Small countries meet to block Giscard’s EU president plan

Date: 03/04/03

By Dana Spinant

THE European Union is braced for a major clash over reform of its institutions, after the leaders of seven smaller member states expressed strong opposition to the election of a European Council president.

The idea is supported by the UK, France, Germany and Spain, as well as the Convention's chairman Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.

But the seven, who held talks in Luxembourg on 1 April, warn that it would weaken the European Commission and reinforce the influence of the largest member states.

"We stick to the principle of a six-month rotating system," Jean-Claude Juncker, prime minister of Luxembourg, said, making it clear he was also reflecting the views of Austria, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Portugal.

Juncker fears that a full-time president of the European Council would generate a new EU bureaucracy which would compete with the Commission. "We don't think the European Union needs new institutions," he said.

Jan Peter Balkenende, the Dutch premier, echoed that, declaring: "This is a clear signal to the president of the Convention."

Nevertheless, Giscard is expected to unveil a blueprint for a full-time Council president in the next fortnight.

The position of the smaller EU states was weakened by the decision of Sweden and Denmark not to join their group. Greece was also prevented from attending because the holder of the EU presidency must be neutral.

Juncker announced the seven member states would meet the leaders of another 12 countries - including ten candidates - before the 16 April meeting in Athens, when EU leaders will discuss institutions.

The European Union is braced for a major clash over reform of its institutions, after the leaders of seven smaller Member States expressed strong opposition to the election of a European Council president.