Not only designations

The waltz of candidates for leading posts in EU institutions triggered major media attention during the June 18-19 EU Council. The ever-more personalized political environment, marked by the quest for names to be served up on a platter to the public opinion, needs to identify its institutions with familiar leaders and reassuring faces. Thus it is no surprise, nor is it reason for disappointment, that most articles and TV newscasts on EU27 seek to identify the next Commission chairman, the next EP President and the other candidates for seats envisaged by the Lisbon Treaty. The summit of the heads of Government and State reached a “unanimous agreement” on José Manuel Durao Barroso, viewed as “the person they intend to designate as President of the European Commission for the period 2009-2014”. In the “Conclusions” of the summit it is stated to this regard: “The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic and the Prime Minister of Sweden, as the present and the incoming Presidents of the European Council, will have discussions with the European Parliament in order to determine whether the Parliament is in a position to approve that nomination at its July plenary session”. After having obtained the governments’ endorsement, Barroso’s appointment will be subject to approval by the European Parliament. At present, a favour vote is not to be taken for granted. Although Barroso is expected to enjoy the support of the People’s Party and of the right-wing parties, assessment by Socialists, Liberal-Democrats, and the Green Parties will be made on the basis of his achievements and his political program. While it is envisaged that extreme left-wing parties and Euro-scepticals will vote against his nomination. The election of the President of the Commission (due to take office in November) is affected also by other factors. First and foremost the enforcement – or the failure – of the Lisbon Treaty, entailing a different procedure compared to the enforced Treaty of Nice. But mostly, two other appointments ought to be taken into account. According to political agreements, the next Euro-Chamber President (for the legislature’s first two-and-a-half years), should be represented by the PPE and subsequently pass the baton to a Socialist party-member, unless the proposal of a third party from the Liberal party is unexpectedly advanced. The presidents of the political groups and of the Parliament Commissions in Strasbourg, the chair of the Euro-group (Mister Euro), currently occupied by Jean-Claude Juncker from Luxembourg, (whose mandate will expire in 2010) still need to be identified. Finally, the Lisbon Treaty also envisages the appointment of “stable” European Council Presidency and of the EU “foreign minister” (known as Mr. CFSP, that stands for Common Foreign and Security Policy).The fact remains that European politics cannot be confined to appointments, to ‘personalism’ or to ‘leaderism’. 500 million EU citizens need an efficient Europe, that is capable of facing her daily problems and that can be briefly exemplified in the summit’s agenda: the economic and financial crisis and its heavy repercussions on employment; the climate change, environmental and energy policy; migration, security, cooperation with the Countries of origin. There can be no hesitance before these questions, any divides or withdrawals. While opposing stands can be taken as relates to candidates, the responses that ought to be given to citizens require cohesion and unity of intentions. The high abstention-rates registered in the recent European elections are a clear sign.