EIM Political - March 2014

08 April 2014

With the European Parliament elections around the corner, the composition of the next European Parliament, the new Commission President and future shape of Europe are widely debated.

• European Parliament elections: The candidate for the post of Commission President must gain the support of a majority of the Members of the new Parliament – 376 votes. It may be difficult for a candidate from the extremes of the political spectrum to gain the necessary support.

• So the chances of the centrist - Verhofstadt – being able to gather support from either side of the spectrum are not as low as many argue.

• If this can be translated into a higher turnout of electors, then the euro-sceptics may not fare as well as many commentators suggest. 

• This is also the time for think tanks to dust off their plans for a re-organisation of the Commission. The period between the EP elections and the confirmation of the new Commissioners will also be a time for intense argument about the future shape of Europe. 

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© Graham Bishop