The last hurdle has finally been removed and the Lisbon Treaty is set to enter into force by the end of the year. The content of the treaty have been praised by leading politicians all over the Union. They predict that, come the Lisbon treaty come a united Europe, more efficient, more democratic and with more focus on the needs and demands of the citizens.
Sometimes you can´t help wondering whether political leaders actually believe all they say? If so they will wake up to a different world. In reality the Lisbon Treaty mainly provide European politicians with a new set of tools. If, in the future, they don’t use the tools better than they have used the present toolbox there will be no reason to expect improvements in European policy.
Without political will and skill – the Lisbon treaty is close to nothing.
This is why the appointment of the President of European Council matters so much. But we are going about this the wrong way. The discussions have primarily been on names – not on what role the president should play.
The European Parliament is expected to adopt a report on the president´s role at its mini-session in Brussels next week. This is just 24 hours ahead of an expected extra-ordinary European Council convened to appoint the president and the foreign minister/high representative. Much too late to have this debate.
In the European media, the latest name to appear in the speculations is the Belgian Prime Minister, Herman van Rompoy. Being able to keep Belgium together as one country is surely an impressive skill. But with van Rompoy as with Blair, Balkenende, Juncker and the rest of the names that are floating around, the media are also going about it backwards.
Before appointing a person you should define what the job is all about.
When Blair’s name turned up, the main arguments in favour of the former British Prime Minister was that he would be a person that would make Europe a bigger player on the international stage.
The reality is that Europe will only be a key player in international politics if and when Europe has a common policy and that is far from always the case.
Far too often the European message is unclear for the simple reason that European policies are a compromise of the will of 27 countries.
What good does it do you to be the EU president and a former British Prime minister meeting American President Barack Obama, if you have nothing to say when you meet him?
What the European Council need more than anything is a smooth operator that are able to get European politicians to agree on common visions and afterwards help turning these visions into concrete pieces of legislation.
Take a look back at the latest meetings of the European Council, and you´ll see it is not international affairs that steal the time of heads and state and government. It is internal European matters like financing a climate deal in Copenhagen, exit-strategies, immigration, energy security etc.
The president that Europe needs is somebody who has vision and at the same time have a great sense for detail. Somebody that is not easily scared by bullies like the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy.
Also, Europe needs a president that can explain to our newest member countries from Central and Eastern Europe, that the rest of Europe have moved into the 21st century and that they are more than willing to come and join us here.
In the 21st century we do not count dead Poles when we calculate voting weights and we do not take into account decrees written by an exile government in London during the Second World War. The war is over and Europe is focusing on the future.
When you look at it this way, the most obvious candidate turns out to be the Lithuanian president, Dalia Grybauskaite. She is known as the “Iron Lady” because she is tough towards everybody – and that will be needed in the European Council.
As a commissioner for the budget she proved herself to be a master of detail. Negotiating the financial perspectives will be one of the most important tasks for the President.
She is from a small new member state from the north and so is far better placed than almost anybody else to explain to the Poles that the war is over.
She is a conservative, which fits nicely with the ambition to appoint a socialist foreign minister.
If the new post is to become a success, heads of state and government are well advised to analyse the job demands before they appoint anybody. If they do that, things could well point them in the direction of Lithuania.
#1 by Isak Andersen on November 3rd, 2009 - 7:50 pm
At the end of his term what percentage of EU citizens will know who is their unelected President? 10%? 5%? What would Dalia Grybauskaitė’s appointment do to reduce the democratic deficit?
#2 by Isak Andersen on November 3rd, 2009 - 7:51 pm
Correction: “At the end of HER term”
#3 by Andrei on November 4th, 2009 - 9:35 am
The raison d’etre of the President is not to reduce the democratic deficit, but to prove effective in his (her) tasks.
Regardless who is appointed the media coverage around Europe would be pretty much similar, so “democratic deficit” should not be a criteria in choosing the person for the job.
#4 by droom on November 4th, 2009 - 10:46 am
I agree with the author: First determine what the role/task should be of the President. This is the more important as there are 3 more fucntions which might (partially) overlap with the role of President. They are the chairperson of the Commission, the rotating Chairperson of the Council, and the Foreign representative. It looks like a Kafkaesk bureaucratic nightmare to sort things out before any international meeting: who is going to be responsible for what?
