European democracy
#TheFutureIsYours Strengthening European democracy
Article 14 of the Treaty on the European Union stipulates that the President of the Commission is elected by the Parliament. This sounds great, but it creates false expectations. A few pages further, we learn that there is only one person on the ballot, namely the single candidate, who is nominated by the Council. In reality, it is therefore the Council that elects the President. Parliament has only a veto power. I find it highly problematic that there is only one candidate and in fact somewhat embarrassing for our democracy. Combined with the flawed attempts to establish a lead candidate system, false expectations about the European elections are created.
In the long run, I see no other way as to change the way the president is elected. Otherwise, there will never be a clear link between the European elections and the composition of the Commission.
In the future, Parliament shall be given the right to elect whoever it sees fit to run the Commission. Any person eligible to vote for the European Parliament may be elected. The elected candidate shall be subject to a vote of consent by the European Council. If the vote is carried, the candidate shall be elected President. If the vote is not carried, we may return to the current and more intergovernmental system, where the European Council nominates the president.
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Je suis absolument d’accord! C’est le parlement, représentant le peuple européen qui devrait désigner la tête de l’exécutif Européen. Et non des négociations de couloir qui désignent celui qui a les amis le mieux placé, sans aucune considération pour le résultat des élections européennes
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