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Monday, February 12, 2018

EU: President Juncker to propose merger of EU Commission and Council presidencies

Could the next Spitzenkandidaten process elect a single president for two jobs?

Five months after European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker first proposed combining the Commission and Council presidencies as part of his State of the European Union speech and a week after the European Parliament’s vote to retain the lead candidate – or  Spitzenkandidaten – process, the Commission appears ready to seriously consider the proposal.

“Europe would function better if we were to merge the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council,” Juncker told the European Parliament during his annual address in Strasbourg last September, adding, “Europe would be easier to understand if one captain was steering the ship.”

The move would transform the EU leadership and consolidate authority around a single figure who would campaign for the post, Juncker is expected to outline the scenarios for EU institutional changes over the coming years at this week’s College readout.

What is expected this week is a draft plan that will include the option of combining the presidencies of the EU executive body and the national government leaders.

Note EU-Digest: Good idea, if it also provides for a universal European election for the Presidency  and is open to candidates from different political parties. 

 Read more: Juncker to propose merger of EU Commission and Council presidencies