After the Euro Crisis: The President of Europe - A New Paradigm for Increasing Legitimacy and Effectiveness in the EU
CEPS No. 12, June 2012
8 Pages Posted: 5 Apr 2014
Date Written: April 3, 2014
Abstract
If one recognises that the European Council has come to embody the political head of the Union, then, rather than trying to hide or hinder such evolution, it might be more rational to reform the process of selection of its president so as to make its role more effective and legitimate. The effectiveness of the European Council’s president would have been stronger (compared to that demonstrated during the euro crisis), if he had benefited from greater decision autonomy with respect to the heads of state and government (especially of Germany and France) who make up the European Council. At the same time, the Commission and its president could have exercised a greater influence if their role had been constitutionally linked to the other head of the executive, the European Council’s president.
Keywords: Euro crisis, European Council, Commission, EU executive power, Union's president
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation