Think-tank calls for sweeping European Council reforms

Date: 18/04/02

By Martin Banks

THE European Council - the regular summits of heads of government - is in need of 'fundamental' reform, according to an influential think-tank.

The Centre for European Reform (CER) is highly critical of the present set-up, claiming that many of the European Council's quarterly meetings are 'under-prepared' and lacking in cohesion.

To make the Council more effective, the group has called for a comprehensive shake-up, including:

• The creation of four 'super councils';
• A new-look general affairs council (GAC) and;
• A European president to chair meetings.

Writing in the CER's April/May bulletin, director Charles Grant argues that reform is badly needed if EU leaders are to do their job properly.

'The point of the European Council is to allow prime ministers to think about big, long-term issues but these days it seldom fulfils that role,' he states.

The Laeken summit last December was 'embarrassing' with leaders 'shouting abuse at each other' over the siting of a food safety agency.

The CER believes the key to a more effective European Council is a new-look, more powerful general affairs council, consisting of senior ministers appointed by prime ministers.

'These ministers should spend a part of their week in Brussels, which would help them develop a better relationship with the Commission,' says Grant.

'One of the problems with a new GAC, especially post-enlargement, would be its size.

'But it should be possible to curb the problem of overcrowding by allowing only one official per minister in the chamber.

'And the system of tours de table, where each minister is expected to speak on each issue, should end.'

The GAC would have equal status alongside Ecofin, the finance ministers' council, and there should be two other 'super councils', for foreign affairs and interior ministers.

CER envisages the remaining 'sub-councils', for environment, culture, trade and so on, reporting to these four bodies.

Grant says: 'A key task for the super councils should be to prepare meetings of the European Council, with the onus on ensuring that heads of government deal with the minimum of paperwork.'

The CER also suggests that a European president be chosen, perhaps an ex-prime minister, to chair Council meetings. This would give the EU a credible figurehead to speak for it as the equal of US President George W. Bush.

The CER also fears that the Convention, which is currently debating the future of Europe, could descend into 'theological disputes' and calls on its 105 members to adopt a 'pragmatic' approach.

The European Council - the regular summits of heads of government - is in need of 'fundamental' reform, according to the Centre for European Reform (CER).