Delors wants European government, but rejects idea of EU president

Date: 26/09/02

By Dana Spinant

JACQUES Delors, the former European Commission president, is calling for 'a genuine European government' based on both the European Commission and Council of Ministers, sharing a common presidency.

He argues that neither the Council nor the Commission could on their own assume the role of a government, but that the two institutions could jointly constitute an executive.

A common presidency, composed of the Commission president and a number of vice-presidents working closely with ministers, would keep the two-arms European government together.

With a view to reinforcing the 'synergy' between the two branches, Delors proposes for instance that key commissioners work hand-in-hand with the specialised Councils.

The Frenchman, who heads the Notre Europe think-tank, claims this plan would address weaknesses in the EU's current set-up, which has no identifiable government, and lacks both coherence and visibility as a result.

Delors strongly advises against appointing an EU president.

That would either lead to a 'cohabitation' with the Commission president, he warns, or reduce the role of the Commission to that of a secretariat of the Council.

An EU president would also disturb the strong parliamentary tradition in Europe, says the former Commission leader. With the notable exception of France, with its Fifth Republic system built on the tandem between a strong president and a prime minister, Delors says no other EU or candidate country has adopted such a presidential model.

The question of a European government has constantly occupied politicians and academics.

Some have seen the European Commission as the embryo which should evolve into a government; others have insisted the Council could carry the function of an executive, alternately with that of a legislator.

Delors admits that his plan to base the future European government on both institutions might be 'relatively complex' and not solve demands for simplification of the existing set-up.

However, he is adamant that an authentic EU government should pool together the EU and member states' legitimacy and interest.

Delors believes that would solve the eternal conflict between federal approach and the intergovernmental model.

Jacques Delors, the former European Commission president, is calling for 'a genuine European government' based on both the European Commission and Council of Ministers, sharing a common presidency. He argues that neither the Council nor the Commission could on their own assume the role of a government, but that the two institutions could jointly constitute an executive.