Tony Blair gave a speech today in which he proposed a ‘Grand Bargain’ to revive the European Union. One of the proposals in this grand bargain is – and Blair is clearly speaking entirely without self-interest – that there be an elected president of the European Commission or European Council. The former Prime Minister told the Council for the Future of Europe in Berlin:
‘Let me make a few quick reflections. A Europe-wide election for the Presidency of the Commission or Council is the most direct way to involve the public. An election for a big post held by one person – this people can understand. The problem with the European Parliament is that though clearly democratically elected, my experience is people don’t feel close to their MEPs. This could change but only if the European Parliament and national parliaments interact far more closely.’
Blair said the current crisis in the eurozone is ‘the most serious to have faced the EU since its inception’ but that ‘we should recognise that the underlying, profound rationale for Europe and its union is stronger than ever’, with eurosceptics standing ‘on the wrong side of history’.
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