Brussels, 21/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - European Council President Herman Van Rompuy has said it will be too early to put forward a name for European Commission President at the informal dinner of EU heads of state and government on Tuesday 27 May.
In his letter of invitation to this dinner, Van Rompuy wants the discussion to be on the results of the European elections on 25 May - but he also wants the discussion to focus on the process beforehand leading to the proposal, which the European Council will make to the European Parliament, of a candidate for the post of President of the European Commission. In Van Rompuy's view, the EU leaders should also discuss how to organise their work over the coming weeks. In addition, he believes that they should reflect on the challenges to be met by the EU and the EU's priorities for the coming years.
Van Rompuy has never ruled out the new leader of the Commission - who will replace José Manuel Barroso - not coming from among the five candidates put forward by the big European political groups (see EUROPE 11082). Last week, Jean-Claude Juncker (EPP), Martin Schulz (S&D), Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE), Ska Keller (Greens) and Alexis Tsipras (GUE) asserted their determination for the choice to be made from among just them.
The text of the Lisbon Treaty on the appointment of the Commission president states: “Taking into account the elections to the European Parliament and after having held the appropriate consultations, the European Council, acting by a qualified majority, shall propose to the European Parliament a candidate for President of the Commission. This candidate shall be elected by the European Parliament by a majority of its component members. If he does not obtain the required majority, the European Council, acting by a qualified majority, shall within one month propose a new candidate who shall be elected by the European Parliament following the same procedure”. Until now the president of the Commission has been appointed by common agreement of the heads of state and government.
Ukraine. The EU leaders will also discuss the latest developments in the situation in Ukraine at their dinner. Presidential elections will be held in Ukraine on Sunday 25 May. (LC)