European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has repeated his support for the Spitzenkandidaten procedure to designate his successor in 2019 but has cast doubt on the feasibility of transnational lists at the forthcoming European elections in May 2019. He was speaking on Wednesday 14 February, presenting the Commission’s contribution on a number of institutional issues on the agenda of the informal European summit on Friday 23 February.
“I am very much of the mind that the heads of list system (Spitzenkandidaten) should remain in place in 2019”, so that genuinely European questions can be debated, Juncker said.
Before the European elections in 2014, the former prime minister of Luxembourg was selected to head the Christian Democrat list. With the EPP "winning" the election, it was able to secure his appointment on a proposal from the European Council and after approval by the European Parliament. That was the first time that the electorate could vote in the European elections knowing who would be appointed to head the incoming European Commission.
Nonetheless, Juncker argued, there must be no automatic selection of who is to lead the Commission once the outcome of the European elections is known since, ultimately, it will always be for the Council and the Parliament to decide in the light of circumstances.
In its contribution to the informal European summit, the Commission offers a number of suggestions for improving the heads of list system. These heads of list should be chosen earlier, ideally at the end of 2018 and potentially in primaries at the annual congress of the various European parties. That, the Commission says, would allow people holding positions of responsibility to stand.
The European Parliament recently gave warning that it would not support the candidacy of anyone for the presidency of the Commission who has not come through the Spitzenkandidaten system (see EUROPE 11956).
In the Council, opinions diverge widely, with countries like Ireland and Croatia backing the process. France would appear to be sceptical. Addressing the press on Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the importance of respect for the separation of powers that is built into the treaties. Having no affiliation to any European party at this stage, Macron would be unable to influence the nomination of any Spitzenkandidat.
In the view of MEP Sven Giegold (Greens/EFA, Germany), continuing with the heads of list system is the real European test for the potential new Grand coalition in Germany. “Mrs Merkel needs to break her silence” and back this process, he stated in a press release.
Transnational lists. The Commission is quite keen on the creation of a European constituency that would make it possible to elect MEPs from transnational lists.
“A transnational constituency could strengthen the European dimension of the election by giving candidates the possibility to reach more citizens across Europe. It could be coherent with the lead candidate process, as it would arguably create a European space for public debate and a more visible role for European political parties”, according to its guidance paper.
Juncker, however, has doubts over the feasibility of introducing an innovation of this sort in time for the next European elections. “It would be miraculous” because the time available is too short to be able to bring all the member states on board, he opined.
France and the Mediterranean countries are ready to try the experiment of transnational lists. The Visegrad countries, on the other hand, are against it, as is the European Parliament because of the opposition of the EPP Group (see EUROPE 11956).
Juncker regretted the “lack of will” on the part of his own political family, the Christian Democrats, in Parliament. Yet, he stated, the EPP is “the only party” which, in its constitution, provides for the creation of Spitzenkandidaten.
Composition of the Commission. As invited by the European Council, the Commission has re-opened the question, without coming to any conclusion, of the number of European commissioners in the College. A similar debate is being held on the ECB.
Following its rejection of the constitutional treaty, in 2009 Ireland was given legal assurances before submitting the Lisbon Treaty to a second referendum. Among these assurances was that each member state would always have a commissioner.
“Opinions (among the commissioners) are divided”, Juncker said, indicating that many of the commissioners in post had come to realise during the course of their term of office just how important it was for their country to retain a seat in the College. “It’s very difficult to allocate separate portfolios”, hence his idea of a system of vice-presidents without portfolio, he added.
The Commission is also raising the possibility of merging the functions of the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, taking as its basis the experience of the function of the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy. The Commission argues that this institutional arrangement – unlikely to come about in the short term – would give the European Union dual legitimacy by having one person representing, at one and the same time, the member states and the general Community interest.
“Europe cannot be built against the interests of the member states – that would be absurd”, Juncker stressed, rejecting the charge of being a super-federalist.
Citizens’ dialogues. Lastly, the Commission says it is ready to become more closely involved in the dialogue with citizens on the future of Europe.
France wants the debate on the major issues affecting the European Union – including jobs, migration and innovation – to be as decentralised as possible through public consultation. It is believed to have received the support of close to 20 member states on holding national conversations with citizens between April and October, ahead of the European summit in December.
The Commission would play the role of facilitator, putting in place and overseeing an online information platform. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)