Stage set for clashes over creation of new EU president

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, President of the European Convention, set the scene for a struggle between the European Union's big and small member states over the future of Europe in comments he made at the informal European Council in Athens, 16 April 2003. He made it clear he intended to brush aside the protests of at least 17 countries in an enlarged Europe of 25 by proposing the creation of a new President of the European Council to work alongside the existing European Commission President.

http://consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/75462.pdf http://consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/75462.pdf

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