22/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, who chaired the Convention on the future of Europe, fears “semi-clandestine” designation of the future president of the European Council. “If nothing is done, and it looks as though that will be the case, then this will be the worst appointed leader of the world. There will be nothing to be proud of”, said Giscard d'Estaing in Paris on 21 May speaking before the Mouvement européen France. While all leaders say Europe must be brought closer to its citizens, these same leaders are well on the road to designating the president “without any consultation”, he deplored. The former French president also considers that the appointment should not come until after European elections in 2009, in order to give candidates time to declare themselves and to take account of the results of the ballot. The rapporteur for the European Parliament on the institutional impact of entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, Jean-Luc Dehaene of Belgium, said this week when speaking before the EP constitutional affairs committee that the “European Council may appoint its president for 1 January 2009 (Ed.: date when the treaty should normally take effect) but it would be more normal to begin with the election, by the EP, of the Commission president” in autumn 2009. Mr Dehaene will present his draft report on 16 June. (H.B.)