released on Tuesday, 21 January 2003

The Young European Federalists (JEF-Europe) welcome the fact that a clear majority of the Convention members have spoken in favour of a federal model of the European Union at this week’s plenary session.

“There is clearly a broad consensus in the Convention that the president of the European Commission has to be elected through the European Parliament.” stated Alison Weston, President of JEF-Europe. “Additionally, members are also not in favour of the intergovernmental proposal of the German and French government to elect a permanent President of the Council. The federal model for Europe is clearly gaining ground.”

Many Convention members pointed out that citizens would neither understand the necessity for two presidents, nor will they be able to differentiate between their respective functions. “We run a high risk of creating a system in which two presidents will have similar tasks and will compete in being ‘The True Mr. or Mrs. Europe’.” continued Alison Weston. “Further the Convention must clearly state that the only role of the European Council will be to give a political impetus, and not have operative or legislative functions.”

The Convention members have accepted that it is the Parliament and the Commission that have to be strengthened. By choosing the president of the Commission through the Parliament elections, the citizens of Europe will have a direct choice of the policies and the personality of the Union.

Alison Weston continued: “We however have to be careful about the election procedure for the Commission President. People are talking of a two-third or even four-fifths majority required in the European Parliament, meaning the larger parties would have to make a fudged compromise. What national parliament elects its leader with a four-fifths majority?”

Jan Kreutz, Vice-President of JEF-Europe appealed to the Convention President: “It is now up to Valéry Giscard d'Estaing to accept the true majorities within the Convention - a Commission elected by the European Parliament, maintenance of the rotating presidency of the Council, a clear separation of powers and the co-decision procedure and the qualified majority rule to be accepted without exceptions.”

© JEF-Europe 2003
Press Contact: Jan Kreutz
+32 494675273
jan.kreutz@jef-europe.net