Implications of the Election of a New President of the European Parliament

The Polish Institute of International Affairs is an analytical institution established by an act of Parliament in 1996 to carry out research and provide expertise in international affairs. PISM disseminates information on contemporary international issues and maintains contacts with academic and political centres in Poland and abroad. The Institute runs courses for public servants, maintains a library (open to the public; 165,000 books and journals), organises conferences, and publishes books, periodicals and documents on Polish foreign policy and international matters.

The funding for PISM comes from the budget. The director is appointed by the prime minister for a term of five years, following consultation with the minister of foreign affairs. The minister supervises the Institute and appoints its advisory council, which includes a representative of the President of the Republic of Poland, academics and officials.In the absence of compromise between the two largest political groups of the European Parliament, the result of the election of its new president, held on January 17 2017, was difficult to predict. Victory for the European People’s Party’s candidate would have marked the end of the current balance of power as representatives of EPP would lead the three most important EU institutions: the European Council, the Parliament and the Commission. Only the position of high representative for foreign affairs and security policy would have remained staffed by a candidate of the Progressive Alliance of European Socialists and Democrats. The choice of the new head of the EP did not automatically imply a new president of the European Council. Yet it could have had consequences for the political situation in Italy, and thus for the future of the eurozone.

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