No master of ceremonies leading the EU

Bertelsmann Stiftung: New EU president might become a "people's president" or a Mr. Europe active in the world

The current issue of the "spotlight europe" newsletter published by the Bertelsmann Stiftung's Europe program examines various possibilities for the leadership styles the new leaders might exhibit. Three options, for example, are discussed for the office of the president of the European Council, who will serve a term of two and a half years. 

First, the role of a European moderator: Europeans' interests, which are continuing to drift further apart, have to be more closely integrated, and a moderating president will commit him- or herself to the difficult task of creating consensus in the EU as it grows. A moderating president would not be overly visible to the outside world, but would leave the international stage to the EU's new high representative for foreign affairs and security policy.

Second, the role of a European president active in the world: If the EU wants to be taken seriously in the future among global powers, it needs a president who can provide it with a "face" and who is a skilled manager of external partnerships. In this scenario, the high representative would be a sort of EU foreign minister, while the Commission president would become more responsible for inner-European issues.

Third, the role of a European "people's president": The president's main responsibility would be to better communicate what the EU is all about to its citizens, reflecting the growing need for identification, information and orientation. A "people's president" would remain above the EU's national and economic disputes. One problem here, however, is that the Council president in particular has until now lacked a direct mandate from Europe's citizens.   

"At the moment it is completely up in the air whether he or she will turn into a true Mr. or Mrs. Europe in terms of interacting with the outside world, or a king or queen of striking compromises within the EU," said Dr. Dominik Hierlemann, author of the Bertelsmann Stiftung's strategy paper on the subject. "In any event, the president of the European Council will need a supporting structure that allows him or her to prepare for European Council sessions and for negotiating compromises. Only once an effective structure is in place can the president become more than a European master of ceremonies. In addition, the president must be accorded a status in all ministerial councils that allows him or her to intervene and to make suggestions -- and that means in all areas that directly or indirectly serve to prepare and implement European Council decisions." 

At best, according to Hierlemann, the Council president could leave his or her mark on the European and international agenda. "Yet the presidency's scope and the selection of office holders has to work from the start," he said. "Until now, it was a small but undeniable advantage that a weak presidency only lasted six months. The future Council president will be in office longer."
In addition, the Bertelsmann Stiftung paper points out the various opportunities for conflict that these newly created positions bring with them. Only once the new leaders are in office will it become clear who will represent the EU's interests via a common foreign policy, should Sarkozy, Merkel and other national leaders insist on their right to make an impact. Who, for example, will represent the EU at international summit meetings? And how will the new leaders come to terms with other offices such as the revolving EU Council presidencies, which will continue to exist?

The complete issue of "spotlight europe" can be downloaded on the right.