Barroso postponed ?! EU Parliament's vote on July in Strasbourg uncertain.

    The outcome of attempts for an early election of new EU Commission's President for 2009 - 2014, by finalising on July in Strasbourg Barroso's candidacy, who remains in office until October, looks uncertain, after demands for programme clarifications and/or the emergence of eventual competitors were facilitated by EU Governments' openings to various MEPs' wish to delay the nomination.

    Such moves may theoretically lead EU Parliament towards either accepting Barroso only if he meets certain more crystal-clear conditions than his one-and-a-half page to EU Council, or electing someone else.  But it might also endorse someone like Barroso only when Commission's role will be focused on "technical" matters, Political leadership being transferred into an EU President and EU Foreign Minister, after a probable adoption of EU Lisbon Treaty on early October.

    Incoming Swedish EU chair's attempts to agree a rapid Barroso vote in EU Parliament in Strasbourg on July, failed, after most Presidents of MEPs' Political Groups (including of the largest : EPP : Joseph Daul of Strasbourg), declined or refused to visit Stockholm on June, preferring July.
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    French President Sarkozy, speaking recently in Paris together with German Chancellor Merkel, did not deny a question by a French Journalist whether the Time needed for an EU Parliament's vote might be enough for "other Candidates" to emerge. And after the Brussels short Council meeting he noted that the "absence of alternative" candidates "goes only for the moment", because "we are cautious", (since anything may happen meanwhile).

    - "The July Time Deadline is too ambitious and hardly feasible : I'm sure that the pause is not long enough", replied later German Foreign Minister Steinmeier, standing side by side with chancellor Merkel, to a question "if it was sure that the new Commission's President will be elected on July". And Merkel did not deny.

    - "But I can't yet mention any precise Date somewhere in September or October", added Steinmeier, without excluding anything.

    Following the Sarkozy - Merkel main line (See previous NewsReport), a subsequent brief Council meeting in Brussels, opened the way to delays by abstaining to nominate Barroso on June, contrary to some other Governments' reported wish, (Socialist PM's of UK and Spain, Brown and Zapatero, Liberal PM of Sweden, Reinfeldt, etc).

    Instead of that, the final Conclusions simply mentioned an "intent to nominate" Mr. Barroso, as Steinmeier pointed out : "There is No formal Decision", he stressed.

    Simply, "we (EU Council) decided to start consultations with EU  Parliament, to see if there might be a Majority, or not, for Mr. Barroso", it was added.

    But, according to the latest rumours, there might be "No Majority" in EU Parliament for a Vote on July..
    
    - "We must not set too rigid Time Deadlines, nor try to force things, because this will provoke reactions", Sarkozy said. And he confirmed that he prefers, for final decisions on all EU Top Jobs, to better wait until it becomes clear if Lisbon Treaty will be ratified, or not, by Ireland, in order to have an overall view, and put everything "in a balance". Something practically "impossible" before that.

    - "It is necessary (for EU Council) to hold consultations with EU Parliament". "Whether and when a formal decision" could be taken, on the new EU Commission's President, "this will be seen, in the light of Consultations that will lead the Czech and Swedish EU Presidencues with EU Parliament, respectively on June and July", noted also German Chancellor Merkel.

    Moreover, French President Sarkozy made it clear, that, Barroso or not Barroso, one thing is crystal clear : - "We need Change !", he stressed after Brussels' short meeting.

    At any case, after the 2004 and 2007 EU Enlargements to 27 Member States, "the President of (EU) Commission has not enough Authority", contrary to what was done in the Past, observed Sarkozy.

    - From now on, "EU's strength depends on whether we have a strong EU Council's chairmanship", he added, reminding that "EU Commission's area is Not Politics".

    Nobody contests Barroso's experience, (useful in times of crisis), but, in fact, supporters, neutrals or adversaries obviously cut accross the usual political spectrum, not showing clearly what is really at stake.

    His short open Letter to EU Governments gave some vague promises on Economic policy and EU Citizens, but didn't tell much about the controversial Enlargment to Turkey which was, nevertheless, at the focus of 2009 EU Elections in many important Countries, (except, perhaps, to mention a general "Partnership" between EU Commission and Governments).

    For MEPs, who come with fresh Popular Legitimity after June 2009 EU Elections, add New Groups, and expect to augment EU Parliament's powers after the adoption of Lisbon Treaty, they might want to hear much more from Barroso (and/or any eventual other candidate), and, particularly, something more crystal-clear...

    In EU Parliament, reportedly, most Socialist MEPs claim to be against a July vote, as also "Greens", while Liberals have doubts, Ind/Dem are against as well as several Independents and EuroLeft, Conservatives might accept, and EPP seems officially for, but...

    However, things are expected to become more clear in the run up to July's Strasbourg Plenary, where definite choices will be made by official votes.

    Among various other Names which may start to float, are Belgian former PM Verhofstadt (Liberal), Luxembourg's Prime Minister Juncker (a ChristianDemocrat/EPP who had been unanimously supported in 2004, but declined the offer), France's former Prime Ministers Juppe and/or Villepin (to whom Sarkozy had offered an EU job in the past), etc. If such or other similar eventual candidates emerge, the competition could become strong.

    In these conditions, it wouldn't be surprising if Liberal Group's reportedly "mixed" stance might clearly turn towards postponing the Vote on New EU Commission's President for Autumn, particularly if former candidate Verhofstadt takes over, as expected, the group's chairmanship.