| Author (Person) | Banks, Martin |
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| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.10, No.1, 15.1.03 |
| Publication Date | 15/01/2004 |
| Content Type | News |
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By Martin Banks Date: 15/01/04 ANTONIO Vitorino, the justice and home affairs commissioner, could emerge as an unexpected candidate to replace Romano Prodi as the next president of the European Commission, according to seasoned EU watchers. A host of likely would-be presidents are squaring up for the job, including Costas Simitis, the Greek premier who is standing down before his country's 7 March elections, the former Finnish prime minister Paavo Lipponen, and the premiers of Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg, Wolfgang Schüssel, Guy Verhofstadt and Jean-Claude Juncker. With so many "big hitters" in the frame, Vitorino had been seen as a dark horse. However, the Irish EU presidency has made it clear it will not be bound by the convention that Commission presidents should come from the ranks of former or current government leaders. And that, according to several leading think-tanks, could pave the way for an alternative candidate, such as Vitorino, who has shone in his current job. Charles Grant, of the London-based Centre for European Reform (CER), believes Vitorino, a former Portuguese defence minister, is already the front-runner to replace Prodi when the Italian's term in office ends in October. "He's a good communicator, has good English and is intelligent without being arrogant," says Grant. "He also has a good technical understanding of how the EU works." His comments were echoed by Kirsty Hughes, of the Brussels-based Centre for European Policy Studies. But she cautions, "the fact that so many prime ministers appear to have thrown their hats into the ring may yet count against him". Grant argues that member states must not make the "mistake" of thinking the next president should be a former prime minister. "You only have to look at Prodi and Jacques Santer, former prime ministers of Italy and Luxembourg respectively, to see that isn't necessarily the best move. "Prodi's term has, frankly, been a disappointment while Santer was forced to resign." Nevertheless, it appears that most heads of state and government would rather have one of their own at the Commission's helm. The long-time favourite for the EU's top job has been Jean-Claude Juncker. Largely seen as a mediator, the longest-serving government leader in the Union is, as one of his colleagues recently put it, "the living memory of the EU", "an EU enthusiast and yet down to earth". However, Juncker has a domestic problem that could prevent him from taking the job: the Grand Duchy has elections on 13 June, coinciding with the European Parliament polls. His Christian Social Party may not score well if Juncker is not its candidate to head the government. But the Luxembourger is still the favourite for the Commission job within the European People's Party (EPP). A spokesman for France's EU Permanent Representation commented that if the EPP wins the election, "it would appear the likely candidate will be someone from the centre-right". "That would let in someone like [Belgian former prime minister] Jean-Luc Dehaene or Jean-Claude Juncker." An official at Germany's EU embassy said: "It's very open; Berlin has not made up its mind on a preferred candidate." The Dutch Permanent Representation, believes Verhofstadt is a front-runner, describing him as a "very capable" candidate, while a spokesman said former Dutch prime minister Wim Kok has dropped out of contention following the appointment of Jaap De Hoop Scheffer as the new secretary-general of NATO. "There are several other strong candidates, such as Juncker, who is very experienced and Simitis, who, of course, will be free to run for the post." John Palmer, director of the European Policy Centre, says it is an open field, but tips Jean-Luc Dehaene and Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel as the strongest contenders. German MEP Hans-Gert Pöttering, the leader of the EPP, has made it clear that if it wins the elections, his group, currently the largest in Parliament, will veto a Socialist candidate. He says his group would reject any president who "did not belong to the political family that just won the elections". The Irish presidency, which has to find a suitable successor in time for the EU summit in June, is taking soundings in national capitals about who should succeed Prodi. One senior Irish official said the Commission needs someone to make itself more relevant again. Prodi is well regarded in his home country of Italy, but his influence among EU leaders is questionable and the Commission's standing generally remains at a low ebb. Meanwhile, the Irish presidency must also help smooth the admission of commissioners from the ten acceding states, which join on 1 May. Charles Grant's Centre for European Reform says most new member states cannot decide between nominating a competent technocrat or a politician."Politics," he concludes, "is likely to win out. "Most newcomers will be national politicians with very little experience of doing business in Brussels." The accession states' front-runners to become European commissioners from
Article considers the likely contenders to replace Romano Prodi as President of the European Commission. |
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| Source Link | http://www.european-voice.com/ |
| Subject Categories | Politics and International Relations |
