|
|
Commission Presidency
In a joint declaration, the Presidents of the EPP, S&D and ALDE Groups in the European Parliament, Joseph Daul, Hannes Swoboda and Guy Verhofstadt, have made a commitment to dialogue and consultations as soon as possible after the European elections, in accordance with Declaration 11, annexed to the Treaty on European Union. This states that "the European Parliament and European Council are jointly responsible for the smooth running of the process leading to the election of the President of the European Commission (...)".
According to the letter and the spirit of the Treaty, and taking full account of the results of the European elections, we commit ourselves to a dialogue and consultations as soon as possible after the European elections, with the aim of determining the European candidate to become the next Commission President from the political family able to form the necessary qualified majority in the European Parliament. The candidate from the largest group will be the first to attempt to form the required majority. On this basis, we will jointly submit a proposal to the European Council to start inter-institutional consultations in conformity with Declaration 11.
The next elected Commission President will be the result of a transparent process, not the product of back-room deals. Our political families will present themselves at the European elections each with their own candidate(s) for President of the next European Commission. The next Commission President must be chosen from amongst them. Citizens' expectations will thereby be respected, making the European Union more democratic and closer to them.
Jean-Claude Juncker tweeted:
"The next President of @EU_Commission will either be me or @MartinSchulz. Everything else is fantasy." View
Commenting on the declaration, Rebecca Harms, President of the Greens/EFA group, and Monica Frassoni, President of the European Green Party, said:
"This deal between the three major groups confirms what was widely expected: in spite of all the promises that these elections would fundamentally change the way the European Commission president is chosen, they want to defend as much as possible their tradition of striking deals among themselves.
"The Greens are campaigning for real change in the context of the forthcoming elections. We believe the European elections should be the democratic foundation for the coming legislative term and are strongly opposed to political deals being concluded before European voters have had their say. We refuse to continue with business as usual."
Press release
EPP Candidate
The Chairmen of EPP parliamentary groups in the national parliaments of the EU have underlined their firm support for Jean-Claude Juncker in his quest to become President of the European Commission. Reunited at their 20th summit, the national and European parliamentarians and heads of the lists for the European elections adopted a declaration where they outline the importance of a strong Europe where all citizens are able to look to their future with confidence again.
The President of the European People's Party (EPP) and Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament, Joseph Daul MEP, underlined the EPP political family’s priorities:
"The EPP line is clear: continuing the work we have already started, to firstly get out of the 'heightened' crisis, and then to further deepen our European integration. One doesn’t go without the other. We want to continue with structural reforms, they are vital. We want enterprises to be able to invest. We want to get back to real growth, the kind of growth which will create jobs." The parliamentarians believe that Jean-Claude Juncker is the best person to achieve this, having the best European experience, spirit of solidarity and an ambitious programme oriented towards social harmony, financial stability, modernisation and economic progress.
Jean-Claude Juncker highlighted his priorities: "I am campaigning for a strong Europe. We are the party that has and will continue to lead Europe out of the crisis and put Europe firmly back on the path to growth, jobs and stability. I am your candidate and I count on your support in the coming months to win these elections so that together we can do what we do best: make Europe a better and more prosperous place for everyone."
Reuters reports further that Juncker kicked off his campaign to become president of the European Commission by reassuring sceptical German conservatives that he opposed common eurozone bonds, rapid EU enlargement and unchecked power for Brussels.
On Wednesday 9 April, Martin Schulz (S&D) and Jean-Claude Juncker (EPP) took part in the first televised debate on France24 video (in French). "The crisis isn't over, not until we have fought unemployment rates", so Schulz.
Meanwhile, Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen has announced that he will step down in June. A communiqué issued by Katainen’s National Coalition Party stresses that he is "interested in European or other international positions, should the opportunity arise".
The Financial Times (subscription) writes that he is seen as a potential candidate for all three of the top EU jobs to come up in June – head of the eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers to succeed Jeroen Dijsselbloem, head of the European Council to replace Herman Van Rompuy, or even as a compromise candidate for head of the commission. But despite assiduous courting by Mr Katainen of southern EU nations such as Portugal, Greece and Italy, Finland’s hardline stance on austerity is likely to weigh against him among such countries when leaders discuss the jobs in June.
Katainen’s move appears to have been well prepared for a long time in advance, Yle writes, though the announcement was made in a hastily prepared conference in Brussels and came as a surprise at home.
The 42-year-old’s pitch for a top international role underscores how in demand Nordic leaders are. At Nato, former Norwegian prime minister Jens Stoltenberg will shortly succeed former Danish premier Anders Fogh Rasmussen as secretary-general. The current Danish prime, minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, is seen as having a strong chance to become head of the European Commission despite her repeated denials.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU party officially adopted its European elections manifesto at its party congress in Berlin. The manifesto includes the provision that "a repatriation of [EU] competences to the national level should be possible." CDU European Manifesto (in German)