The only candidate for the post of Spitzenkandidate of the European Conservatives, the Czech Jan Zahradil received by acclamation the support of the ERC group, which he chairs in the European Parliament, on Tuesday 13 November (see EUROPE 12105, 12103).
For Mr Zahradil, there is a third option after the one calling for 'more Europe' from European federalists and the one calling for 'zero Europe' from europhobes, namely: 'a better Europe'.
The top Conservative candidate has three priorities if he becomes President of the Commission, in the event of his political family winning the European elections in May 2019. First of all, he wants the European Commission to embark on the biggest review ever of European regulation to determine what is ineffective and unnecessary and what works and needs to be improved.
A strong supporter of free trade, the MEP wants the European Union to finalise as many trade agreements as possible with its global partners and deepen the single market. It is not policies that create wealth, he says.
Thirdly, Mr Zahradil is of the opinion that the EU budget must be modernised, in particular in order to focus on protecting the EU's external borders. But, according to him, this does not mean placing European border or coastguards with European flags on their arms.
On the appointment of the future President of the Commission, the Conservatives challenge the very process of the Spitzenkandidaten wanted by the European pro-integration forces, in that it goes beyond the provisions of the Treaty. For them, it is the Heads of State and Government who must appoint Mr Juncker's replacement and this personality may be a Spitzenkandidate, but not only that.
However, Mr Zahradil promises to take his role seriously in communicating conservative ideas to the general public. Having grown up under the communist regime, he intends to contradict the double discourse of the federalists in Brussels who, according to him, want a "European superstate", even if they defend themselves against it on a daily basis.
The Conservative Spitzenkandidate will officially launch its campaign on Wednesday 28 November in Brussels. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)