"Il faut un président de l'Europe qui ait du pouvoir"

In an Interview to the French Newspaper Le Monde, Pierre Lequillier, chair of the European Union Select Committee of the French National Assembly (délégation de l'Assemblée nationale pour l'Union européenne), proposes a compromise between the Blair-Chirac-Aznar vision (a President elected within the European Council) and the federalists' proposals (election by the European Parliament). Its nomination would follow the same lines as today (designation by Council and investiture by the European Parliament). He would be the head of the European Commission, would chair the General Affairs Council (GAC) and would embody the Union towards the outside world. He could be assisted in this task by a European Minister of Foreign Affairs. He would be accountable before the Council and the European Parliament. Mr. Lequiller strongly opposes the election of the President by the European Parliament: he believes that would politicise the European Commission instead of preserving its neutrality and independence.

Lire tout l'interview sur le site du Monde

You may also wish to read Pierre Lequiller's speech, which he delivered on December 3rd, 2002, during the debate on the future of Europe (seulement en français).