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
