Francia, Inghilterra, e, probabilmente, Spagna hanno proposto di rafforzare il consiglio europeo fornendolo di presidente stabile (attualmente dura 6 mesi) e di alto calibro. Questo dovrebbe permettere di incrementare il prestigio ed il potere dell'organo esecutivo ed accellera la convergenza della politica estera e di difesa. Il nuovo presidente sara' eletto dai capi di stato degli stati membri e restera' in carica per 5 anni. Questo organismo sostituira' la commissione, come era naturale che fosse, poiche' quest'ultima non e' un organo esecutivo vero e proprio e non e' eletta. Se la Germania accetta (l'Italia non e' menzionata) siamo in rotta verso un Europa di stati membri. Data prevista 2005-2006. Blair prende due piccioni con una fava: se si crea l'organo con ogni probabilita' sara' il presidente, questo gli permette anche di giocarsi una carta in piu' (e pesante) nel referendum sull'euro. Aznar vicepresidente? Non male, sarebbero (quasi) tutti contenti, rappresentata la sinistra e la destra, il nord ed il sud Europa, con due personalita' di indubbio prestigio.
France and UK call for new force at top of EU
By George Parker in Strasbourg
Published: May 15 2002 21:11 | Last Updated: May 15 2002 219
Britain on Wednesday joined forces with France to demand the creation of a powerful new president of the European Council who, Tony Blair, UK prime minister, believes will become the public face and driving force of Europe.
The aim is to give Europe a high-profile political leader, who would also serve as the EU's face in international affairs and take a key role in developing defence and foreign policies.
Mr Blair thinks the new president would give the EU a sharper identity, providing much-needed leadership and accountability.
The idea that the council should have a more permanent president has strong backing of Britain and France with Spain expected to add its support. The idea is also favoured by Valery Giscard D'Estaing, former French president, who is chairing the convention on Europe's future.
However, it still has to win the backing of Germany.
The European Commission, fighting to preserve its influence, will contest the plans vigorously. The move would be seen as weakening the powers of the unelected Commission, the EU's executive, and its own president, currently Romano Prodi.
If approved by member states, the post would be created in 2005 or 2006, offering Mr Blair the possibility of a highly attractive new job at the end of his second term, although Spain's Jose Maria Aznar is also rated a strong candidate.
The idea of an appointed EU council president was introduced by Mr Chirac in a speech in Strasbourg on March 7 as part of his plan to bolster the idea of a Europe of member states.
Under the British proposals, the council president would be elected by all EU leaders on a five-year term to coincide with that of the Commission president.
Peter Hain, Europe minister, told the FT on Wednesday that the council president would "probably be a former head of government".
The new system would replace the current six-month rotating EU presidency, which has been blamed for failing to give strong leadership and political direction. This would become even more unsatisfactory with the admission of up to 10 new countries to the EU in 2004.
Mr Hain said: "You need a longer presidency. The current system causes a lack of strategic grip and doesn't give Europe political leadership and clout."
The EU council president would take on much of the work done by Javier Solana, the EU's foreign policy representative, and be the first point of call for a US secretary of state hoping to speak to "Europe".
Simon Murphy, leader of the British Labour group of MEPs, said after meeting Mr Hain on Wednesday: "Tony Blair's name has certainly been mentioned in connection with the job, but he is doing a good job running Britain at the moment."
In a BBC interview on Wednesday, Mr Blair said he would happily go down in history as the prime minister who took Britain into the euro.
Many in Brussels recognise that, if Mr Blair won a referendum campaign on the euro, his position in Europe would be unrivalled.