Of a different order is the candidate of the President. The fact that especially the names of Benelux prime ministers are floating around, is very telling: France and Germany do not want to have someone with a vision and strong ideas on the development of the EU. It should be someone weak so they can push that person around. In that context i would not be surprised if they have also agreed among themselves that one of them will deliver the new Commissioner for Competition, so they can get rid of hard and justified action by the current Commissioner against the financial support of their own companies against the rules of EU anti-competition. Mark my words!
#5 by from eastern europe on November 4th, 2009 - 11:49 am
There is just one thing that I didn’t quite understand in this article – the comment on the old Member States being already in the 21st century and the newly acceded countries being stuck in old times. Who exactly do you envisage? If you mean the Poles, please, say the Poles. Don’t lump together all of the new Member States from Central and Eastern Europe.
In fact, when it comes to bringing up old ghosts from the past, what would you make of the old Member State Greece and its insistence that Macedonia changes its name? They must be living in the BC era, still dreaming of the glory of Alexander the Great.
As far as the new Council President is concerned, my opinion is that unless the person is elected by universal suffrage, the post should be purely administrative. Otherwise, it’s surely undemocratic. In fact, my prediction is that it will turn out to be just that – an administrative post of a chairperson of the Council. The upcoming presidency trio of countries have already expressed their concern of someone taking away their ‘thunder’ when they come to rotate for six months. So all in all, the post to me doesn’t seem that significant.
#6 by She is the best on November 4th, 2009 - 1:20 pm
Thats all i can say , she was the best EU Commissioner for Financial .
#7 by petros on November 4th, 2009 - 1:38 pm
She whould be indeed a good choice, but I don’t think she’s interested at the moment as she just got elected in Lithuania and has a lot of work to do.
#8 by andrew on November 4th, 2009 - 3:15 pm
on “dead Poles” and “the war is over:”
firstly, what a cocky and insensitive turn of phrase you have mr ryborg. secondly, you confuse one statement of the kaczynski government in one EU summit with the Polish position today.
and finally, of course the war is over, even us dumb polaks have noticed that. but for journalists from rich western countries who experienced neither the full horrors of the holocaust nor communism, to preach about some utopian, anti-historicist future, is bad taste.
chirac in 2003 said of the CEE states and their views on iraq that “it is not well brought-up behavior. they missed a good opportunity to keep quiet.” perhaps the phrase better applies to you.
#9 by Mari Knox on November 4th, 2009 - 4:59 pm
Droom has said what I wanted to say!
QUOTE: “The fact that especially the names of Benelux prime ministers are floating around, is very telling: France and Germany do not want to have someone with a vision and strong ideas on the development of the EU. It should be someone weak so they can push that person around.” UNQUOTE
Add to that the obscure second-rater that Germany has picked for commissioner. Power will move to the Council of Ministers – Germany and France are in the driving seat.
#10 by Hans on November 4th, 2009 - 7:39 pm
I dare say that Ms. Grybauskaite never have been President of Lithuania as Mr. Ryborg suggest. However, maybe former President of Latvia, Ms. Vaira Vike-Freiberga could be a choice for the EU? I would like to see a woman in one of the top positions. But then again, as an ousider from Norway, I should probably keep my mouth shut on Europes bussiness.
#11 by Paul on November 4th, 2009 - 8:13 pm
You’re wrong Hans, D. Grybauskaite is current Lithuanian president. You’re just badly informed try google’ing or something. Well as far as Eu presidents post goes, I am all up for her becoming EU president. Yet again she would be in high position.
#12 by OpenHouse on November 5th, 2009 - 11:15 am
Excellent proposal, Ole. Well seen.
Grybauskaite’s press conference at the recent October summit was impressive, clear, and showed precisely where the compromise on climate burden sharing was to be cut.
A fast wiki check indicates that she has an excellent CV for the job: Ph.D. from Moscow, additional studies in the US, solid background in international neg’s, originally commissioner for education and culture before she took the post as commissioner of finance.
When she received the European Voice “Commissioner of the year” price in 2005 she said:
“I consider it a distinction not for me personally, but for all the new EU Member States, both small and large, as an acknowledgment of their bringing a new and fresh perspective to the EU.
I think that it’s also a prize for having the courage to speak the often difficult truth and to point out the real price of political rhetoric in Europe”.
That’s the spirit. I’ll vote for her!
