Swollen Red Pinkie Toe

public relations at the University of Erfurt

The European 'Who is your candidate? " campaign is the most important action of the Union of European Federalists' ( UEF) in front of the EU Parliament elections Summer 2009. The aim is to bring the party groups in the European Parliament to making a commitment to their candidate for the post of Commission President.
After the Nice Treaty, the assent of the European Parliament is required for the EU to appoint the President. During the last elections, the Parliament made this right and forced the nominee for Commission President José Manuel Barroso on the personnel change his College. This right should be exercised more in the next legislative period.

During the performance of the UEF concept at the annual meeting of the UEF in Paris from 10-12. October 2008, the Desire of citizens to a greater politicization of the EU elections underlined. No one would be interested in the name lists of European parties, important are those of political programs. An important step in this direction would be the commitment of the parties in the EU Parliament on the Commission their candidates.

On the campaign website

citizens have the opportunity to their local representatives in the EU Parliament to ask a candidate to nominate. could

Nevertheless, there are several problems which prevent a designation before the election. On the one hand, European parties whose national sections in the government power are not inclined to the candidate preferences to oppose their government. The opposite applies to the national parties in opposition. Since some of the many parties at European level within their party group should, it should then give rise to conflicting interests. Furthermore, the current Commission President Barroso is ready for a second term. He has the support of the large member states Germany, Britain and France, which would complicate the establishment of a prospective opponent. Ultimately, however, depends all depends on the results of the parliamentary elections. Should be in the summer of 2009 marked changes in the party system of the EU Parliament come, could the new power constellations the Council set up to force a different President. The parties should therefore position itself already clear from the elections and expose the citizens of their programs. This would also counteract the expected low turnout and therefore the right step to a more political and more democratic Europe.


Martin Behrens