tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post6813389834012344716..comments2024-02-25T10:22:38.186+00:00Comments on The European Citizen: Mary Robinson for the Presidency!Eurocentrichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09439536905456080079noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-52968988781040066852009-10-15T14:25:27.455+01:002009-10-15T14:25:27.455+01:00@ french derek, works for Berlusconi too :) but no...@ french derek, works for Berlusconi too :) but not for Buzek!Eurosocialistehttp://eurosocialist.eunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-7106992181451319072009-10-15T11:46:52.685+01:002009-10-15T11:46:52.685+01:00Barroso, Blair, Balkenende. It seems almost anyone...Barroso, Blair, Balkenende. It seems almost anyone whose surname begins with B is unacceptable in an EU position of power???french dereknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-61814081644987266232009-10-15T00:00:27.375+01:002009-10-15T00:00:27.375+01:00@ all
Thanks!
@ Eva
Thanks.
I think it makes s...@ all<br /><br />Thanks!<br /><br />@ Eva<br /><br />Thanks.<br /><br />I think it makes sense for the E. Council to have a speaker, since it will add to the political coherence of the body. But I also think that a (strong) speaker's role is what the Lisbon Treaty points towards, given the lack of a vote or veto of the President and the primacy of the Commission and the High Representative in the executive, legislative (initiative) and foreign policy/EU representation areas. So I think it should be a speaker's role because of a mix of political and institutional reasons - I don't think the institutional balance or treaty powers can accept an executive President, and politically it would be counter-productive to try.<br /><br />A President with standing who can influence the Council and personalise the politics of the EU s what's needed. I think the functions of the President should be: to organise the summits and their agenda, keep Council work running smoothly, represent the Council on an international and inter-institutional basis, and articulate a political vision for Europe. I think Robinson has the best qualities to do this, as Grahnlaw and frenchderek have said.<br /><br />(It'd influence EU politics in general if the Council had a face and was more transparent, so it could make it easier to follow - I'd think a strong/executive Presidency would muddy things further with no benefits either in terms of outcomes or on the politics of the EU).<br /><br />@ Grahnlaw<br /><br />I agree - the officeholder will have the opportunity to articulate a vision of Europe that could be very influential in the political debate & in international perceptions of Europe, while the HR would be far more constrained in some ways.<br /><br />@ Frank<br /><br />Thanks! There's probably plenty of room for overlap between the two.<br /><br />@ Eurosocialiste<br /><br />Yes, Balkenende would be the worst after Blair in my opinion.Eurocentrichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09439536905456080079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-8515262411895327542009-10-14T20:42:47.465+01:002009-10-14T20:42:47.465+01:00Very good post. Thanks. I fully agree with your an...Very good post. Thanks. I fully agree with your analysis. So let's hope for the best and please, please, please, no Balkenende!Eurosocialistehttp://eurosocialist.eunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-40483495329458602282009-10-14T19:14:26.341+01:002009-10-14T19:14:26.341+01:00@ Eva Pena: it is well-known that the EU national ...@ Eva Pena: it is well-known that the EU national leaders do not want a "strong" President of the Council. Perhaps they prefer someone as malleable as Commission President Barroso? Mary Robinson has not only a CV that must be the envy of international politicians everywhere but has the personal qualities that would enable her to ensure equal access for all states of whatever size (eg no bullying from M Sarkozy, nor pressurising from Frau Merkel - not to speak of the schmaltz of the Italian President!).<br /><br />First, as I understand it, the President of the Council would chair their meetings. Second s/he would be the leading figure (the international face) of the EU. Possibly involved in international negotiations but not as the sole EU representative, because several member nations are members of international trade/economic/etc meetings (eg G20). Also, since Lisbon would register the EU a single, legal entity, the President of the Council would represent that entity in a variety of situations.<br /><br />Mary Robinson's strength lies in getting people to work together - but especially in terms of human rights (surely a central feature of Lisbon) - but "for real". She would no doubt have her own "agenda" as to what the job entails (it is very loosely described in the Treaty documents), and would ensure that it gets an airing, at least.french dereknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-62729178137504804022009-10-14T15:52:06.934+01:002009-10-14T15:52:06.934+01:00Great post Conor - showing a knowlege both of the ...Great post Conor - showing a knowlege both of the role and the key personalities. It's also great that there is a genuine popular interest in the post and who should fill it - perhaps we have the mindless UK media compaigning for Blair to thank for that. The STOP Blair petition at the European Tribune now has 37,000 signittories - whilst the week old facebook group supporting Mary Robinson has 4000+members. It's easy to see where the popular momentum is.Frankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07707138854761518868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-50583653926382984542009-10-14T10:24:20.070+01:002009-10-14T10:24:20.070+01:00Very interesting post, but I'd like you to exp...Very interesting post, but I'd like you to explain further what should be the actual role of the Council Presidency, so that it can have a real influence on EU politics. Does it make sense to have a "parliamentary speaker" role if we already have a Commission, a Parliament, a High Representative and so on...Eva Peñahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06161938736001688968noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7620652438500849718.post-88333129916771512682009-10-14T05:07:12.684+01:002009-10-14T05:07:12.684+01:00Mary Robinson embodies the founding values of the ...Mary Robinson embodies the founding values of the European Union, as you eloquently put it. <br /><br />This could actually be more important than competing for the limelight on the world scene with the Commission president, the new High Representative and the leaders of the member states, who have not come around to a real EU foreign policy yet.Ralf Grahn https://www.blogger.com/profile/02156293782163802007noreply@blogger.com