Hope the Lithauanians can do without her.
#13 by Pat on November 5th, 2009 - 4:35 pm
Grybauskaite a conservative? Are we talking about the former lecturer at the Communist Party Academy in Vilnius or another person?
If they are really looking for a woman, Vike-Freiberga is much more credible as a conservative.
On the other hand, if they want a post-communist posing as a conservative, they should just as well give the post to Basescu, Jansa or Borissov…
#14 by Kazimierz on November 5th, 2009 - 5:13 pm
Ole,
First, thank you for “dead Poles” and the likes. Anyone reading Polish media will notice, contrary to Andrew’s assurances, that the war with Russia is not yet over. It started in 1612 with expulsion of Polish troops from Moscow and…
Second, I know a woman who succeeded in negotiations with Kaczynski Brothers.
She is the most famous woman in Europe, so there is no need to say her name or write about her qualifications.
#15 by gytis on November 5th, 2009 - 10:39 pm
We need her at home for the next 10 years.
#16 by Lithuanian guy on November 6th, 2009 - 5:19 am
We, lithunians, are in huge hole now, nothing can help, not even Dalia grybauskaite – only time… but that time with Dalia grybauskaite makes you feel more secure
#17 by Birute on November 6th, 2009 - 8:22 am
Common Lithuanians are proud to have Ms Dalia Grybauskaite as President of Lithuania. We trust her. We would like her to remain President of our country at least for the entire presidential term.
#18 by Ole Ryborg on November 6th, 2009 - 9:19 am
@Andrew.
You would be surprised how often Polands suffering are brought up in negotiations in Brussels. Both by ministers and by Polish civil servants.
I never intended to question Polands past. What I do question is why Polish negotiators use it as an argument when they participate in negotiations on issues that have nothing to do with the past.
#19 by simon on November 6th, 2009 - 12:07 pm
What a stupid idea to propose a new elected head of state. There are also other women from new member states if you want to be politically correct.
The problem is the author is not correct writing about Poles things like that. To be a proud nation with great achievements is not the point to criticize and confused it their with current head of state.
#20 by Ann Mari Hjorth on November 6th, 2009 - 1:16 pm
..Eastern Europe, that the rest of Europe have moved into the 21st century and that they are more than willing to come and join us here.
I guess you mean that they are more than welcome to come and join us
#21 by Rimas on November 6th, 2009 - 1:52 pm
Only KGBist can flatter another KGBist.
#22 by a floating voter from Lithuania on November 6th, 2009 - 2:02 pm
Our economy is in a shambles, so we could easily swap our President for Angela Merkel.
P.S. Why is everyone picking on the Poles ?
#23 by Zarazek on November 7th, 2009 - 4:03 pm
As a Pole, I have to say I’m slightly offended by your remarks about ‘dead Poles’ and that, unlike their ‘western’ counterparts, CEE live in the past.
Having said that, I’m not saying I disagree with your opinion, on the contrary, the EU is about peace and reconciliation and not about opening old wounds. Many Poles felt ashamed when they learnt that mr. Kaczyński said how big the country’s population would have been if the war hadn’t happened. Who knows, maybe it’s not something he himself believes but it’s just another card in the political game that he thought he’d give a try.
Never mind. As for the EU president, well, I think there should have been given voice during the last parliamentary elections and voted for the candidates back then.
If the president is to play a largely symbolic role and represent the EU on the international stage, he should be backed up by voters’ support.
It should be up to us and not up to Frau Merkel or mr. Sarkozy say who should be president.
I’d have voted for mr. Verhofstadt because of his federalist views and on the account of him being one of the few politicians who care about Europe’s interests and not only his or her member state’s.
#24 by Zarazek on November 7th, 2009 - 4:09 pm
One more thing: who do you think the Polish want to see as EU president most?
The fact that Angela Merkel got most votes means that at least the people of Poland (unlike their politicians) have moved on.
#25 by Boris on November 8th, 2009 - 12:26 pm
I want to inform You about violations of the Human Rights in Lithuania.
In 2005 my wife got a heavy concussion of brain after the car crash and became the invalid .
She has not participated on the hearing of crime case at the court.
Lithuanian Court left her without the lawyer’s help and any juridical defense. Her the Right to a fair trial was violated. Therefore my wife has not received the compensation for lost health .
