[A-List] EU integration struggles: Big Three converge

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

Schröder backs plan for strong EU president
By George Parker in Brussels and Robert Graham in Paris
Financial Times: October 11 2002

Franco-British proposals for a powerful EU president to be the public face
and political driving force of Europe have gained provisional backing from
Gerhard Schröder, the German chancellor.

At a private dinner in Brussels with Romano Prodi, head of the European
Commission, Mr Schröder said he would support the plan if he was assured the
new president of the EU council would not undermine Mr Prodi and his
colleagues.

France and Britain want to bolster the European council - the forum for
national leaders - and believe an appointed president would put member
states in control of the political agenda.

The idea has already won support from Spain and Sweden, but most smaller EU
members, who believe their interests are best represented by a strong
Commission, are oppsing it vigourously. Mr Schröder's support is vital for
the plan's success.

Mr Schröder said the current EU presidency, which rotates every six months
between different member states, did not work.

He could see merit in the plan, promoted by President Jacques Chirac of
France and Tony Blair, the British prime minister, to give the council a
full-time president if balancing powers were handed to the commission.

One senior official at Wednesday's dinner said: "He said he would only go
along with it if it wasn't in any way undermining the work of the
Commission, which he thinks should be strengthened".

By giving qualified backing to the Franco-British plan, Mr Schröder has
given new momentum to the creation of the council president, whom many
believe will be pitched into constant power struggles with the Commission
president.

There has been much speculation, rejected by London, that Mr Blair might be
a candidate for such a globe-trotting post, likely to be created in 2005 or
2006 if the proposal is accepted.

Mr Prodi has grave reservations about the plan, and believes Mr Schröder has
been coming under pressure from France.

The future shape of the EU is currently being considered in the convention
led by Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, the former French president.

Mr Schröder will expect compromises from Mr Chirac and Mr Blair over the
next few months if he is to endorse the proposal.

Germany is keen to give Mr Prodi's successors at the Commission more
legitimacy by putting the appointment in the hands of the European
parliament Mr Schröder is also examining ways of giving the Commission a
greater say in other issues, such as home and foreign affairs.

On Friday, Jack Straw, UK foreign secretary, sets out more detail of his
support for the new post.

Writing in The Economist, he says: "He or she would serve for several years,
overseeing delivery of the Union's strategic agenda and communicating a
sense of purpose to Europe's citizens."

He also calls for a simplified EU treaty, and an evolution in the role of
the Commission.

The prevailing French sentiment is against any further strengthening of the
commission.