sovereignty such as common foreign and defence policy, and justice and home affairs, which are currently the competence of the EU governments.

Mr Prodi proposes to upgrade the Commission’s political power by giving its Vice-President (currently Mr Neil Kinnock) the tasks currently carried out by the High Representative (Mr Solana). This person would be appointed by the heads of the EU governments and by the Commission President, giving this post a “double legitimacy”. Through this proposal, Mr Prodi would shift the competence of external policy towards the Commission.

However, External Relations Commissioner Patten and the British government would be very opposed to this idea. The British government, distrustful of a too strong Commission, would prefer the heads of state and government of the EU members to appoint a External Representative for five years – without interference of the Commission. A possible compromise could be a double representation balancing the influence of the Member States and the Commission.

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Commission to adopt new Consumer Policy Strategy

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