The hearing of the crime case NR. 1-13-356/2008 carried out the 1-st court of Vilnius .
The judges violated many Lithuanian Laws , Lithuanian Constitution , European Convention on Human Rights (articles 6 ; 8 ; 13) and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities too ( articles 5; 6 ; 12 ; 13 ; 22 ) .
It is seems an incredible , but my wife has not obtained even the final judgment from the Court.
I can explain this only by discrimination and corruption in Lithuanian court.
The Lithuanian authorities violate the framework Convention for the protection of National minorities (article 1 and article 4. 1) too. I am sure that my wife has been deprived the rights to equality before the law because my wife is a Belorussian . She was subjected of discrimination in the Lithuanian court exclusively for the racial reason. Because the criminal is the Lithuanian .
The health of my wife every day is worst. I can’t treat my wife for an illness , because I left the good job and now I have not money. We lost our future.
We live in Lithuania and we are the European citizens too. We have right and we must live under Democratic Laws.
In Lithuania this is impossible, because the authorities here do not respect the Human Rights and Democratic Laws.
Lithuania is a undemocratic state and people of the UK must know it. Lithuania is a lawlessness state.
#26 by Boris on November 8th, 2009 - 12:30 pm
I want to inform You about violations of the Human Rights in Lithuania.
In 2005 my wife got a heavy concussion of brain after the car crash and became the invalid .
She has not participated on the hearing of crime case at the court.
Lithuanian Court left her without the lawyer’s help and any juridical defense. Her the Right to a fair trial was violated. Therefore my wife has not received the compensation for lost health .
The hearing of the crime case NR. 1-13-356/2008 carried out the 1-st court of Vilnius .
The judges violated many Lithuanian Laws , Lithuanian Constitution , European Convention on Human Rights (articles 6 ; 8 ; 13) and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities too ( articles 5; 6 ; 12 ; 13 ; 22 ) .
It is seems an incredible , but my wife has not obtained even the final judgment from the Court.
I can explain this only by discrimination and corruption in Lithuanian court.
The Lithuanian authorities violate the framework Convention for the protection of National minorities (article 1 and article 4. 1) too. I am sure that my wife has been deprived the rights to equality before the law because my wife is a Byelorussian . She was subjected of discrimination in the Lithuanian court exclusively for the racial reason. Because the criminal is the Lithuanian .
The health of my wife every day is worst. I can’t treat my wife for an illness , because I left the good job and now I have not money. We lost our future.
We live in Lithuania and we are the European citizens too. We have right and we must live under Democratic Laws.
In Lithuania this is impossible, because the authorities here do not respect the Human Rights and Democratic Laws.
Lithuania is a undemocratic state and people of the world must know it. Lithuania is a lawlessness state.
#27 by a floating voter from Lithuania on November 8th, 2009 - 2:27 pm
@Boris.
It’s cloud cuckoo land to suggest that Lithuania is a lawless and undemocratic state. But if you really think so, I would advise you to address this matter to Mr. Lukashenko. There’s no doubt that the Belarusian democratic institutions will provide a way of dealing with your problem.
#28 by al on November 8th, 2009 - 4:50 pm
Which EU is this that’s being referred to…? The EU in the real world is about exactly the opposite. (Why else is stuff like the Soziale Marktwirtschaft, a common foreign policy, and even a common defence force all included in the Treaty of Lisbon?)
#29 by ramune on November 9th, 2009 - 2:31 pm
We, Lithuanians, are enourmously proud to have Dalia Grybauskaitė as our President and I really hope she will remain in Lithuania for 10 following years. We will not do without her….She is our only hope
#30 by andrew on November 10th, 2009 - 10:43 am
ole, thanks for responding.
i bow to your insider knowledge about polish negotiating tactics. i think if you imagine replacing \dead Poles\ with \dead Jews,\ you might get an impression of how hurtful your language was.
kazimierz – how much does the bogus think-tank, or whatever it is, pay for policing russian interests in the blogosphere?
as for names, i think we should make up a false rumour and see if it spreads. let’s pick some has-been or never-been person, say Slovenia president, Danilo Turk, and start telling our contacts he is being talked about, to see how long before he turns up in some article
#31 by tamworth admin jobs on March 10th, 2010 - 3:53 pm
I wonder as we have a diverse section of the EU here, howe many people see the benefits of the EU (apat from free trade and travel) what are the benefits?